During the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) convocation ceremony on Wednesday, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar gave a wide-ranging and passionate speech covering key issues from national security and demographic transitions to caste-based surveys and India's civilisational spirit.
Placing his speech in the context of the present challenge of governance and world dynamics, Dhankhar expressed deep concern about the problems of illegal immigration, forced religious conversions, and intentional distortions of demography.
Starting his speech, he emphasized the crucial function of peace in maintaining a democratic state. "Peace is quintessential, fundamental to democracy's survival. Never forget, peace is won from a position of strength," he said.
Dhankhar pointed out that democracy can only thrive when security and stability are ensured. He said, "Democracy can bloom and flourish only in peace won through strength, good security, economic strength, internal cohesion."
He referred to historical trends to show that only through preparedness for defense can lasting peace be obtained. "Only when we are always prepared for war can invasions be prevented and peace be established. Bharat has given a message to the world. We will no longer accept terrorism. We will eliminate it and uproot its source," he stated.
Discussing issues of internal cohesion, Dhankhar referred to illegal immigration and forced conversions as acts of menace against national cohesiveness. Referring to intentional attempts at manipulating population balance, he said, "When demographic balances are manipulated not by organic evolution but by sinister orchestrated design, then it is no longer a question of migration — it is a question of demographic invasion."
Referring to official statistics, he cautioned about the magnitude of the issue: "Bharat has endured it. There are millions of illegal migrants. Can we suffer from them? We require individuals in this country who are devoted to our civilisation, who have faith in 'Bharatiyata', who have faith in our nationalism, who are willing to give their life for the country."
On the issue of conversions, the Vice President condemned what he called the "weaponisation of faith." He spoke very seriously: "Equally disturbing, worrying, of serious concern is the weaponisation of faith in the form of coerced or induced conversion. Where belief gives way to inducement, all belief must be voluntary, optional. It is induced by allurement! and choice by agenda. These are not one-off things."
In accordance with the policies of the central government, Dhankhar praised the move to enumerate caste in the next census, terming it a milestone towards fair governance.
"The recent Government of India decision — a game-changing one, a milestone in governance — is to include caste-based enumeration as part of the upcoming decadal census. This will be transformative," he added.
He also underscored the significance of such information to tackle imbalances at the system level. "If inequalities exist, they breed and produce inequities. That is not the core of governance. Institutions such as IIPS are best placed to assume a very important, critical role in interpreting such information and suggesting inclusive remedies."
Dhankhar urged a return to genuine and constructive public discourse, drawing on India's philosophical and spiritual roots.
"True dialogue is our fundamental civilisational value. We cannot have rhetoric. We cannot have jingoism. Our tradition, derived from Upanishads and Dharmashastras, worships dialogue more than dogma, restraint more than fury."
Distinguishing between cultural majority and political majority, he said, "The Hinduism majority deeply embedded in the civilisational ethos has never been driven by majoritarianism. People confuse it. Hinduism majority is not majoritarianism. These tendencies are opposite to us."
In his conclusion, the Vice President enunciated his vision for India's advancement, which he summarized in the "three Ds" — Demography, Democracy, and Diversity.
"These three Ds define the soul of new Bharat. Demography represents the dynamic human capital that powers the engine of progress. Democracy offers a strong framework for collective decision-making. Diversity? India stands to the whole world as an example of what diversity is."
He urged institutions like IIPS to leverage their academic insights to awaken national consciousness on critical population issues, asserting that demographic research must support not only economic development but also safeguard the country’s cultural and societal fabric.
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