Vice President Calls For Discovery, Preservation, Publication Of Unpublished Sanskrit Manuscripts
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday called upon teachers and students of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University to undertake the discovery, preservation, critical editing and publication of unpublished Sanskrit manuscripts. Participating in the University’s Second Convocation in New Delhi, he said the Gyan Bharatam Mission, backed by 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.
Highlighting the University’s evolution from a Sanskrit Vidyapeetha to a Central University, Vice President Radhakrishnan said it was time for the institution to emerge as a leading international centre of excellence for Sanskrit studies, fulfilling the vision of its founder, former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Paying tribute to the former Prime Minister, he said 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.
Sanskrit: The golden thread connecting India’s languages
The Vice-President lauded the University for securing the highest NAAC grade of A++ and undertaking research across diverse fields of the Indian Knowledge Tradition. He described Sanskrit as the “golden string” connecting the pearls of India’s many languages into one grand garland. He also highlighted the University’s efforts to promote Sanskrit through Subhashitas across the campus, its 44-year tradition of publishing the Vidyapeeth Panchang, and the teaching of classical disciplines such as Prakrit and Vastu Shastra.
VP Radhakrishnan said India’s development must remain rooted in its civilisational heritage. He noted that initiatives under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had created a favourable ecosystem for the revival of Sanskrit and the promotion of the Indian Knowledge System. Referring to the National Education Policy 2020 and the Ashtadashi scheme, he stressed the need to preserve rare Sanskrit texts, study them and make them accessible to future generations.
Harness AI to preserve and promote Sanskrit
Addressing the graduating students, the Vice-President urged them to remain lifelong learners and uphold the values imparted by their Acharyas and parents. Emphasising the role of technology in the age of Artificial Intelligence, he called upon them to harness AI for the preservation and promotion of Sanskrit.
He also urged young people to stay away from drugs and substance abuse, advocating discipline, sports, good company and meaningful pursuits. Advising students to use social media wisely and in moderation, he encouraged them to devote more time to reading, learning, skill development and building genuine relationships.
During the ceremony, the Vice-President presented gold medals to meritorious graduates, led the gathering in taking the “No to Drugs” pledge and released three publications: Amnaya Kalpataru, Vidyamitram and Shodha Prabha (July–September 2026).
The convocation was attended by Union Minister of State for Education and DoNER Sukanta Majumdar; Prof. Murli Manohar Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University; and distinguished scholars, Acharyas, university officials, faculty members, staff, students, parents and Sanskrit enthusiasts.
-PIB Inputs
