Very good morning to all of you.

Friends, it is an absolute honour to be at the inaugural function of the 27th International Congress of Vedanta. Over these three days, you all, philosophers, educators, researchers, academia, scholarly students, would dialogue, deliberate, and exchange research results and your experiences. After having heard Shri Arindam Chakrabarti, I am full of optimism and hope that there would be an enlightening ideation that will guide us in the very difficult, challenging times, daunting times we all are faced with.

Vedanta is the essence or conclusion of Vedas, our timeless treasure. Our Bharat is a land of Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Epics, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Gita but what are revelations? गीता के 18 अध्याय क्या कहते हैं यह प्रोफेसर अरिंदम ने अपने को बता दिया हैl

I have therefore no doubt, you will be feasted over these days in a manner that your intellectual thirst will be satisfied and your approach will be sharpened. Let me come to the theme of the conference "Re-imagining Vedāntic World Order", it bears contemporary relevance. It bears huge connection to the present scenario, nationally and globally, that is challenging us. 

Friends, the world is in turmoil as never before. I am asserting this, taking full note, we have been visited with two world wars, but it is in turmoil as never before, with conflagrations continually expanding, tensions and unrest doting every part of the planet, not only with human beings, but also with living beings. We are faced with cliff-hanging situation when it comes to existential challenge of climate menace. 

From digital misinformation, disinformation, to depleting resources, fast depleting. Why? We are reckless. We are not acting as trustees, we are guided by self-interest. We seek to exploit them for our gain, we ignore the larger good and welfare of the humanity and the planet. 

Cyber warfare, and as I said, apocalyptic climate menace, these unprecedented challenges require technological solutions with ethical wisdom. Ethical wisdom and practical approach can emanate from such kind of discourses and deliberations by deep understanding of Vedant philosophy.

I have no doubt, in this worrisomely alarming scenario, recourse to Vedant philosophy has become unavoidable, compulsively necessary, because it can show troubled humanity a ray of hope, a ray of light, and ultimate resolution. The world can be better with hopes coalescing, but we are having the very converse of it. Hope, sublime tendencies are not coming together. Those that are coming together are driven by sinister designs, nefarious tendencies, their objects are not pro-humanity. 

In this grim scenario, Vedant philosophy, its understanding, a deep understanding, its easy dissemination would be beacon of hope for the stressed planet. Vedant philosophy, if I may say, is proverbial lighthouse in the difficulties we are faced with, and the difficulties are quite close to us. We cannot wait a moment for addressing them. Time is fast running out, and Vedant philosophy, therefore, will put us and navigate us in the groove of righteousness like North Star.

Presently Bharat, home to one-sixth of humanity, is on exponential economic upsurge, unprecedented infrastructure growth, with accolades never dreamt earlier pouring from global outfits, global communities acclaiming our deep digitisation, our people-centric policies. The mood in the country is upbeat, one of hope and possibility, yet some issues require addressing, and these require urgent addressing in tandem, in togetherness, in concert, and in consensual approach. 

We are one of the oldest civilisations, in several ways unique and unparalleled. Ironically and painfully, in this country, reference to Sanatan, reference to Hindu, evokes baffling reaction beyond comprehension rather than understand the depth of these words, their deep meaning, people tend to be in reaction mode, at a drop of a hat, Can ignorance be more in extremity? Can the enormity of their lapse be countenanced? These are souls that have misguided themselves, driven by a dangerous ecosystem that is a threat not only to the society but to themselves. 

There are some people who are engaged in propelling algorithms that are a recipe for chaos, and they have now got a tool, technology, disruptive technologies. We are at another industrial revolution when it comes to these technologies. These technologies are now amongst us, with us in every facet of our life. The challenge is to harness them for good, and to see that the evil mind does not make them potent for the wrong reason.

It is here the sagely philosophy emanating from Vedanta should moderate them and dictate our lifestyle. We need to be in ultra-motion code. We have to get back to our cultural roots. We have to be alive to our philosophical heritage, because the world is getting increasingly interconnected. Sublimity, essence, quintessential values of Vedant philosophy remind us of inclusivity, and which country can define inclusivity more than our Bharat? Our values define it, our actions define it, our individual life defines it, our social life defines it. 

Two things, friends, are fundamental expression and dialogue. Everyone on the planet must have right of expression. Right of expression is a divine gift. Its curtailment, its dilution by any mechanism is not wholesome and this brings into picture another aspect, dialogue. If you have right of expression, you don't engage in dialogue then things can't work out. Therefore, both these must go hand in hand. Expression and dialogue are quintessential to civility, nurturing of democratic values, if I may say, expression and dialogue, being on the same page, they will generate symphony of harmony in society and harmony in society or in individual's life is fundamental to growth. 

Friends, it's a matter of great concern, hugely concerning the disturbance and disruptions, they have hambled, virtually defeated dialogue and expression. Dialogue, debate, discussion, deliberation have exited under the onslaught of disruption and disturbance, even in the theatres of democracy.

What a travesty! In these temples of democracy, their sanctity is outraged. It is no less than sacrileging them that is what is happening at the moment but if we delve deep into Vedant philosophy, we come to know about it, rest will follow. Therefore, such kind of discourses are very, very essential and another ironical situation that pains me and pains you all. Global disciplines are embracing the Vedant philosophy, our ancient wisdom. They are exploiting our gold mine, if I may say so, when we faced Covid, Atharveda dominated because it was encyclopaedic on health. They are doing it but some in our country, some in this land of spirituality, dismiss Vedanta and Sanatani texts as regressive.  

They are doing it without knowing it, not even physically seeing them, much less go through them. This dismissal often stems from perverted colonial mindsets, inefficient understanding of our intellectual heritage. What a travesty! These elements, who act in a structured manner, in a sinister fashion, the design is pernicious. They camouflage their destructive thought process by perverted versions of secularism. This is very dangerous, secularism को एक ढाल बना दिया गया है। ऐसे कुकृत्य को कवच देने के लिए ऐसे तत्वों का पर्दाफास करना हर भारतीय का कर्तव्य है, क्योंकि हमें याद रखना पड़ेगा हम भारतीय हैं। भारतीयता हमारी पहचान है। राष्ट्रवाद के प्रति समर्पण हमारा धर्म है और इस बारे में अन्य कोई विचार नहीं हो सकता। एक नई बात और आ रही है, मै ही सही हूं बाकी सब गलत है। अज्ञानता की प्रकाष्ठा है That I am alone right is enormity of ignorance. It reflects arrogance in extremity, steadfast clinging to one's stance as absolute truth and refusing to consider other viewpoint these days dominates public discourse. 

This intolerance undermines: 

• First, our democratic values.

• Second, it disturbs harmony in society. And;

• Third, it doesn't allow productivity. On all counts, it leads only to disaster and failure.

This rigid insistence of one's perceived righteousness coupled with resistance to other perspectives I will not listen to you. Your point of view has no value for me. I will not even consider it. That approach coupled with resistance to other perspectives this has become a pattern beyond our country and this is the reason for much of the disturbance, restiveness and restlessness in the populace across the planet. Such approach, friends, in my view is antithetical to sublimity of Vedant philosophy that invariably offers a ray of hope and light howsoever dark the tunnel may be.

It is a solution for every situation, as was indicated. It doesn't answer only questions, it goes beyond answering questions. It dispels your doubts. It satisfies the thirst of your inquisitiveness. It takes you on the board with full conviction and devotion. Vedanta can catalyse by bridging timeless wisdom with modern daunting challenges. ऐसी परिस्थिति में ऐतिहासिक पृष्ठभूमि में चलना चाहिए। 

We had, during Mahabharata सभापर्व  was there always to draw right lessons after dialogue, debate, discussion, deliberation understanding each other's point of view in an atmosphere of discipline and decorum. Never believing I alone am right. Always believing you have a good point, the point needs analysis, deliberation. We must act in concert. 

यदि इतिहास को देख तो It emanates from history that सभापर्व has served as crucibles of wisdom debate and preservation of dharmic traditions. These सभापर्व  were crucibles where ideation churning catalysed. The greatest gift an individual can give to the society is ideation and I am sure during these three days you will be ideating as I said that will be enlightening.

I have no doubt your deliberations and reflections in this सभा on Vedanta's transformative power which is enormous which is much beyond the nuclear power which is much beyond the power of disruptive technologies would go a long way. First, in arresting the downside. Second, in retrieving the situation, repairing it and lastly getting us back into the right groove. Vedanta is much beyond a philosophy, it is algorithm for human consciousness and consciousness both. 

In today's era of artificial intelligence and machine learning and the kind blockchain and other disruptive technologies take them all in one block and you will find this ancient framework of Vedant philosophy and knowledge offers insights into the most sophisticated computer that is available in the universe and that is the human mind. Vedanta extends more than just offering answers as I said, it dissolves your question. It does not negate your question, it does not question your question, it dissolves it. You absorb the resolution. The absorption by you is so seamless that you are in oneness and the greatest satisfaction is when we are troubled, when we are inquisitive, when we don't have an answer and someone shows us the path. This is what Vedanta does.

Friends, it is expedient, I would say it is urgently expedient. The collective mission of this August Assembly this Sabha must be to extend this illumination not to millions but to billions. This illumination, friends, works at both levels like what can you contribute for your nation? An individual can contribute, society can also contribute. This also here the illumination is individual and collective.

As they say, व्यष्टि (vyashti) and collective समष्टि (samashti)  at both and these will transform personal consciousness by generating social awareness. This re-imagining which is one of your facets of your theme provides framework for addressing modern challenges while maintaining the authenticity of ancient wisdom.

Look at the modern challenge your child faces, look at the modern challenge your relationship faces, look at the present challenge that defines all the wrong things about your relationships with your teacher, with your parents, with your neighbours. A solution is available in our ancient wisdom Vedant philosophy. At its core Vedanta promotes dialogue. This dialogic tradition shows how different viewpoints can coexist while maintaining philosophical rigour. I try my utmost as Chairman Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha is house of elders, council of states, the upper housen and there we are never in dialogue. I am sure if the members of parliament are led to study Vedant philosophy they will surely be more receptive. I would hold people at large also responsible in some way, they should generate pressure on people who fail to perform their duty. People do it when a doctor is not performing duty, when a lawyer is not performing duty, when a public servant is not performing duty but why don't you be in high decibel agitation to deal when your representatives don't do their duty. Their actions are not in conformity with the essence of Vedant philosophy.

These traditions engage in rigorous debate, there is a respect for decorum, respect for other point of view and this is reflective of intellectual maturity. This model of respect for disagreement वाद-विवाद परंपरा exemplifies a scholarly discourse. मैं आपसे सहमत नहीं हूं यह intellectual discourse है, पर मैं आपके मत को अपने जहन में ही नहीं आने दूंगा। 

I will be impregnably equipped to be repulsive to your point of view when you don't listen to other point of view, you are revealing one thing, that you are arrogant. You think I am alone, right, no one else. You are being judgemental on the other person and secondly, for rational mind, you are irrational and for ordinary language, you are foolish. एक सुना था मैंने। बहुत लंबा समय हो गया अपना चेहरा देखा नहीं। कोई मुझे आईना दिखाए। वेदांत फिलॉसफी इन लोगों को आईना दिखाए।

As a matter of fact, disagreement is the greatest expression of democratic values, like a failure is not failure, a failure is a stepping stone to success. A failure is not your defeat, failure comes from several circumstances. You plan something very great and weather comes into way, inclement weather. You can't go to your place you like, It happens. 

Failures, young boys and girls, should not be taken as defeat. अब क्या है कि दो ही पक्ष हो गए—Binary word, हां या ना। अरे हां या ना का तो मतलब ही नहीं है। Vedant philosophy teaches you not this, not that. It doesn't say yes or no. 

India's enduring unity amid tremendous diversity strength from this Vedanta foundation. Just imagine why this country has never believed in expansion. Why we have been so absorbing? Our inclusivity is embedded in our DNA that has evolved for more than 5,000 years. 

Vedanta's dynamism allows e-generation to discover contemporary relevance while preserving timeless truths. I tell you, before Socrates, we had a philosopher, Heraclitus, he is famously known for, ‘the only constant in life is change.’ But he buttresses it by an illustration, the same person cannot enter the same river twice. Neither the person is the same nor the river is the same. Similar is that Vedant philosophy will have answers for problems that will keep on evolving but you will find solution there. This adaptability enables Vedanta to address modern challenges while being pegged to its eternal principles. 

World is at the cusp of another revolution, I said, and the challenges will be incremental now. They will not be arithmetic, they will be geometric and therefore, let us bring Vedantic wisdom from ivory towers to classrooms, ensuring its reach to every corner of society. Therefore, in all humility, I propose adding a dedicated panel next year to discuss whether accessibility, adaptability, and practical implementability. I'm sure your deliberations will make the timeless ideas more relevant to contemporary world.

Friends, remember Vedanta is not a relic of the past, it is relevant for the present as it offers a blueprint for the future. As we face unprecedented global challenges, it offers practical solutions for sustainable development, ethical innovation, and harmonious coexistence. May our ancient wisdom guide our journey of humankind. 

Thank you so much.

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JK/RC/SM

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