Lauding the proactive role of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi in promoting educational leadership, Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar praised the Governor’s initiative in organising the Conference of Vice-Chancellors of State, Central, and Private Universities of Tamil Nadu. The event, held in Udhagamandalam, was hailed by the Vice-President as a reflection of the Governor’s constitutional commitment and visionary approach to academic transformation.
Speaking as the Chief Guest at the inaugural session of the conference, Vice-President Dhankhar said, “The Hon’ble Governor is doing this conference because it is his constitutional ordainment. He has taken oath under Article 159 of the Constitution to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and to serve the people of Tamil Nadu. By organising such conferences, Governor Ravi is vindicating his oath and reaffirming his commitment to the public good.”
VP Dhankhar recalled that the initiative was first launched in 2022 and commended Governor Ravi for sustaining this visionary platform for academic discourse.
Addressing the assembly of Vice-Chancellors, the Vice-President described them as contemporary embodiments of ancient ‘Kulapatis’ and called on both Central and State governments to empower these academic leaders. “The Vice-Chancellors of today are visionaries navigating difficult terrain. They have the power to transform. We must trust them and ensure they are not hindered by ordinary challenges,” he said.
Stressing the dynamic nature of the current global academic and technological environment, the Vice-President highlighted the need for universities to act as the vanguards of change. “Rapid technological disruptions and a complex global order demand that universities, under strong leadership, become stewards of national development,” he said.
He identified faculty availability and retention as pressing challenges and urged institutions to adopt collaborative and technology-driven approaches. “This is not the time to work in silos. Share knowledge and faculty expertise across institutions,” he appealed.
Reflecting on the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, the Vice-President expressed profound grief and emphasised Bharat’s civilisational commitment to peace. “Terrorism is a global menace. Bharat remains a peace-loving nation grounded in the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” he said.
The Vice-President also underlined the need for prioritising national interest above all. “National interest cannot be compromised for political or personal gain. This was clearly articulated by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in his final address to the Constituent Assembly,” he said.
Touching upon the National Education Policy (NEP), he said it is a transformative document aligned with Bharatiya civilisational values. “This policy is not just a government policy, it is a national vision. It promotes mother-tongue education, multidisciplinary learning, and breaks away from colonial frameworks,” he noted. He urged all educational stakeholders to study and implement the NEP in full spirit to reap its true benefits.
VP Dhankhar stressed that the future of higher education in Bharat lies in moving beyond standalone institutions. “We need convergence of academic disciplines and collaborative innovation. The age of isolated IITs and IIMs is behind us,” he said.
Highlighting Tamil Nadu’s rich academic legacy, the Vice-President invoked the ancient centers of learning in Kanchipuram and Ennayiram. “These were once magnets of learning attracting students from all over Bharat. Conferences like these should aim to revive that spirit,” he remarked.
He concluded by emphasising the importance of India’s linguistic heritage. “Tamil Nadu gave us the first classical language status for Tamil in 2004. Today, we have eleven classical languages, including Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, and Odia. This linguistic richness is unparalleled and must be preserved through our educational institutions,” he said.
The event was also attended by R. Kirlosh Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Governor of Tamil Nadu, and Dr. N. Chandrasekar, Vice Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, among other academic dignitaries.
