VARANASI, July 30 -- Governor Anandiben Patel on Wednesday called upon the youth to play an active role in preserving Indian languages, folk arts, Yoga, Ayurveda, manuscripts and cultural heritage. She said the effective use of digital platforms, social media, online courses and modern technology was essential for taking Indian culture to people across the world. Presiding over the 44th convocation of Sampurnanand Sanskrit University (SSU) at the university premises, Governor Anandiben Patel said the objective of education was not merely to secure employment. It was also about shaping character, wisdom and values and creating responsible citizens. She said the National Education Policy-2020 was integrating the Indian knowledge system with modern education, science, technology and innovation. This would ensure that India's ancient wealth of knowledge effectively reached the new generation. The governor said the promotion of Indian traditions should not be limited to merely praising their virtues. Their scientific, social and humanitarian aspects should also be presented to the world with the support of research and evidence. She said Kashi was not merely a city but an eternal centre of Indian culture, the Sanskrit language and spiritual consciousness. Extending her best wishes to the graduating students, their parents and teachers, she said 11,959 students were awarded degrees at the convocation, while meritorious students were honoured with gold medals. She expressed particular happiness over the steadily increasing participation of female students in the study of traditional scriptures and Indian knowledge traditions. She emphasised that more opportunities should be provided to women to study the Vedas, Upanishads, philosophy and Sanskrit. She praised the contribution of chief guest Padma Shri prof Ashutosh Sharma and described him as an inspiring figure in the fields of science, research and innovation. The governor said Sampurnanand Sanskrit University was a premier centre for the preservation, study and research of the Vedas, Upanishads, philosophy, grammar, Ayurveda, Yoga, astrology, Pali, Prakrit and Indian knowledge traditions. The rare manuscripts preserved at the university, she said, were an invaluable intellectual heritage for all humanity. She also highly commended SSU vice-chancellor prof Bihari Lal Sharma for his persistent efforts towards development works, manuscript preservation and infrastructure expansion. She said that under his leadership, several long-pending projects had been effectively advanced. Extending a warm welcome, vice-chancellor prof Bihari Lal Sharma said the event was not merely about the conferral of degrees. It was also a grand celebration of the Guru-Shishya (teacher-student) tradition, knowledge, values, the dedicated pursuit of learning and the resolve for nation-building. He said that under the inspiring leadership of chancellor governor Anandiben Patel, the university had achieved remarkable milestones in education, research, infrastructure, quality enhancement, innovation and the promotion of the Indian knowledge tradition....