New Delhi – Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar made a noteworthy statement today at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) while inaugurating the First Annual Academic Conference on Indian Knowledge Systems. Speaking to a packed audience of scholars, students, and dignitaries, Dhankhar declared, “I will retire at the right time, August 2027, subject to divine intervention.”
The Vice President’s remark, delivered as part of his broader reflections on tradition, scholarship, and the place of India in the global intellectual order, was received with applause by the academic gathering. His statement signaled a clear intent to serve out his full five-year constitutional term, having taken office in August 2022.
During his address, Dhankhar emphasized the significance of bridging the gap between tradition and modernity. He stressed that the wisdom of India’s past should inspire present and future innovations, observing that, “The metaphysical can speak to the material, spiritual insight can coexist with scientific precision… India must not merely import global narratives. It must contribute to shaping them.”
Dhankhar called upon universities like JNU to take the lead in reviving India’s intellectual heritage. He highlighted the urgent need to digitize ancient manuscripts in languages such as Sanskrit, Tamil, and Pali, and to make these resources widely accessible for both Indian and global scholars. He advocated for the creation of robust training programs that blend methodologies from philosophy, computational analysis, ethnography, and comparative studies.
The Vice President concluded his remarks by urging the younger generation to reclaim India’s intellectual sovereignty through persistent work and academic rigor. He underscored the importance of honoring both the scholarly text and the living traditions of communities, reminding the audience that “knowledge resides beyond manuscripts. It lives in communities, in embodied practices, in the intergenerational transmission of wisdom.”
Dhankhar’s clear articulation of his retirement timeline—“August 2027, subject to divine intervention”—brought a rare moment of personal candor to the formal occasion, offering insight into his commitment to both duty and transparency. The remark sets the tone for the remainder of his term, as he affirmed his dedication to supporting India’s academic and cultural renaissance.
The event concluded with an optimistic outlook for collaborative research initiatives and the reinvigoration of Indian knowledge systems.
, declared he will retire in August 2027. He emphasized the revival of Indian knowledge systems and the importance of preserving traditional scholarship.){kind=link}