VP Radhakrishnan urges students to marry knowledge with character for nation-building

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 12, 2026

Calling upon India’s youth to uphold intellectual integrity and contribute meaningfully to nation-building, Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Monday said education must transcend degrees and credentials to shape character, strengthen intellect and empower individuals to stand on their own feet.

Addressing students while recalling the teachings of Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary, the Vice-President emphasised that only education combined with proper training can enable young Indians to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Highlighting India’s rich civilisational legacy of learning, the Vice-President referred to ancient centres such as Nalanda and Takshashila, noting that Indian scriptures and classical texts — from the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita to Kautilya’s Arthashastra and Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural — have consistently placed knowledge and ethics at the core of societal life. True education, he said, is reflected in conduct and character, not merely in the accumulation of degrees.

Stressing the need for harmony between modern science and traditional values, the Vice-President underscored the importance of democratic engagement in academic spaces. Referring to the ethos of Jawaharlal Nehru University, he observed that debate, discussion, dissent and even confrontation are integral to a vibrant democracy. However, he added that such processes must ultimately lead to decisions, and once taken, there should be collective cooperation in their implementation to ensure effective governance and administration.

The Vice-President appreciated the inclusive academic environment fostered by JNU and its sustained efforts to promote equity and social inclusion in student admissions as well as faculty recruitment. He also commended the University leadership for expanding academic engagement into emerging and civilisational domains, including the establishment of new Centres for Hindu, Jain and Buddhist Studies at the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies.

Lauding JNU’s initiatives to promote Indian languages, he highlighted the role of the Special Centre for Tamil Studies and various chairs and programmes in Assamese, Odia, Marathi and Kannada. He observed that knowledge creation must flourish in mother tongues, in keeping with the spirit of the National Education Policy.

In his concluding remarks, the Vice-President urged graduating students to uphold three core responsibilities: intellectual honesty in the pursuit of truth, commitment to social inclusion to reduce inequalities, and active participation in national development. Calling upon them to remain guided by constitutional values and India’s civilisational ethos, he also stressed the importance of respecting parents and teachers. Wishing the students success in their future endeavours, he reaffirmed India’s unity and collective resolve to progress together.

Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Kanwal Sibal, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, senior officials, faculty members, graduating students and their families were present at the event.