The Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today said that it is ironic and painful that references to Hindu and Sanatan are evoking baffling reactions in Bharat.

Delivering the inaugural address at the 27 th International Congress of Vedanta at Convention Centre in Jawaharlal Nehru University today, Shri Dhankhar said that, “We are one of the oldest civilizations, in several ways unique and unparalleled. Ironically and painfully, in this country, reference to Sanatan, reference to Hindu evokes baffling reactions beyond comprehension, rather than understanding the depth of these words, the deep meaning, people tend to be in reaction mode at the 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 this society but to themselves.”

“Some in our country, some in this land of spirituality, dismiss Vedanta and Sanatani texts as regressive. And 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. These elements act in a structured manner, in a sinister fashion. Their design is pernicious. They camouflage their destructive thought process by perverting the concept of secularism. This is very dangerous. Secularism has been used as a shield to protect such heinous acts. Exposing these elements is the duty of every Indian”, he added.

Reflecting on the contemporaneous relevance of Vedanta, Shri Dhankhar said that, “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 cliffhanging situation when it comes to existential challenge of climate menace. From digital misinformation, disinformation, to depleting resources, farce depleting…..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 Vedanta philosophy.”

Vedanta offers insights into the most sophisticated computer we possess - the Human Mind!@JNU_official_50 #JNU #Vedanta pic.twitter.com/VW2Zt11rCY

— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) January 3, 2025

“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 catalyze by bridging timeless wisdom with modern daunting challenges”, he added.

Stressing on the need to stay attached to our cultural roots, the Vice-President underlined, “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, quintessential values of Vedanta 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.”

Emphasizing on the need to increase access to Vedantic wisdom, Shri Dhankhar said that, “Let  us bring Vedantic wisdom from ivory towers to classrooms, ensuring its reach to every corner of society. Vedanta is not a relic of the past, but a blueprint for the future. As we face unprecedented global challenges, it offers practical solutions for sustainable development, ethical innovation, and harmonious coexistence”.

Highlighting the vedantic wisdom of dialogue and discussion, Shri Dhankhar stated,  “ Two things, friends, are fundamental, expression and dialogue. Everyone on the planet must have the right of expression. The 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 the right of expression but you don't engage in dialogue. Then things can't work out. And therefore, both these must go hand in hand. Expression and dialogue are quintessential to civility. Dialogue, debate, discussion, deliberation have exited under the onslaught of disruption and disturbance, even in the theatres of democracy. What a travesty? If these temples of democracy, their sanctities are outraged, it is no less than sacrilege to them. That is what is happening at the moment.”

Referring to the disturbances and disruptions in the Parliament Shri Dhankhar said, “I try my utmost as Chairman Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha is the House of Elders, Council of States, the upper house. And there we are never in dialogue. I am sure if the members of parliament are led to study Vedanta philosophy, they would surely be more receptive. And 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 a sense of Vedanta philosophy.”

“That I am alone right, is enormity of ignorance. It reflects arrogance in extremity, steadfastly clinging to one's stance as absolute truth, and refusing to consider other viewpoints 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”, he further added.

Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Shri Arindam Chakrabarti, Emeritus Professor, University of Hawaii, USA, students, faculty members and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Read full text here : https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2089795

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JK/RC/SM