Jammu, Mar 16 : In a significant tribute to a towering historical figure, Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha on Monday unveiled the bust of Maharaja Ranbir Singh at the Central Sanskrit University campus here. The university’s Jammu facility was officially renamed as the ‘Shri Maharaja Ranbir Singh Campus’ on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor asserted that the nation owes a profound debt to Maharaja Ranbir Singh for his transformative reforms, his role in cultivating a vibrant cultural landscape, and his efforts in forging a robust and thriving Jammu and Kashmir.
“Shri Maharaja Ranbir Singh did not merely rule Jammu Kashmir; he bestowed upon it a new vision, restructured it, illuminated it with knowledge, adorned it with cultural abundance, and left a legacy for generations that is rich on material, intellectual, and spiritual planes,” the Lt Governor said.
Highlighting the visionary outlook of the 19th-century Dogra ruler, LG Sinha stated that the Maharaja perceived Jammu and Kashmir as a living entity. “For him, its soul resided not just in mountains and rivers, but in intellectual and spiritual values,” he added.
The Lt Governor remarked that the renaming of the Central Sanskrit University campus serves as enduring proof that the consciousness ignited by Maharaja Ranbir Singh continues to guide the society of Jammu and Kashmir even after 150 years.
Emphasizing the role of the younger generation, the Lt Governor called upon the youth to lead the path of principles and embrace the expansive, humane values of the Maharaja to contribute to nation-building.
“As today’s Jammu Kashmir embodies his foresight, this campus must reflect his ideals,” he asserted.
Envisioning India’s growing role on the global stage, the Lt Governor stressed the need to prepare the youth to forge a formidable India. “The time has come for India to reclaim its place, guiding a challenge-ridden world. We must steadfastly prepare our youth to forge a formidable India—one that shall knit nations in unbreakable unity, kindling in them the noble pursuit of universal peace and human welfare,” he said.
He called for building a society that is both technologically potent and humanely sensitive, urging students to enrich not just the nation but the global intellectual and moral consciousness. Drawing parallels with ancient India’s holistic approach, the Lt Governor noted, “Ancient India’s journey was never one-sided: one hand held science, the other culture. We emphasized personalities blending Brahmagupta’s intellect and Buddha’s wisdom. This campus must nurture such souls.”
In a significant announcement, the Lt Governor also assured financial assistance for the establishment of a Gurukul, Sanskrit Pathshala, or Ved Pathshala in the region.
Former Union Minister Dr. Karan Singh, Padma Shri Prof. Vishwamurti Shastri, and Vice Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University Prof. Shrinivasa Varakhedi were among the prominent dignitaries present on the occasion. (KNS)
