The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today released Dancing with Joy, an inspirational memoir by renowned classical dancer, author and former Indian Railway Traffic Service officer Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant, at Uprashtrapathi Bhavan.

Addressing the gathering, the Vice-President described the book as much more than a story about dance and joy, calling it a powerful account of passion, hard work, resilience and the extraordinary strength that comes from discovering and nurturing one’s talent.

Highlighting the book’s account of Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant’s journey through cancer, the Vice-President said that it was not merely a book about cancer, but a story of life beyond cancer. He observed that a deeply nurtured passion could become an anchor during life’s most difficult moments and help transform adversity into an opportunity for self-discovery.

Referring to the book’s message that the ‘D’ in DANCER helped its author overcome the ‘C’ in cancer, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that dance, nurtured through years of discipline, learning and dedication, had become Dr. Ananda’s core strength in confronting one of life’s greatest challenges.

The Vice-President highlighted that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Bharat is strengthening preventive healthcare, awareness and early screening through initiatives such as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. He noted that the expansion of cancer care facilities across States was bringing specialised treatment closer to patients, with over 700 District Clinics and 500 Day Care Cancer Centres established, and 19 State Cancer Institutes and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres approved for operationalisation. He also highlighted the ₹5 lakh annual health coverage for eligible families under Ayushman Bharat and the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign launched in February 2026, which aims to protect approximately 1.2 crore young girls against cervical cancer, with over 50 lakh girls already vaccinated.

Drawing lessons from Dr. Ananda’s experience, the Vice-President said that success and failure were two sides of the same coin and that every setback offered an opportunity to learn, reflect and return with renewed determination. He urged people facing cancer and other serious challenges not to lose hope, emphasising the importance of courage and a positive mindset.He emphasised that awareness, early detection and timely treatment could save lives.

The Vice-President also acknowledged the vital role played by families and volunteers in supporting cancer patients. He observed that families provided essential emotional strength, encouragement and care during the most difficult phases of a patient’s life, often making considerable personal and financial sacrifices.

The Vice-President said that talent, while a gift, could be transformed into excellence only through sustained learning, practice and commitment. He observed that passion was not a luxury but a source of strength, and that the abilities and interests nurtured during ordinary times could become invaluable resources when extraordinary challenges arose.

Congratulating Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant on the publication, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan expressed the hope that 'Dancing with Joy' would inspire young people to discover and develop their talents, touch countless lives and remind readers that, whatever rhythm life offered, it was possible to meet it with courage, grace and joy.

Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Dr. Sandhya Purecha; Chairman, Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation, Dr. P. Raghu Ram; and Member Secretary, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, were among the dignitaries present on the occasion. Doctors, cancer specialists and cancer survivors also attended the event.

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PR/ASM/VM