Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, on Friday addressed the annual convocation of the Jaipuria Institute of Management at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, delivering a wide-ranging speech that underlined the need for economic nationalism, deeper commitment to national security, and de-commercialisation of education.
Speaking to a gathering of graduating students and dignitaries, VP Dhankhar questioned the country’s continued economic engagement with hostile foreign powers. “Can we afford to empower countries that are inimical to our interests?” he asked, stressing the importance of strategic economic choices.
“The time has come when each one of us must deeply think about economic nationalism. We can no longer afford, by travel or import, to improve the economies of those countries due to our participation — countries that, in times of crisis, are positioned against us.”
The Vice-President asserted that every citizen has a role to play in national security, with particular emphasis on the business and industrial sectors. “Every individual is empowered to help the nation in security. Trade, business, commerce, and industry in particular can play a pivotal role,” he said.
“Nation first — everything has to be reckoned on the fulcrum of deep, unflinching commitment and dedication to nationalism. This mindset must be instilled in our toddlers from the very beginning.”
Paying tribute to India’s Armed Forces, VP Dhankhar praised the success of the ongoing Operation Sindoor. “I must, on this occasion — since I am addressing the youth of the country in particular — offer my salutations to all Armed Forces and the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the remarkable success of Operation Sindoor,” he stated.
Describing it as a “remarkable retaliation” to the Pahalgam terror attack, he said the operation was consistent with India’s values of peace and tranquillity.
“It was a befitting response to the barbarity that happened at Pahalgam — the deadliest attack on our civilians since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The Prime Minister sent a message from Bihar to the global fraternity. Those were not empty words. The world has now realised what is said is reality. No one is asking for proof now — the world has seen and acknowledged.”
Highlighting India’s cross-border counterterrorism operations, Dhankhar declared that “a new benchmark has been set” by the Indian Armed Forces. “They targeted Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur, deep inside Pakistan territory, beyond the international border — also at the Lashkar-e-Taiba base in Muridke. This was India’s deepest ever strike, calibrated to avoid any damage beyond the terrorist infrastructure.”
Drawing a parallel with global counterterrorism precedents, he said, “The world did the same on 2nd May 2011, when the U.S. neutralised the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. Bharat has now done it, and the global community knows it.”
Reflecting on India’s civilisational heritage, VP Dhankhar remarked, “We are a unique nation. No country in the world can take pride in having 5,000 years of civilisational ethos. We need to bridge, not breach, the divide between the East and the West.”
He also warned against internal threats from misleading narratives and foreign academic interference. “How can we countenance or overlook narratives that are anti-national? Foreign universities coming to this country is something which requires filtration. We have to be extremely careful,” he said.
VP Dhankhar raised concerns over the growing commercialisation in the education and health sectors. “This country cannot afford commercialisation and commodification of education. It is undeniable and present. As per our civilisational ethos, education and health are not areas to make money — these are areas to give back to society. We have an obligation to discharge.”
He further called upon corporate India to fund research and innovation. “Educational institutions must be fully funded by corporates. CSR funds must prioritise investment in research — it is fundamental. Gone are the days when we could wait for others to develop technology. If we do that, we are handicapped right from the beginning, and we must avoid that.”
The Vice-President concluded with a powerful call for self-reliance, economic prudence, and national unity.
Also present at the convocation wereSharad Jaipuria, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Jaipuria Institute of Management; Smt. Anjali Jaipuria, spouse of the Chairman; Shreevats Jaipuria, Vice-Chairman of the institute; and other distinguished guests.
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