7 honoured during the 5th Saptarshi Puraskar Shrunkhala 2026 awards ceremony  

 

“Artificial intelligence (AI) must remain a tool for progress of humans, guided by India’s civilisational wisdom and human values,” said Prof Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice-Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi. He was speaking as the chief guest at the fifth Saptarshi Puraskar Shrunkhala 2026 awards programme, held at Kavi Kulguru Kalidas Auditorium, Persistent Systems, IT Park, on Sunday. The event was organised by Hindu Research Foundation. Dr Geetha Krishnan G Pillai, Unit Head, Data and Innovation Division at the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Research Centre, Jamnagar, Gujarat, presided over the programme. Kishorbhai Shah of Jeevdaya Foundation, Surat, was the guest of honour.

 

Varakhedi cautioned against allowing AI to overshadow human values. He emphasised self-control in the use of technology and said ‘Bharatiya prajna’ could strengthen the nation’s progress. Dr T S Bhal, Founder and Managing Trustee, Hindu Research Foundation, introduced the programme. He stressed that ancient knowledge should reach ordinary people and that the past must be presented authentically, not merely glorified. Also present on the dais were Dr Bhimaraya Metri, Director, IIM-Nagpur; R Ramkrishnan, Co-founder and CEO of ImmverseAI; Priti Ramakrishnan, COO, ImmverseAI; Pratibha Nemade and Suresh Kote. Maharshi Valmiki: Padma Shri Bhalchandra V Nemade received Maharshi Valmiki award for literature. The eminent Marathi novelist, poet and critic, known for ‘Kosala’ and ‘Hindu: Jagnyachi Samruddha Adgal’, stressed that the past must inform the future. He highlighted women’s contribution to Indian literature and called for recognition of Hinduism’s diversity rather than forgetting India’s cultural inheritance. Nagarjuna: Padma Shri Prof Thalappil Pradeep, Professor of Chemistry at IIT Madras, received Nagarjuna award. He said India must recreate conditions that nurture original scientific thought and stressed that greatest tribute to intellectual past was to encourage fresh discoveries. He described children’s curiosity as one of the country’s greatest scientific treasures. Aryabhata: Padma Shri Prof V Kamakoti Veezhinathan, Director, IIT Madras, and creator of Shakti microprocessor, received the Aryabhata award.

 

Recalling the precision required to produce a ‘Ram Yantra’ from brass after attempts to carve it from basalt rock failed, he marvelled at metallurgical and stone masonry skills of ancient craftsmen. He also urged people to encourage at least two families in their native villages to push children towards education and skill development. Vishwakarma: Dr Anil Ramji Sutar, sculptor associated with the Statue of Unity and the Swami Vivekananda statue in Nagpur, received Vishwakarma award. Acharya Bharadwaj: Suyash Singh, Co-founder and CEO of GalaxEye Space Solutions, received the Acharya Bharadwaj award. Singh urged young people to pursue entrepreneurship, highlighting opportunities in space technology and the importance of execution and strategy in achieving India’s Vision 2047. Acharya Kanad: Prof Sanjay Janrao Dhoble, Professor of Physics at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, received the Acharya Kanad award. Dhoble highlighted his research with practical social benefits, including road safety and technologies to protect farmers from wildlife encounters. Acharya Sushrut: Dr Vedprakash Mishra, Pro-Chancellor of Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, received the Acharya Sushrut award for his contribution in the medical field.

 

Dr Pillai said that while information was abundant, organising it into meaningful knowledge remained a challenge. AI could connect ancient wisdom with modern tools, he said, but wisdom continued to come from people. R Ramkrishnan, Co-founder of ImmverseAI, spoke about developing world’s first Script language model that draws on Indian knowledge traditions. Dr Anita Tilwe and Dr Richa Sugandh compered the programme, while Harsha Deshmukh proposed a vote of thanks.