Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan today addressed the Mahaparva Kshamapana Ceremony – 2026, organised by the Bhagwan Mahavir Memorial Committee and Jain Mahasabha Delhi at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. He described the occasion as a celebration of universal values of forgiveness, friendship, non-violence and inner purification.

The Vice-President said that the depth with which the Jain tradition has transformed forgiveness into a spiritual discipline holds profound relevance for India and humanity today. He underlined that Kshamapana is not merely a ritual, but an opportunity for transformation of the human heart.

Highlighting the deep historical connection between Tamil Nadu and Jainism, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said Jainism has made significant contributions to Tamil literature and culture. He recalled the contributions of Jain scholars and monks to classical Tamil literature and noted the presence of ancient Jain temples and centres of learning across Tamil Nadu.

Emphasising the universal message of Jain philosophy, the Vice-President said the teaching of friendship towards all living beings and enmity towards none resonates with India’s civilisational ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. In a world witnessing conflict and violence, he said, the teachings of Bhagwan Mahavira offer a path towards peace, dialogue, coexistence and compassion.

Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said Ahimsa is not merely the absence of physical violence, but also the absence of violence in thought, word and deed. He said Bhagwan Mahavira showed humanity the path of inner victory, reminding people that true strength lies in conquering anger, intolerance and revenge.

On Kshamapana, the Vice-President said forgiveness does not mean accepting injustice or compromising with truth. “Forgiveness means choosing reform over revenge, dialogue over hatred and reconciliation over hostility,” he said, adding that the spirit of Pratikraman can help individuals and families acknowledge mistakes and resolve conflicts.

Referring to the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said development must go beyond economic prosperity, modern infrastructure and technological advancement. A truly developed India, he said, must also have trust among citizens, values within families, character among youth and compassion in society, in keeping with the vision of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi.”

The Vice-President called upon people to nurture the values of humility, compassion, service, unity and responsibility while building a developed India. On the occasion, he also presented the Jain Samaj Ratna Award to Shri K. C. Jain. Those present included Governor of Punjab Shri Gulab Chand Kataria; President, Bhagwan Mahavir Memorial Committee, Shri Kanhaiya Lal Jain; President, Jain Mahasabha Delhi, Shri Dinesh Doshi; Acharya Shri Visuddh Sagarji Muniraj; Shri Vipin Jain, General Secretary, Shree Jain Tarun Samaj Bhagwan Mahaveer Memorial Samiti; Munishri Udit Kumar Ji; Munishri Tirth Nirvaan Vijay Ji; and Upadhyay Shri Ravinder Muni Ji.