- Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan addressed the Second Convocation in Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi
- He urged teachers and students to discover, preserve, edit and publish unpublished Sanskrit manuscripts
- He referred to a foundational corpus of ₹500 crore under the Gyan Bharatam Mission
- He asked graduates to avoid drugs and use social media in moderation
- Three publications were released, including 'Amnaya Kalpataru' and 'Shodha Prabha'
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan told the Second Convocation of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University that the institution should now become a leading international centre for Sanskrit studies. He spoke at Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi.
A call to protect old texts
Radhakrishnan urged the university’s teachers and students to find, preserve, critically edit and publish unpublished Sanskrit manuscripts. He said rare texts must not be lost and should reach future generations.
He pointed to the Gyan Bharatam Mission, which has a foundational corpus of ₹500 crore for manuscript preservation and documentation. He said the mission is making India’s large manuscript heritage available to Indians and the world.
He also referred to the National Education Policy 2020 and the Ashtadashi scheme while speaking about the revival of Sanskrit.
Praise for the university
Radhakrishnan congratulated the university on its NAAC grade of A++. He noted its research across the Indian Knowledge Tradition.
He said Sanskrit connects India’s many languages, calling it the “golden string” that links them. He praised the university’s Subhashitas, its 44-year tradition of publishing the Vidyapeeth Panchang, and its teaching of Prakrit and Vastu Shastra.
He recalled the university’s journey from a Sanskrit Vidyapeetha to a Central University. He said this was the time to fulfil the vision of its founder, former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. He also said Shastri’s “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” call reflected India’s resolve to guard its borders and secure food.
Radhakrishnan credited several initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership with creating a favourable ecosystem for Sanskrit and the Indian Knowledge System.
Advice to graduates
Addressing the graduates, Radhakrishnan urged them to keep learning throughout their lives. He asked them to carry forward the values taught by their Acharyas and parents.
He told them to use technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to preserve and promote Sanskrit. He also urged young people to stay away from drugs and substance abuse. He advised them to choose discipline, sports, good company and meaningful work. On social media, he said students should use it wisely and in moderation, and spend their time on reading, learning, skill building and real relationships.
At the ceremony, he led the gathering in the “No to Drugs” pledge and presented gold medals to meritorious graduates. He also released three publications: ‘Amnaya Kalpataru’, ‘Vidyamitram’ and ‘Shodha Prabha’ (July–September 2026).
Union Minister of State for Education and DoNER Sukanta Majumdar and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Murli Manohar Pathak attended the event, along with scholars, Acharyas, faculty, staff, students and parents.
