Chandigarh, December 17 –Vice President of India, Sh. Jagdeep Dhankhar today lauded Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal's unwavering commitment to the principles of the Bhagavad Gita during the International Gita Mahotsav held at Kurukshetra University.
In his address at the seminar organised as a part of the 8th International Gita Mahotsav held at Kurukshetra University on Sunday, the Vice President acknowledged Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal as a true follower of the Gita, commending his transparency, integrity, and accountability. He highlighted the Chief Minister's efforts in translating Gita's message into meaningful action at the grassroots level, citing the example of providing a job opportunity to children from rural areas on a merit basis.
The International Gita Mahotsav, hosted at Kurukshetra University, witnessed an inspiring inauguration ceremony with the lighting of the lamp by Sh. Jagdeep Dhankhar, accompanied by his wife Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal, and esteemed guests. The event aimed to promote the universal values and teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
The Vice President expressed his admiration for the Haryana Chief Minister's initiatives in promoting Gita's message nationally and internationally. He recounted Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi's vision, shared during the Gita Jayanti program in 2014, urging Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal to propagate the Gita's message globally. Since 2016, the Chief Minister has consistently celebrated the International Gita Mahotsav at an international level, with this year's partner state being Assam, said the Vice President.
Addressing the gathering, Sh. Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized the alignment of the current Central Government with the principles of Gita Governance. He applauded Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi's commitment to righteousness and duty, citing the importance of performing duties without attachment to the results, as advocated in the Gita.
In his closing remarks, the Vice President urged every citizen to prioritize the nation and contribute to India's development. He termed the Amrit Kaal as the "golden era" for the country and set a goal to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.
The Gita is not just a book or scripture; it is the essence of life, universal, and eternal, Manohar Lal
Speaking on this occasion, Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal welcomed Vice President, Sh. Jagdeep Dhankhar, saying that it is a matter of great joy today as we are celebrating the International Gita Mahotsav for the eighth consecutive time. He said that through such seminars, the message of the Gita will reach the country and the world.
He stated that the Gita is not merely a book or scripture, but the essence of life. The relevance of the Gita is universal and eternal, and its significance is as much today as it was in the past. To make the world happy and lead it on the path of peace, the message of the Gita is essential. In today's time, when mutual understanding will be established among nations, the world will progress towards peace as a unified entity, and there is no greater way for this than following the teachings of the Gita. Through the teachings of Gita, we can provide direction to the world, said Sh. Manohar Lal.
The Chief Minister praised Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, acknowledging his role during the Russia-Ukraine conflict as he then firmly advocated that the solution will not come from fighting but through positive dialogue and mutual understanding. He likened the Prime Minister's conduct to that of Lord Shri Ram and emphasized that he follows the principles of duty and action, akin to the symbols of Shri Krishna.
A Regional Center for English and Foreign Languages establish at Kurukshetra University
The Chief Minister said that several countries around the world have invited us to host the International Gita Festival in their countries. He also shared that a university in Hyderabad has proposed the establishment of a Regional Center for English and Foreign Languages, and Kurukshetra University has put forth a proposal for it. This centre will become a hub for languages worldwide, and the university already has a centre for the Gita, through which we can connect many countries on a platform and disseminate the message of the Gita to the world, said Sh. Manohar Lal.
On this occasion, Rajya Sabha MP, Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi and Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Maharaj also addressed the seminar. The Vice President and other dignitaries also unveiled a souvenir, which includes 448 research papers.
Minister of State for Culture of Assam, Sh. Bimal Borah, MP, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, Minister of State of Haryana S. Sandeep Singh, Chief Secretary of Assam, Sh. Paban Kumar Borthakur, Vice Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, Prof. Somnath Sachdeva, and other distinguished guests also remained present on this occasion.