Puducherry: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday called for national unity on the sensitive issue of language diversity, cautioning that a divided approach could hinder India’s future.
Addressing students and faculty at Pondicherry University, where he serves as chancellor, Dhankhar emphasized the need to rise above linguistic divides and work collectively toward the nation’s progress.
“India, today, stands as the most aspirational nation globally, thanks to its remarkable development over the past decade,” he said. “It is disheartening to witness opposition regarding languages. How can a country as linguistically rich as ours be divided on this front?”
He lauded the nation’s linguistic heritage, noting that India has 11 classical languages, including Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Bengali, and Assamese. “Our Parliament allows members to speak in 22 languages. That’s a symbol of our inclusivity. Our cultural ethos, rooted in Sanatan values, teaches unity and harmony,” he remarked.
Without naming specific critics, Dhankhar urged the public to reflect deeply on the matter and to value India’s linguistic and cultural accomplishments. “We must consider our shared future and move beyond this turbulence,” he said.
Turning to education reform, the Vice President made a forceful case for the full implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, calling it a transformative initiative that could redefine India’s academic landscape. “NEP is not just a policy—it is a national vision. It’s among the finest educational frameworks in the world,” he said.
Dhankhar appealed to states that have yet to adopt the policy to implement it without delay, stressing that it empowers students by enabling multidisciplinary learning and better time management. He encouraged educational institutions to conduct awareness workshops to ensure students fully benefit from the policy.
He also reminded political leaders to avoid confrontation and uphold the spirit of constructive dialogue. “Our Constitution does not endorse disruption. We must remember that,” he said.
Dhankhar’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over language imposition and the varying state-level responses to NEP 2020.
