'Political power requires narrative power', says JNU VC at Indian knowledge systems conference

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Emphasising the critical role of academia in shaping national consciousness, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit on Thursday said that political power cannot be sustained without narrative power.

“Political power requires narrative power. So, intellectuals are very important, and it is the duty of higher education institutions to do it,” she said.

She was speaking at the inauguration of the university’s first annual academic conference on Indian knowledge systems (IKS).

“We hope this first conference will come out with path-breaking papers and will form the basis for any systematic study of Indian knowledge systems. It will also help build narrative power when the prime minister's vision is to make Viksit Bharat,” Pandit said in her welcome address.

Pandit said JNU has always championed inclusive excellence and described the university as a space where “we bring excellence with equity and equality, innovation with inclusion and integrity.” The three-day conference, being held from July 10 to 12, is aimed at exploring India’s indigenous systems of knowledge in the fields of philosophy, science, and arts. It features academic panel discussions focused on integrating traditional knowledge into contemporary education and policy frameworks.

The event was inaugurated by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who said India’s emergence as a global power must be accompanied by the rise of its intellectual and cultural foundations.

“The strength of a nation lies in the originality of its thought and the timelessness of its values,” he said, criticising the post-independence neglect of indigenous knowledge systems and the dominance of Western constructs.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, also present at the event, highlighted the growing global recognition of Indian knowledge traditions.

"Glad to join Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at JNU, for the first annual conference on Indian knowledge systems (IKS) on the auspicious day of Guru Purnima. Sri Aurobindo said, 'Intuition was the highest civilisational knowledge-state, led by our rishis (sages).' Today, that legacy is being revived under PM Narendra Modi," Union Minister Sonowal said in a post on X.

"The last 11 years have seen a historic resurgence in IKS, from International Yoga Day to the global recognition of AYUSH. Our Vedic sciences, ayurveda, philosophy, and maritime wisdom offer students a holistic, decolonised framework, blending instinct, intellect and intuition. I believe that JNU’s initiative is timely and transformative. IKS must guide future learning and global wellness," he added.