Archive · 18 Dec 2025
VP Honors Religious Freedom and Unity
The Vice President of India, C P Radhakrishnan, attended two important events in New Delhi.
The first event was to remember Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, who gave his life to protect people's right to practice their own religion.
The Vice President said that Guru Tegh Bahadur is respected by everyone as a symbol of bravery and kindness.
He also talked about how India is a country where different religions and cultures live together peacefully.
The second event was a Christmas celebration organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.
The Vice President said that Christmas is a time to celebrate peace, compassion, and helping others.
He also talked about how the Christian community has made important contributions to India’s education, healthcare, and social development.
He emphasized that India’s strength comes from its diversity and the respect people have for each other’s beliefs.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan commemorated the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur at an inter-faith conference in New Delhi.
Guru Tegh Bahadur is revered as a universal symbol of supreme sacrifice and moral courage for defending religious freedom.
The Vice President highlighted that Guru Tegh Bahadur's message of courage and compassion is timeless and relevant.
India's strength lies in its unity in diversity, welcoming various faiths and cultures.
The event emphasized the importance of liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan participated in a Christmas celebration organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in New Delhi.
The Vice President said that Christmas is a celebration of universal values such as peace, compassion, humility, and service to humanity.
He noted that the message of love, harmony, and moral courage taught by Lord Jesus Christ has timeless relevance and resonates deeply with India’s own spiritual traditions.
The Vice President highlighted the significant contribution of the Christian community to India’s social, cultural, and developmental journey.
He emphasized India’s pluralistic ethos, stating that India’s unity lies in mutual respect and shared values.
- Who
- Vice President C P Radhakrishnan
- What
- Commemorated the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur and participated in a Christmas celebration organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI)
- When
- December 17
- Where
- New Delhi
- Why
- To honor Guru Tegh Bahadur’s sacrifice, emphasize the importance of religious freedom and unity in diversity, and celebrate the universal values of peace, compassion, humility, and service to humanity
- Event 1
- Inter-faith conference commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur
- Event 2
- Christmas celebration organized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI)
- Speaker
- Vice President C P Radhakrishnan
- Location
- New Delhi
- Date
- December 17
- Significance 1
- Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom as a symbol of religious freedom and moral courage
- Significance 2
- Christmas celebration of universal values such as peace, compassion, humility, and service to humanity
- Message 1
- Courage guided by compassion can transform societies
- Message 2
- India’s unity lies in mutual respect and shared values
- India’s Strength
- Unity in diversity, welcoming diverse faiths and cultures
- Contribution
- Christian community’s work in education, healthcare, social reform, and human development
- Historical Example
- Constantine Joseph Beschi (Veeramamunivar) enriched Tamil literature and culture
- National Vision
- Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat: celebrating India’s diversity while standing united as one nation
- National Goal
- Viksit Bharat@2047: collective effort towards shared prosperity and eradication of poverty
- CBCI
- Established in 1944, extensive network of schools, colleges, hospitals, and charitable institutions
- Attendees
- Governor of West Bengal, Dr. C V Ananda Bose; President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), Archbishop Andrews Thazhath; Apostolic Nuncio to India, Archbishop Leopold Girelli, and other distinguished guests
