Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar delivered a strong call for environmental responsibility and sustainable living while addressing students at JIPMER Medical College in Puducherry on Monday. Drawing inspiration from ancient Indian scriptures, he reminded the audience of the country’s timeless ethos of harmony with nature.
Quoting the Atharvaveda, Dhankhar said, “माता भूमिः पुत्रोऽहं पृथिव्याः” (The Earth is our Mother, and we are her children), emphasizing the need to avoid reckless exploitation of natural resources. “Let us not bleed the Mother. Let us not engage in reckless utilisation and exploitation of natural resources,” he cautioned.
He urged students to appreciate the deep connection between human life and the environment, highlighting that sustainable development is not a new concept in India but is rooted in the country’s ancient traditions. “While sustainability now buzzes in boardrooms, global organizations, and parliaments, the idea is already enshrined in our Vedas,” he noted.
Dhankhar lamented modern lifestyles that have led to lifestyle diseases and reminded the gathering that Indian culture inherently revered nature. “We worshipped trees, respected forests, and adopted living patterns that kept us healthy. Belief in sustainability is fundamental to our being,” he asserted.
Stressing the role of responsible consumption, the Vice President said, “We must understand that we are trustees of natural resources and have a moral obligation to pass them on to future generations in good condition.”
Dhankhar arrived in Puducherry on Sunday for a three-day official visit, during which he is engaging with educational institutions and local authorities on issues of development, health, and sustainability.
Earlier on Saturday, while addressing students and faculty at Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, the Vice President discussed India’s agricultural progress and rural development. He encouraged students to innovate in marketing agricultural produce from their own family farms and communities to create more self-reliant systems.
In a noteworthy remark, Dhankhar criticized the common practice of reserving the best produce for export while compromising on domestic consumption. “Indians deserve the best. Our people should not be deprived of high-quality products just because they are meant for foreign markets,” he stated, calling for a rethinking of agricultural export policies.
His remarks resonated with themes of self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat), food security, and environmental conservation, reinforcing the need for a balanced approach to development that respects both nature and the well-being of citizens.