Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday said the nation owes a profound debt to Maharaja Ranbir Singh for his visionary reforms and for laying the foundations of a vibrant and thriving Jammu and Kashmir.
He was speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the bust of Maharaja Ranbir Singh at Central Sanskrit University, Jammu Kot Bhalwal campus, which was also renamed as “Shri Maharaja Ranbir Singh Campus.”
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said Maharaja Ranbir Singh viewed Jammu and Kashmir as a living and vibrant entity rather than merely a geographical territory.
“Maharaja Ranbir Singh saw Jammu Kashmir as a living entity—not mere land, but a vibrant structure where culture breathed life and reforms channelled energy. For him, its soul resided not just in mountains and rivers but in intellectual and spiritual values,” Sinha said.
The Lieutenant Governor said the Dogra ruler did not simply govern Jammu and Kashmir but provided it with a new vision by strengthening its intellectual, cultural and spiritual foundations.
“Maharaja Ranbir Singh did not merely rule Jammu Kashmir; he bestowed it a new vision, restructured it, illuminated it with knowledge and adorned it with cultural abundance. He left behind a legacy rich on material, intellectual and spiritual planes,” he said.
Sinha noted that the renaming of the university campus reflects the enduring relevance of the values and consciousness that Maharaja Ranbir Singh had ignited more than a century ago.
He also urged the youth to follow the ideals of the former ruler and play a leading role in building a safer and more prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our youth must embrace his expansive and humane values and contribute to nation-building. As today’s Jammu Kashmir embodies Maharaja Ranbir Singh’s foresight, this campus must reflect his ideals,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Emphasising the need to balance technological progress with human values, Sinha said society must aim to be technologically strong while remaining sensitive to human welfare.
He called upon young people to contribute not only to India’s development but also to global intellectual and moral advancement.
“India, driven by human welfare, remains committed to world peace and shared prosperity. The time has come for India to reclaim its place in guiding a challenge-ridden world,” he said.
Highlighting India’s ancient traditions, the Lieutenant Governor said the country’s civilisational journey combined scientific knowledge with cultural wisdom.
“Our ancient civilisation never followed a one-sided path. One hand held science while the other preserved culture. We emphasised personalities blending the intellect of Brahmagupta and the wisdom of Gautama Buddha,” he said, adding that the university campus should nurture such personalities.
The Lieutenant Governor also assured financial assistance for establishing Gurukuls, Sanskrit Pathshalas and Ved Pathshalas in the region to promote traditional learning.
Among those present on the occasion were Karan Singh, former Union Minister; Vishwamurti Shastri; Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University; Kamal Kishor Mishra from the University of Calcutta; R. G. Murali Krishna, Registrar of Central Sanskrit University; and Satish Kumar Kapoor, Director of the university, along with faculty members, officials, prominent citizens and a large number of students.
