26-09-2026:Address by the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand On the Occasion of the 12th Convocation of Uttarakhand Sanskrit University

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Jai Hind!

Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat Ji, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister, Government of Uttarakhand; Prof. Raghavendra Prasad Tiwari Ji, Vice-Chancellor, Pragjyotishpur University, Guwahati; distinguished guest Prof. Ramesh Kumar Pandey Ji; Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Sanskrit University; esteemed members of the Executive Council and Academic Council; members of the scholarly community; and my dear students!

Today’s convocation is a moment of achievement, pride and new hope for the students of the University, their parents and their teachers. It gives me immense joy and a deep sense of fulfilment to be present amongst all of you on this dignified occasion.

Haridwar is not merely a city; it is a living embodiment of the spiritual consciousness of Sanatan culture. The sacred flow of Maa Ganga from this holy land conveys to humanity the message of purity, service and welfare. It is a matter of great privilege for me to address you all at the 12th Convocation of Uttarakhand Sanskrit University, situated on such a sacred land.

On this auspicious occasion, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the students receiving medals and degrees today. I also extend my special congratulations to your parents and teachers, whose sacrifice, dedication and guidance have paved the way for your success.

My dear graduates,

A convocation is not merely a ceremony marking the completion of education. It is the beginning of a new journey in life. Today, you are not merely receiving a degree; you are also receiving a new responsibility towards society and the nation. You came to this University as seekers of knowledge, and from today, you leave as seekers of service.

You possess knowledge, values and the energy of youth. It is now your responsibility to connect these three with the needs of society and give them meaningful expression.

Our acharyas have beautifully explained the journey of learning:

“आचार्यात् पादमादत्ते पादं शिष्यः स्वमेधया।
पादं सब्रह्मचारिभ्यः पादं कालक्रमेण तु॥”

A student acquires one part of knowledge from the teacher, one part through their own intellect and effort, one part through interaction with fellow students, and the remaining part through the experiences of life.

Therefore, today’s convocation is not the completion of knowledge; it is the auspicious beginning of a lifelong journey of learning.

Knowledge is a wealth that no one can steal. And unlike material wealth, it does not diminish when shared; rather, it becomes richer. That is why it is said:

“विद्याधनं सर्वधनप्रधानम्।”

The wealth of knowledge is the foremost of all forms of wealth.

Today, you possess this invaluable wealth. Its true meaning will be realised only when your knowledge spreads the light of wisdom in society and gives a new direction to people’s lives.

Dear students,

Sanskrit is not merely an ancient language. It is one of the principal carriers of India’s intellectual consciousness, philosophical tradition and cultural memory. From the Vedas to the Upanishads, from the Ramayana and Mahabharata to the Bhagavad Gita, from philosophy to grammar, and from Ayurveda to Yoga—a vast universe of India’s knowledge traditions has been preserved in Sanskrit.

Sanskrit does not merely give us words; it gives us a way of looking at life. It carries knowledge, discernment, a sense of duty and a profound spirit of human welfare.

Therefore, it is not enough to preserve Sanskrit merely as a heritage of the past. We must connect it with the possibilities of the future.

We are living in an age of Artificial Intelligence, digital technology, linguistics and machine translation. The scientific structure of Sanskrit, its vast body of literature and its rich vocabulary offer immense possibilities for new research through modern technology. We must take Sanskrit beyond the shelves of libraries and into the digital world, research laboratories and the global discourse of knowledge.

The National Education Policy 2020 has opened new opportunities for Indian languages and Indian knowledge traditions. This is the time to connect Sanskrit with the new generation, new technologies and new avenues of research.

What could be a more natural relationship than that between Devabhasha—the language of the divine—and Devbhoomi—the land of the divine?

Uttarakhand is the land associated with the memories of Ved Vyasa, the spiritual discipline of Adi Shankaracharya, the sacred consciousness of Badrinath and Kedarnath, and the austerity of the Himalayas. Blessed with the Ganga, Yamuna and numerous other sacred rivers, pilgrimage centres and spiritual traditions, the presence of a Sanskrit University in this Devbhoomi carries with it a special sense of responsibility.

My wish is that just as the Ganga, emerging from the Himalayas, serves the welfare of people across India and the world, so too should the Ganga of knowledge emerging from Uttarakhand Sanskrit University guide and benefit the entire humanity.

The message of Sanskrit transcends all boundaries:

“वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्।”
The entire world is one family.

“सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः, सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः।”
May everyone be happy; may everyone be free from illness.

And:

“संगच्छध्वं संवदध्वम्।”
Let us move together; let us dialogue together.

These are not merely verses. They are a philosophy of life for humanity. This is the nobility of Sanskrit, and this is the timeless vision of India.

Today, the opportunities before students of Sanskrit are also expanding. Along with teaching, new avenues are emerging in translation, research, Yoga, Ayurveda, Indian philosophy, tourism, culture, publishing, digital media and language technology.

Therefore, it is essential that we connect Sanskrit with employment, with research, with technology and with innovation.

I am pleased that Uttarakhand Sanskrit University is continuously progressing in the fields of teaching and learning, research, promotion of Sanskrit literature and expansion of modern academic resources. The University’s initiatives, including international Sanskrit conferences, All-India Sanskrit Kavi Sammelans and various research initiatives, reflect its vibrant academic engagement.

I express my special gratitude to Padma Shri Abhiraj Rajendra Mishra Ji for enriching Sanskrit and the Indian knowledge tradition by donating nearly ten thousand rare books, journals and periodicals to the University. The preservation of these valuable works under the name “Abhiraj-Pustak-Vithi” will serve as an important intellectual resource for generations to come.

My expectation is that, in the years ahead, Uttarakhand Sanskrit University will become a modern expression of the great knowledge traditions of Takshashila and Nalanda—a centre where students and scholars from India and across the world come to study and undertake research in Sanskrit, Indian knowledge traditions and contemporary disciplines connected with them.

My dear graduates,

As you step out of this University today, carry with you five resolutions: to continuously expand your knowledge; to imbibe values in your life; to serve society; to embrace innovation; and to place the nation above all else.

Remember, the degree being added to your name today is not merely a title. Behind it lie the sacrifices of your parents, the dedication of your teachers and the expectations of society.

Therefore, wherever you go, build your identity not merely as a degree-holder, but as a bearer of knowledge, values and service.

You are leaving the University, but the culture of the University is travelling with you. You are moving away from this campus, but the light of Sanskrit knowledge must continue to shine within you.

The degree you receive today is not the final destination of your life; it is the first step of a new journey towards service to the nation.

Wherever you go, carry the light of knowledge. Wherever you live, spread the fragrance of values. Wherever you find an opportunity, serve society. And wherever you encounter a challenge, face it with the strength of your resolve and character.

May your talent find limitless horizons, may your resolve be strengthened, may your actions earn the trust of society, and may your achievements further enhance the glory of Uttarakhand and India on the world stage.

Keep moving forward. Keep learning. Keep creating. And keep spreading the light of knowledge in society.

For:

“तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।”

May we move from darkness towards light.

With the heartfelt wish that your journey in life may continually progress from knowledge towards service, from values towards character, and from character towards nation-building, I extend my best wishes for a bright, glorious and meaningful future to each one of you.

Once again, my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all the students receiving medals and degrees today, their parents, teachers and the entire University family.

Jai Bharat!
Jai Uttarakhand!
Jai Sanskrit!
Jai Hind!