18-09-2026:Address by the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand at Maharshi Panini Sanskrit and Vedic University, Ujjain

Jai Hind!

Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Shiv Shankar Mishra Ji; Padma Shri Prof. Bhagwati Lal Purohit Ji; Prof. Radhavallabh Tripathi Ji; Prof. Mithila Prasad Tripathi Ji; Prof. Balkrishna Sharma Ji; Prof. Kedar Narayan Joshi Ji; all the respected Acharyas, distinguished scholars, researchers, dear students, and all the dignitaries present here—my respectful greetings and warm regards to you all.

It is a matter of immense privilege for me to be present today on this sacred land of knowledge, Ujjayini. I feel truly blessed to be in the presence of that great Indian knowledge tradition which, for thousands of years, has shaped and guided our intellectual, spiritual, and cultural consciousness.

On the sacred soil of Ujjayini, history and the present seem to come together. This is the very land where Lord Shri Krishna received his education at the ashram of Maharshi Sandipani. Ujjayini has also been the karmabhoomi of illustrious personalities such as Emperor Vikramaditya and Raja Bhoj. This city has a deep association with the spiritual discipline of Acharya Bhartrihari and the creative legacy of Mahakavi Kalidasa. Revered as one of the seven Moksha Puris, Ujjayini occupies a distinctive place in India’s long journey of knowledge.

I have myself come here from the sacred land of Haridwar, one of the Moksha Puris. On one side is Maa Ganga, and on the other, Maa Kshipra. Standing today between these two sacred rivers, I feel as though two great streams of India’s knowledge tradition are greeting one another. This is not merely a confluence of rivers; it is a confluence of knowledge, spiritual discipline, and culture.

India’s Sanatana tradition has never regarded knowledge as something confined merely to books. For us, knowledge is a way of seeing life, a quest for truth, and a means of serving the welfare of society.

Our sages proclaimed:

“आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः।”

“May noble and beneficial thoughts come to us from all directions.”

This represents the openness and inclusiveness of India’s knowledge tradition—to receive knowledge, to reflect upon it, to enrich it, and to dedicate it to the welfare of humanity. This has been the enduring strength of our intellectual heritage.

Within this magnificent tradition, Maharshi Panini occupies a truly distinguished place. Thousands of years ago, he presented the Sanskrit language in an extraordinarily scientific, logical, and systematic manner—an enduring testament to India’s remarkable intellectual capabilities. The Ashtadhyayi is an extraordinary intellectual achievement that organises the intricate structure of language through precise सूत्रs and rules.

The discipline of Maharshi Panini teaches us that the power of knowledge lies not merely in its accumulation, but also in its systematic expression and its transmission from one generation to another. It is for this reason that the launch of the innovative initiative ‘Kanthe-Kanthe Ashtadhyayi’ from this university today assumes special significance.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the university for this initiative. The effort to take the Ashtadhyayi beyond the confines of a text or merely academic study, and to bring it to children, young people, and wider sections of society, can become an important means of connecting our knowledge tradition with the new generation.

When knowledge moves from the pages of a book to the human voice, it becomes a living tradition. And when that living tradition becomes connected with the lives of the younger generation, it becomes a source of strength for the future.

Therefore, ‘Kanthe-Kanthe Ashtadhyayi’ is a powerful bridge between knowledge and generations.

Panini presented the complexity of language through a clear structure of rules and सूत्रs. Today, we live in an age of technology, where structure, rules, systems, and logic have acquired enormous significance. From this perspective, the intellectual framework of Panini remains deeply relevant even today.

This naturally brings us to the present age.

We are living in the era of Artificial Intelligence and modern technology. The question before us should not be whether we have to choose between tradition and technology. Rather, the question should be: How can we use the power of technology to make our great knowledge tradition more accessible, more widespread, and more effective?

The digitisation of India’s vast manuscript heritage, preservation of ancient texts, safeguarding the correct pronunciation of mantras and shlokas, comparative study of different textual traditions, and making the meaning and interpretation of difficult texts accessible to the younger generation—these are areas where modern technology and Artificial Intelligence can become valuable instruments.

The harmonious integration of the Acharya tradition with modern technology can become an effective means of connecting our ancient knowledge heritage with the future.

Tradition connects us to our roots, while technology gives us the ability to move from those roots towards the future. When the roots are strong and the vision is directed towards the future, a society and a nation can move forward with confidence.

In this context, initiatives such as ‘Gyan Bharatam’ are also of immense importance. Our manuscripts are not merely old texts. They preserve India’s memory, knowledge, science, philosophy, and thousands of years of creative intellectual endeavour.

Surveying, collecting, preserving, and digitising this knowledge heritage is our responsibility towards generations yet to come.

I am pleased that this university is playing an active role in this direction. Through the ‘Sanskrit Gaurav Granth Vyakhyan Mala’, efforts are also being made to bring great works such as the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Arthashastra, and Natyashastra to the wider public.

We must not view these texts merely as relics of the past. We must also recognise them as living sources of Indian thought, philosophy, and our understanding of life.

And a knowledge tradition does not remain alive through texts alone.

It remains alive through Acharyas.

It is a matter of great honour for me to have had the opportunity to felicitate the distinguished scholars present here today. I offer my deepest respect to Padma Shri Prof. Bhagwati Lal Purohit Ji, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Prof. Shiv Shankar Mishra Ji, Prof. Radhavallabh Tripathi Ji, Prof. Kedar Narayan Joshi Ji, Prof. Mithila Prasad Tripathi Ji, and Prof. Balkrishna Sharma Ji for their scholarship, dedication, and lifelong commitment to Sanskrit.

On behalf of all the Sanskrit scholars of Uttarakhand, I express my heartfelt respect and reverence to all of you.

Preserving knowledge and transmitting it to the next generation is also national service. Your lifelong dedication will continue to serve as a source of guidance and inspiration for generations to come.

As I connect with the great knowledge tradition of Ujjayini, my thoughts naturally turn towards my own Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand is the land of the Gods, the land of valour, the land of Yoga, the land of the Shastras, and also the land of Sanskrit.

In the year 2010, Sanskrit was accorded the status of the second official language of Uttarakhand. Numerous dedicated scholars and practitioners of Sanskrit contributed to this historic and significant endeavour.

On this occasion, it is particularly relevant to recall the contribution and lifelong dedication of Acharya Shri Dinesh Chandra Joshi Ji towards Sanskrit. His birth centenary is being commemorated this year. This occasion inspires us to remember and honour that great tradition of dedicated service to Sanskrit.

Ujjayini and Uttarakhand may be geographically distant, but in terms of knowledge and culture, there exists a deep and intimate connection between the two.

On one side lies the land in the lap of the Himalayas, the source of the Ganga and Yamuna; on the other stands Ujjayini, carrying forward its magnificent knowledge tradition on the banks of the Kshipra.

I extend a warm invitation to all of you to visit the sacred Devbhoomi Uttarakhand.

I am confident that we will take forward the proposed academic and research collaboration between Maharshi Panini Sanskrit and Vedic University, Uttarakhand Sanskrit University, and the Department of Hindu Studies at Doon University.

Exchange and interaction among students and researchers, collaborative research, and the wider dissemination of Indian knowledge traditions through modern technology can give these two great streams of knowledge—from Ujjayini and Uttarakhand—a meaningful and enriching confluence of knowledge.

At the heart of this entire journey are our young people.

I would like to say to my young friends:

Stay connected to your roots, but keep your vision firmly focused on the future.

Study Panini, and understand Artificial Intelligence as well.

Explore the wisdom of the Vedas and the Upanishads, and at the same time engage with the new possibilities emerging in modern science.

Embrace technology, but carry your identity and your values with you.

To remain rooted while moving confidently towards the future should be the defining spirit of India’s youth.

Our heritage must not remain merely a matter of pride; it must become a source of strength for building the India of tomorrow.

Our Sanatana culture has given us a universal vision:

“वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्।”

“The entire world is one family.”

May India’s knowledge never remain confined to India alone, but become a means for the welfare of all humanity. This is the larger message of our knowledge tradition.

Let us, from this sacred land of Maharshi Panini, take a solemn resolve that our Sanatana knowledge tradition will move forward with the power of modern technology.

Sanskrit will reach every section of society.
Our ancient texts will engage with the new generation.
Our Acharyas will continue to illuminate the path of knowledge.
And our youth will carry that light towards the future.

“ज्ञानं परमं बलम्।”

Knowledge is the supreme strength.

Knowledge is our strength. Sanskrit is our heritage. The Indian knowledge tradition is our identity. And this very strength of knowledge can become one of the foundations for building a Viksit Bharat.

With this conviction, I extend my heartfelt शुभकामनाएँ to the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, all the Acharyas, scholars, researchers, and students of Maharshi Panini Sanskrit and Vedic University.

With these words, I conclude my address.

Vande Mataram!
Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
Jai Hind!