New Delhi: While debate, discussion, dissent and even confrontation are essential elements of a healthy democracy, such processes must ultimately lead to a conclusion. And once a decision is taken, there must be a collective willingness to cooperate in its implementation to ensure smooth and effective administration, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan said in his address during the 9th convocation of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi on Monday.
Recalling the teachings of Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary, the Vice President said education must go beyond degrees to build character, strengthen intellect and empower individuals to stand on their own feet.
He emphasised that education and proper training alone would enable India’s youth to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat.
Highlighting India’s civilisational tradition of knowledge, the VP Radhakrishnan referred to ancient centres of learning such as Nalanda and Takshashila, noting that Indian scriptures and classics, from the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita to Kautilya’s Arthashastra and Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural, have consistently placed learning at the centre of societal and ethical life. True education shapes conduct and character, and is not limited to the acquisition of degrees, he underlined.
Appreciating the inclusive atmosphere of JNU and the efforts taken by the University to promote equity and social inclusion in both student admissions and faculty recruitment, the Vice President stressed that modern science and traditional values must grow together.
He also commended the leadership of the University for expanding its academic engagement into emerging and civilisational fields, including the establishment of new Centres for Hindu, Jain and Buddhist Studies at the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies. The VP also appreciated JNU’s sustained efforts to promote Indian languages through initiatives such as the Special Centre for Tamil Studies and chairs and programmes in Assamese, Odia, Marathi and Kannada, observing that knowledge creation must flourish in mother tongues in line with the spirit of the National Education Policy.
In his concluding remarks, the Vice President urged graduates to uphold three core responsibilities — intellectual honesty in the pursuit of truth, social inclusion to reduce inequalities, and active contribution to national development. He called upon them to remain guided by constitutional values and India’s civilisational ethos, and to always respect their parents and teachers.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, JNU chancellor Kanwal Sibal, VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, senior officials, faculty members, graduating students and their families were present at the event.
