Some people here dismiss Vedanta and Sanatan Dharma, while world is embracing them: Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. File.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Commenting on the political controversies over statements on Sanatan Dharma, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said it was ironic that any reference to Sanatan evoked baffling reactions.

Inaugurating the International Congress of Vedanta at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi on Friday (January 3, 2025), Mr. Dhankhar said the dismissal of Sanatan Dharma and Vedanta often stemmed from “perverted colonial mindsets” and poor understanding of the country’s intellectual heritage.

Recently, the ruling BJP had criticised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for his statement that the 19^th century social reformer Sree Narayana Guru had challenged Sanatan Dharma.

Mr. Dhankhar said global disciplines were now embracing the Vedanta philosophy. “They are exploiting our gold mine, if I may say so, when we faced COVID, Atharva Veda dominated because it was encyclopaedic on health. They are doing it but some in our country, some in this land of spirituality, dismiss Vedanta and Sanatani texts as regressive. They are doing it without knowing it, not even physically seeing them, much less go through them. This dismissal often stems from perverted colonial mindsets, inefficient understanding of our intellectual heritage. What a travesty! These elements, who act in a structured manner, in a sinister fashion; the design is pernicious,” he said.

Secularism ‘shield’

The Vice-President added that such elements camouflaged their destructive thought process with perverted versions of secularism. “This is very dangerous. Secularism has been used as a shield. It is the duty of every Indian to expose such elements. It is our duty to submit ourselves to nationalism,” he added.

“We are one of the oldest civilisations… Ironically and painfully, in this country, a reference to Sanatan, reference to Hindu, evokes baffling reaction beyond comprehension. Rather than understanding the depth of these words, their deep meaning, people tend to be in reaction mode, at the drop of a hat… Can ignorance be more in extremity? Can the enormity of their lapse be countenanced? These are souls that have misguided themselves, driven by a dangerous ecosystem that is a threat not only to society but to themselves,” Mr. Dhankhar said.