Science should lead us to greater happiness: Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu

KOCHI: Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu said on Monday that along with "gross national income" we must focus on how science and technology can foster greater "happiness" and better quality of life as well as harmonious and inclusive societies. He was addressing a function after conferring the Adi Shankara Young Scientist Awards 2018 at the Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering & Technology at Kalady near here. Governor P. Sathasivam was also present at the function. Mr Naidu said that such awards are an eloquent testimony to the inquisitiveness, ingenuity, and innovative initiative inherent in young India.

"This is what gives us hope and optimism that India will be able to regain its rightful place in the comity of nations. Advancement of human knowledge has occurred in our country because of the spirit of enquiry, the ability to question, the ability to research and the ability to arrive at the truth," he added. Adi Shankara was not only a great philosopher but an extraordinary poet, he said.

Shankara expounded the 'Advaita' philosophy according to which human beings can become divine through knowledge. "Ultimately, it is the Ananda we are all seeking and this is what 'gross national happiness' means," he said and added that we should not be insular but be ever receptive.