In a powerful moment symbolising national pride and cultural continuity, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) began its first annual academic conference on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) with a puja to Bharat Mata. The event was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, who called upon the academic community to “reclaim India’s intellectual sovereignty.”
The three-day conference, titled “The Resurgence of IKS: Finding What We Have, Learning What We Learnt,” is being held at JNU’s convention centre from July 10 to 12. Organised by the university in collaboration the Indian Knowledge Systems Heritage Alliance (IKSHA), the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), and the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), the event aims to revitalise indigenous knowledge traditions and promote Indian civilisational wisdom across academic disciplines.
Hon’ble Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar presided over as Chief Guest at the inauguration of the First Annual Academic Conference on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi today. @JNU_official_50 @EduMinOfIndia @sarbanandsonwal pic.twitter.com/zKSFFQ6Dfa
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) July 10, 2025
The ceremony began with the offering of flowers and lighting of a ceremonial lamp before an image of Bharat Mata. Vice President Dhankhar was joined by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and JNU Vice Chancellor Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Prof. M. S. Chaitra, Director- IKSHA, Akhil Bharatiye Toli Sadasya, Prajna Pravah. All four paid their respects to Bharat Mata, signalling a confident embrace of India’s cultural symbols within one of the country’s premier academic institutions.
J. Nandakumar, National cordinator of Pragya Pravah, shared photos of the event on social media and wrote: “Bharat Mata Puja is also a JNU event. It is not an RSS event, but the first annual conference on the Indian knowledge tradition officially organized by JNU. The inauguration was done by the Honorable Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankar on the day of Sri Guru Puja by lighting a lamp and offering flowers in front of the Vishwa Guru, Bharat Mata.”
Kerala Bharat Mata Row Intensifies as High Court Slams ‘Provocative Symbol’ Claim by Opponents
The enthusiastic display of nationalistic thought among the university’s faculty and students stood in stark contrast to a parallel controversy unfolding in Kerala, where similar imagery has sparked political outrage. Kerala Agriculture Minister P. Prasad recently boycotted an Environment Day event at the Raj Bhavan after objecting to a portrait of Bharat Mata. In a related incident, Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty walked out of the Scouts and Guides Award Ceremony, held at the Raj Bhavan, over the same issue.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar took a firm stand, asserting that the Raj Bhavan would not alter its programmes at the behest of political objections. “Why should the portrait of Bharat Mata be changed?” he asked, adding that cultural symbols deeply embedded in the national psyche should not be treated with disrespect.
Kerala: If there is an inauguration ceremony, there will be a picture of Bharat Mata; Raj Bhavan toughens its stance
By: Vishnu Aravind#Kerala #BharatMata #RajBhavan https://t.co/FuCzug204N
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) June 20, 2025
The situation intensified when the Registrar of Kerala University, under external pressure, cancelled a Raj Bhavan-approved event without informing the Governor’s office, a clear breach of protocol. The Registrar later filed a complaint against the organisers, citing the use of religious symbols, despite prior written approval containing 26 conditions.
In response, the Kerala University Vice Chancellor demanded a detailed report, including clarification on what the Registrar deemed ‘religious symbols, and instructed the Public Relations Officer to submit a factual account. Upon review, the Vice Chancellor suspended the Registrar for procedural violations and for disrespecting the constitutional position of the Governor.
When the suspension case reached the Kerala High Court, the court criticised the Registrar’s counsel for calling Bharat Mata a ‘provocative religious symbol’.The bench questioned the claim and remarked it was “unfortunate to call Bharat Mata a woman holding a flag.”
The suspension led to campus protests by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), who launched strikes, siege of university headquarters and violent demonstrations supporting the Registrar and criticising the Governor’s office, further fuelling the ongoing political dispute.
JNU Showcases Civilisational Confidence with Bharat Mata Puja at IKS Conference
Meanwhile, JNU’s dignified hosting of the IKS conference and the Bharat Mata puja exemplifies the growing nationalistic ethos among India’s youth and academic circles.
At JNU, what unfolded was not just a ritual, but a reaffirmation of civilisational pride and scholarly confidence. The presence of top constitutional and academic leaders, including the Vice President of India, showcased how Indian universities are evolving into centres of indigenous thought leadership.
Hon’ble Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed the First Annual Academic Conference on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi today. @JNU_official_50 @EduMinOfIndia @sarbanandsonwal #KnowledgeSystems #JNU pic.twitter.com/GAkJBrfRf6
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) July 10, 2025
The IKS conference continues through July 12, featuring scholars from across the country engaging on topics such as classical sciences, Indian philosophy, education, and governance. It signals a larger cultural and intellectual shift, where the younger generation is confidently engaging with India’s ancient wisdom to forge a self-assured national future.
