Surprising reactions on mentioning Sanatan-Hindu are sad, Vice President Dhankhar said in JNU.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that it is ironic and sad that in India, the mention of Hindu and Sanatan evokes shocking reactions.

Vice President spoke at the International Vedanta Conference.

Vice President Dhankhar said in the inaugural address at the 27th International Vedanta Conference at the Convention Center of Jawaharlal Nehru University on Friday that we are one of the oldest civilizations which is unique and unmatched in many ways but it is ironic and painful that in this country, the mention of Sanatan and Hindu evokes shocking reactions beyond comprehension.

He further said that instead of understanding the depth, the deep meaning of these words, people start reacting immediately. Can ignorance be more extreme than this? Can the seriousness of their lapse be acknowledged? These are souls who have misled themselves, who are driven by a dangerous systemic mechanism that is a threat not only to this society but also to them.

Symbol of perverted colonial mindset- Dhankar

He said that dismissing Vedanta and Sanatani scriptures as regressive is a symbol of a perverted colonial mindset. Secularism has been used as a shield by some people to hide destructive thought processes. Sticking to one's stance as absolute truth and not considering the other's viewpoint is the height of ignorance.

The Vice President called for bringing the knowledge of Vedanta from high places to classrooms to ensure access to every citizen of the society. He said that Vedanta is not a relic of the past, but a blueprint for the future; it offers practical solutions for sustainable development.

The Vice President said this.

He further said, "I alone am right is the height of ignorance. It reflects the height of arrogance, to insist on one's stance as the absolute truth and refuse to consider the views of others has dominated public discourse these days. This intolerance, firstly, undermines our democratic values. Secondly, it disturbs harmony in society. And thirdly, it does not allow productivity to grow. In all cases, it only leads to disaster and failure. Such rigid insistence on one's perceived righteousness and resistance to other views is that I will not listen to you. Your viewpoint has no value to me. I will not even consider it. This view, along with resistance to other views, has become a system beyond our country. And it is the cause of unrest, restlessness, and uneasiness among people all over the world."