Dr. Shankar Dayal Singh Memorial Lecture Celebrates Legacy of Visionary Leader and Litterateur

On the occasion of the birth anniversary of the late Dr. Shankar Dayal Singh, a grand ceremony was held at the NDMC Convention Center under the auspices of the Shankar Sanskriti Pratishthan. The lecture series was titled "Dr. Shankar Dayal Singh Memorial Lecture," with the theme "Our Needs and Desires."

The event was successfully organized by Dr. Shankar Dayal Singh's daughter, Dr. Rashmi Singh, IAS, Principal Resident Commissioner and Secretary of Higher Education, Jammu & Kashmir. The program was presided over by Ranjan Kumar Singh.

In his address, the Chief Guest, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, emphasized that India has never been in the grip of extremism. He pointed out that here, spiritual wisdom has always balanced material desires and aspirations, and from this, the world has been gifted with the philosophy of leading a righteous life towards prosperity and well-being.

Mr. Sinha shed light on the personality and work of the late Shankar Dayal Singh, describing him as a saint, litterateur, politician, fervent nationalist, and a unique individual who sought to reclaim India's ancient glory. He further added that Dr. Singh had a strong sense of duty towards creation and believed that without this sense of responsibility, India’s civilization would not have developed or survived through contradictions and conflicts. He reminded that India was once a major center of knowledge and industry, and people from across the world came here not only for trade but also for education and spirituality. The path to wealth and prosperity, he said, was taught by the land of India.

The Lieutenant Governor further remarked that India has never succumbed to extremism, but has always demonstrated the way to lead a balanced life. Both asceticism and materialism are harmful in excess, and happiness and joy lie in the middle path. The tension between needs and desires has always been tempered by our traditions and values, which have fostered sustainable development and a durable lifestyle. These teachings, inherited from our ancestors, continue to guide us through the unrest of the current age.

Swami Chidanand Saraswati, the head of Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh, addressed the global and Indian society’s causes of unrest and dissatisfaction. He spoke of the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and stressed the need to embrace "RI" (Rishi Intelligence). He pointed out that mobile phones and the internet have become the greatest enemies of social fabric and family ties. Swami Saraswati cited instances from Australia and France, where the use of mobile phones is restricted for children under certain ages, and advocated for replacing "Facebook" with "books" for children.

He expressed concern that the habit of study, contemplation, and reflection was vanishing due to mobile and internet distractions. While people may earn a lot of money, without inner peace, their souls would remain empty. He added that people’s desires were increasing while peace was diminishing, and ego was creating barriers within families. The true measure of life, he emphasized, was not in material wealth but in inner tranquility. Swami Saraswati called for a deeper spiritual connection for children, using their language, and emphasized that sustainable development was not possible without spirituality. He highlighted that India stands on the strength of its culture and values, rather than on the power of weapons.

Dr. Rashmi Singh, IAS, the organizer of the event, shared with Bureau Chief Vijay Gaur that Shankar Dayal Singh had been a member of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Though primarily a litterateur, he also traveled extensively, sharing his experiences of places like Moscow, Suriname, and Trinidad with his readers. She added that his deep passion for the Hindi language led to his lifelong struggle for its promotion. In 1993, he received the Anant Gopal Sewade Hindi Award for his services to the language, and in 1995, the Gadgil National Award. Numerous other awards were conferred upon him by various institutions, organizations, and state governments.

To honor his legacy, a fellowship in his name has been started at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The Bihar government has named an important road in his hometown of Dev, Aurangabad district (Bihar), after him. The road, starting from Dev Mor to Bhawani Pur village, is now known as Dr. Shankar Dayal Singh Path. This road leads to the Sun Temple in Dev, where a large fair is held twice a year during the Chhath festival.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises of the Government of India has instituted the Shankar Dayal Singh Rajbhasha Award, which is presented annually on Hindi Day to recognize outstanding contributions in the use of Hindi in public enterprises. Dr. Singh had worked diligently as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Language Committee's third subcommittee and later as the vice-chairperson of the committee, promoting the use of the national language.

A book commemorating the life and work of the late leader was also launched during the event.