President Pranab Mukherjee said that the Vedas are integral part of Indian society and are very much intertwined with our culture and tradition. He congratulated the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for taking forward the ancient Vedic vision in the present day society for establishing universal brotherhood and peace and harmony.<br/><br/>Speaking after inaugurating the Veda Pathshala (Vedic School) at Ai Bhimavaram in Akiveedu mandal of West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Mukherjee said India provided leadership in the arena of higher learning with anicient universities like Takshasila, Nalanda and Vikramasila. He said many foreign scholars came to our country for learning.<br/><br/>He congratulated the TTD for taking up the task of preserving and spreading the Vedas for furture generations with its institutional framework of Veda Pathshalas keeping intact the Guru-Shishya parampara. The President also commended the TTD Board for initiating the concept of first Vedic University in the country with scientific knowledge and temper. <br/><br/>He was confident that consolidation of Vedic knowledge and wisdom its spread is possible with such institutions.<br/>The programme was attended by Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Minister Asokh Gajapathi Raju, and AP Cabinet ministers and TTD officials, etc.<br/><br/>The Veda Patashala with 16 class rooms and staff quarters can accommodate 300 students at a time. Already 93 students were enrolled for learning in the institute the 7th by TTD in the Telugu speaking States built at a cost of Rs. 4.70 crores.