Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan today addressed the Second Convocation of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University at Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi. He congratulated the graduating students, their parents, faculty members and the University community on the occasion. He also led the gathering in taking the “No to Drugs” pledge and presented gold medals to meritorious graduating students.
Highlighting the University’s journey from a Sanskrit Vidyapeetha to a Central University, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that it was now time for the institution to establish itself as a leading international centre of excellence for Sanskrit studies, fulfilling the vision of its founder, former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. Paying tribute to Shri Shastri, he said that his immortal call of “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” was not merely a slogan but reflected India’s resolve to protect its borders and ensure food security.
The Vice-President lauded the University for securing the highest NAAC grade of A++ and for conducting research across diverse domains of the Indian Knowledge Tradition. He said that while every Indian language has enriched the nation, Sanskrit is the “golden string” connecting the pearls of India’s many languages into one grand garland. He also appreciated the University’s efforts to keep Sanskrit alive across the campus through Subhashitas, its 44-year tradition of publishing the Vidyapeeth Panchang, and its teaching of classical disciplines including Prakrit and Vastu Shastra.
Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan emphasised that India’s development must remain rooted in its civilisational heritage. He said that several initiatives under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi have created a favourable ecosystem for the resurgence of Sanskrit and promotion of the Indian Knowledge System. Referring to the National Education Policy 2020 and the Ashtadashi scheme, he said that rare Sanskrit texts must not be allowed to disappear and should be preserved, studied and made accessible to future generations.
Calling for greater scholarly engagement with India’s manuscript heritage, the Vice-President urged the University’s teachers and students to undertake the discovery, preservation, critical editing and publication of unpublished Sanskrit manuscripts. Referring to the Gyan Bharatam Mission, he said that the initiative, with a foundational corpus of ₹500 crore for manuscript preservation and documentation, is bringing India’s vast manuscript heritage to the people of India and the world.
Addressing the graduating students, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan urged them to remain lifelong learners and to carry forward the values imparted by their Acharyas and parents. In the age of Artificial Intelligence, he called upon them to harness technology for the preservation and promotion of Sanskrit.
The Vice-President urged the youth to stay away from drugs and substance abuse, and to choose discipline, sports, good company and meaningful pursuits. He also advised students to use social media wisely and in moderation, investing their time in reading, learning, skill development and building genuine relationships.
During the ceremony, the Vice-President also released three publications: ‘Amnaya Kalpataru’, ‘Vidyamitram’ and ‘Shodha Prabha’ (July–September 2026).
The ceremony was attended by Shri Sukanta Majumdar, Union Minister of State for Education and DoNER; Prof. Murli Manohar Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University; distinguished scholars, Acharyas, officers, faculty members, staff, students, parents and Sanskrit enthusiasts.
