Earth is our mother, let's not bleed her: VP Dhankhar urges students to embrace sustainability at JIPMER

New Delhi, June 17: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar addressed students at JIPMER Medical College on Monday and urged people to stop exploiting nature, saying, The Earth is our Mother, and we are her children. He delivered a powerful message on sustainability, wellness, and responsible living, drawing inspiration from ancient Indian scriptures.

While addressing students, he quoted Atharvaveda, saying, "maataa bhuumiH putro'hN pRthivyaaH the Earth is our Mother and we are her children. Let us not bleed the Mother. Let us not engage in reckless utilisation and exploitation of natural resources."

He reminded the audience of the deep connection between human life and nature.

During an interactive session, Vice President Dhankhar highlighted the importance of sustainable development and said that the concept had deep roots in Indian tradition.

"We are living in times when sustainability buzzes through boardrooms, global organisations, the United Nations, and all parliaments. But if you look to our Vedas, it has always been there," he said.

He emphasised that Indian culture inherently respected nature, which helped avoid many of the health issues caused by modern lifestyles.

"We worshipped trees, respected forests, took to that mechanism which is the very antithesis of what we call lifestyle diseases. So let us believe in sustainability: that is fundamental," the Vice President said.

He also spoke about the need for responsible use of the environment and said, "We have to focus on optimal utilisation. We must be cognizant of the fact that we are trustees of natural resources; we have to pass these on to future generations."

On Sunday, Dhankhar arrived in Puducherry for a three-day official visit.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, VP Dhankar addressed the students and faculty of the Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Himachal's Solan. He highlighted how the agriculture sector has grown over the years, the need to focus on rural systems for food distribution, and the importance of students considering marketing agricultural produce from their own families.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar said that he disagrees with the differentiation people put on products which are to be exported and consumed domestically, saying that Indians deserve the best products to consume.

During his address at the university, he said that the best produce and products should be given to Indians instead of just being for export.

Reader Comments

P

Priya K.

So proud to hear our VP quoting Vedas on sustainability! 🌿 We Indians have always known this wisdom - now the world is catching up. Hope medical students take this message seriously and promote eco-friendly healthcare practices.

R

Rahul S.

Good speech but actions matter more. Our rivers are still polluted, forests cut down for projects. Government must implement stricter environmental laws instead of just giving lectures. Still, appreciate the message to youth.

A

Ananya M.

Beautiful words! In my village, we still worship the peepal tree and consider rivers as goddesses. Modern India needs to reconnect with these traditions. VP Dhankhar is right - sustainability isn't new for us, it's in our DNA! 🙏

V

Vikram J.

While I agree with the sentiment, we need practical solutions too. Medical colleges should teach about environmental impact on health. Maybe make eco-studies compulsory in all courses? The ancient wisdom needs modern application.

S

Sarika P.

Love how he connected agriculture with sustainability! As a farmer's daughter, I know we must stop chemical farming and return to organic methods. Our ancestors knew how to live with nature - time to relearn those lessons.

K

Kiran D.

The part about giving Indians the best products instead of just exporting is so true! Why should we get second-grade stuff in our own country? Quality and sustainability should go hand in hand for domestic consumers too. 👍

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.