exchanges: Vice Prez Chennai, Feb 26 (PTI): Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu
on Wednesday called for celebration of India's cultural diversity through enhanced exchanges between people in the
country. Participating in a function here, he said mutual
understanding and trust have always been the foundation of India's strength.
"For this to happen, we must open our doors and our hearts to people of all faiths, cultures and regions", Naidu
said after presenting the Hamsadhwani Thyagaraja Award to violin maestro M Chandrasekharan.
Citizens should feel culturally integrated in all corners of India, he added.
"We need this sense of understanding especially now, when a large number of rifts threaten to divide us and
fragment the bonds of socio-cultural cohesion," he said. "Our cultural diversity is a delight and must always
be celebrated through enhanced exchanges and reciprocity between people of different States and Union territories," he
added. Noting that India is famous for its 'splendid' culture
in which different religions, races, communities, sail in one ship, he said, "our culture and values are our identity and it
is what makes unique." Naidu said India's cultural diversity must always
remain the vehicle of unity, peace, prosperity and joy. The Vice-President said even though people in the
country speak different languages, eat different food and wear different clothes, one must acknowledge that fundamentally it
is 'one nation, one people'. Schools must sensitise children to different cultures
through frequent exchanges of cultural programmes, he said. Naidu also called for use of technology in
facilitation of cultural exchanges and in preserving unique aspects of India's culture.
He invoked Tamil poet Pungundranar famous line "Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir" which means "we belong to all
places and to everyone", and said this sense of belonging would permeate India's consciousness and move forward in its
quest for prosperity, peace, harmony and welfare of the world. It may be recalled the Prime Minister Narendra Modi
had referred to these lines while addressing the 74th session of United Nations General Assembly in New York in September
2019.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
{{#Source}}{{Source}}{{/Source}}{{#IsBlog}}
{{Disclaimer}}
{{/Disclaimer}}