VP Radhakrishnan calls Bihar land of Dharma, culture, knowledge at Patna literature festival

New Delhi [India], September 28 (ANI): The Vice-President of India, CP Radhakrishnan, on Sunday, graced the valedictory session of the third edition of Unmesha - International Literature Festival in Patna, Bihar, as the Chief Guest, according to the Vice President's Secretariat.
The festival, organised from 25th to 28th September 2025, is a celebration of literature in multiple languages, offering an excellent platform for writers, scholars, publishers, and poets from 15 countries, representing more than 100 languages.
Before the valedictory session began at the Unmesha - International Literature Festival in Patna, a minute of silence was observed for the people who lost their lives in the tragic incident at a public gathering in Karur, Tamil Nadu.
Earlier today, on his first visit to Bihar since assuming office, Radhakrishnan was accorded a warm welcome at Patna Airport by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha.
Addressing the gathering at the Unmesha- International Literature Festival in Patna, the Vice-President began by stating, "Bihar Dharm, Sanskriti aur Gyan ki Bhoomi hai" ("Bihar is the land of Dharma, culture, and knowledge").
According to the release, VP Radhakrishnan highlighted that Bihar's contributions to spiritualism are not merely historical but continue to inspire millions globally. Radhakrishnan emphasised that Bihar is a confluence of Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu traditions, making it a unique spiritual heartland.
He recalled that Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya under the Bodhi tree, offering the world a path of peace, compassion, and mindfulness. Referring to Vaishali, the birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankara, he noted that Lord Mahavira's message of ahimsa (non-violence), truth, and asceticism shaped not only Jainism but also the ethical and spiritual life of India.
The Vice President highlighted Bihar's ancient centres of learning, including Nalanda and Vikramshila Universities, which attracted scholars from across Asia and reflected Bihar's status as an intellectual powerhouse of the ancient world. He praised the efforts of the Central and State Governments, with international support, in reviving Nalanda University.
Radhakrishnan also mentioned Bihar's rich historical heritage, noting that it was home to powerful empires like Magadha and Maurya, as well as the birthplace of democracy in Vaishali over 2,500 years ago. He drew parallels with the Kudavolai system of elections in the Chola kingdom, emphasising India's ancient commitment to self-governance.
Highlighting Bihar's role in social change, the Vice President recalled the Champaran Satyagraha led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Total Revolution Movement led by Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, in which he actively participated at the age of nineteen, later becoming the District General Secretary of the movement. He noted that Bihar has consistently been a cradle of change and conscience, having contributed national leaders such as Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India's first President, and Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, the conscience keeper of Indian democracy.
Radhakrishnan also highlighted Bihar's cultural heritage, including Mithila painting, folk theatre like Bidesia, and festivals like Chhath Puja, calling Chhath one of the most disciplined and ecologically conscious festivals in the world, with devotees worshipping both the rising and setting Sun. He praised the state for continuing to produce some of the nation's brightest minds, who serve in civil service, academia, technology, and law.
The Vice-President recalled his interaction with a European dignitary, who asked how India remains united despite its many languages and cultures. To this, he replied that, despite the diversity of languages, our Dharma is one.
The Vice President expressed his happiness in addressing the third edition of Unmesha, one of Asia's largest and most inclusive international literature festivals. He emphasised the festival's celebration of literature as a tool to shape societies, transform minds, and create lasting legacies, bringing together writers, poets, scholars, translators, and publishers from around the world.
He added that "Unmesha" signifies the awakening or unfolding of new ideas, narratives, and perspectives, celebrating diversity in thought and bridging divides of language, culture, geography, and ideology. Radhakrishnan expressed confidence that Unmesha will continue to be a cornerstone of literary culture, inspiring future generations of writers, thinkers, and readers.
Concluding his address, he emphasised that through the understanding of each other's literature, we can achieve "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat."
The event was attended by Arif Mohammad Khan, Governor of Bihar; Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief Minister; Raju Kumar Singh, Minister of Tourism, Bihar; Madhav Kaushik, President, Sahitya Akademi and other dignitaries.
The festival, organised by Sahitya Akademi in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Government of Bihar, was held at the Samrat Ashok Convention Centre, Patna, from 25th to 28th September 2025. More than 550 eminent writers, poets, scholars, translators, and publishers participated, representing over 100 languages. The previous editions of Unmesha were held in Shimla (2022) and Bhopal (2023).
During his visit, the Vice-President also paid floral tributes to Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan at J.P. Golambar in Patna.
The Vice President also visited Shri Chamunda Devi Mandir at Katra, Muzaffarpur, and offered prayers for the well-being of all. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and Union Minister of State Raj Bhushan Choudhary, who is also the Member of Parliament from Muzaffarpur, accompanied the Vice-President during his visit to Chamunda Devi Mandir in Muzaffarpur. (ANI)