Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan urged newly graduated students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to channel their education and skills towards nation-building. Speaking at JNU’s ninth Convocation on January 12, he highlighted that education and proper training are essential for the youth of India to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047.
On Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, Radhakrishnan emphasized that education should transcend mere degrees, focusing instead on character development, intellectual growth, and personal empowerment. He urged graduates to embrace three fundamental responsibilities: maintaining intellectual honesty in their search for truth, promoting social inclusion to tackle inequalities, and actively participating in national development.
The Vice-President called on the graduates to adhere to constitutional values and India’s rich civilizational heritage while always showing respect to their parents and teachers. He referenced ancient educational institutions like Nalanda and Takshashila, noting that Indian scriptures, including the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, and Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural, have long placed learning at the core of societal and ethical life.
Radhakrishnan reiterated that authentic education is about shaping behavior and character rather than simply obtaining credentials. He insisted that modern science should coexist with traditional values. Reflecting on JNU’s democratic ethos, he remarked that healthy democracy relies on debate, discussion, dissent, and sometimes confrontation, but each discourse must ultimately lead to actionable conclusions. He stressed the importance of collective cooperation for effective implementation once decisions are made.
He noted the university’s inclusive environment and its commitment to promoting equity in student admissions and faculty recruitment. Radhakrishnan praised JNU’s leadership for expanding academic endeavors into new and traditional fields, such as the establishment of Centres for Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Studies within the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies. Furthermore, he commended JNU’s initiatives to promote Indian languages, including the Special Centre for Tamil Studies and the establishment of programs in Assamese, Odia, Marathi, and Kannada, emphasizing that knowledge creation should thrive in native languages in accordance with the National Education Policy.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/01/12/v-p-radhakrishnan-asks-jnu-graduates-to-boost-nation-building/
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Publish Date: 2026-01-12 21:10:00
