Cultural oneness plays a crucial role in country’s progress, said Smt Nirmala Sitaraman, Hon’ble Minister for Defence, and emphasised the need to recognise the unifying factor that maintains the country’s diversity.
Speaking at a discussion forum on ‘Re-emergence of India that is Bharat – Role of Fifth Estate,’ organised by Samskruti Foundation in Hyderabad today, she said though not palpable, it is this cultural oneness that has been sustaining this nation for thousands of years. She cited many cultural practices and traditions that link the country from the four corners, from south to north to west to North-east. Cultural bonds glued families together but it has been reduced to a disconnect due to technologically advanced but impersonal communication media and devices, Smt Sitharaman said.
Delivering the principal talk, Shri Sureshji Soni, a Sangh ideologue and Sah Sar Karyavah, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, emphasised that only good practices and models can help to counter the threat to the culture of India. He cited historical references to accentuate the fact that India has been a centre for tolerance, unity amidst cultural complexity and accommodative societies. Systems and laws are in place but there is a need for a value system, an ideology to form a base for their effective functioning for development, he said.
Noted industrialist BVR Mohan Reddy who spoke earlier explained how introducing culture in the education system leads us to inclusive development and on applying modern technology to reinforce cultural values.
Sri L. Narasmha Reddy, former justice of Patna High court, Dr KI Varaprasad Reddy, Chairman Shantha Biotech, Dr Vemuri Ravindra Babu, former director of ICAR, IRR, Smt Madhavlitha Kompalli, chairperson, Virinchi Hospitals, Dr K. Aravinda Rao, former DGP of AP, DRSP Raju, President of Samskruthi Foundation, Dr WG Prasanna Kumar, Chairman of NHRD, Boorla Dakshinamoorty, SR Ramanujan, Singer Sunita and Eminent citizens, noted industrialists, scholars, senior journalists, media personal, senior Sangh functionaries and others attended the programme.
