A felicitation Program was organized by the Department of Sanskrit, University of Jammu, in honour of Prof. Vishwa Murti Shastri for being conferred with the Padma Shri award in recognition of his distinguished contribution in the field of Sanskrit literature and education, for the year 2021 by the Government of India. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Manoj K Dhar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu in his address congratulated Prof Vishwa Murti Shastri for his glorious and outstanding achievement. Prof Dhar said Prof Shastri’s life is a teaching in itself that a person who starts his life from a small village in Ramban and was recognized by the nation for his outstanding contribution in the field of Sanskrit literature and education. The Vice-Chancellor further stated that under the New Education Policy by the Government of India, the Indian knowledge tradition and value-based education system has been strongly supported and approved and in this context, the youth of our nation will be taught Indian knowledge, tradition and value-based teachings. Accordingly, the younger generation should take full advantage of this and in particular, the youth of the UTJ&K must take this opportunity to benefit from Shastri's teachings. Prof Dhar also directed the Head, Department of Sanskrit to organize lectures of Prof Shastri for the students of Jammu University from time to time.Speaking on the occasion,  Prof  Shastri offered gratitude to the Government of India, for conferring him with Padma Shri. Prof  Shastri further said that the young generation is a  backbone of our country and society, without their construction, the best and ideal India cannot be built and in  that direction youth of our country must involve them in constructive activities. He appealed to the teachers of the nation to make some arrangements to free the youth from any kind of addiction and train the youth with value added education system.Prof Arvind Jasrotia, Registrar, University of Jammu also congratulated Prof Shastri on the occasion. Earlier, Prof. Sushma Devi Gupta, Head, Department of Sanskrit presented a welcome address. Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof Shivdev Singh Manhas also offered best wishes to Prof. Shastri on behalf of Faculty of Arts. Prof.  Ramnika Jalali read the citation and made the august gathering aware of  Prof  Shastri’s education, struggle, effort and various achievements of his life in detail. Dr. Pratibha remembered the touching account of many aspects of Prof Shastri greeted him with  Sanskrit shlokas. Prof Laxmi Dutt Shastri, a famous Sanskrit scholar from Jammu province, while presenting a congratulatory message, recalled many memories related to Prof Shastri and the incidents of his struggle and hard work.

Dr. Satyapriya Arya conducted the proceedings of the programme and the vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Vidyadhar Singh.