Following is the text of Statement of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism Shri Shripad Naik at the 3rd SAARC Meeting of Culture Ministers here today:
On behalf of the host country, I extend a warm and hearty welcome to all of you on the occasion of the 3rd meeting of Culture Ministers of SAARC countries. The last such meeting was convened in 2006 in Colombo which resulted in the establishment of the SAARC Culture Centre. The SAARC Culture Centre has accredited itself with considerable distinction, undertaking the difficult job of coordination in the sphere of cultural activities between the member nations of SAARC. In this meeting we propose to take forward the momentum generated over the past few years through the SAARC Culture Centre and formulate a revised SAARC agenda for culture that would not only address cultural festivals, activities in archives, libraries, museums and performing arts, but go beyond the hitherto done to break new ground in making the online presence of SAARC cultures felt far and beyond.
In 1927, our Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore had written, In the midst of much that is discouraging in the present state of the world, there is one symptom of vital promise. Asia is awakening. This great event, if it be but directed along the right lines, is full of hope, not only for Asia herself, but for the whole world.(Rabindranath Tagore, An Eastern University, Viswa Bharati Bulletin, Number 6.)
Almost ninety years later, both sentiments expressed by Tagore in 1927, ring just as true and urgent as they had in his day and age. If colonial oppression and the spectre of war were looming large then, today climate change and global conflict offer similar issues to contend with. And now as then, we can certainly counter it with the hope of galvanized Asian unity, for which, a precursor is SAARC unity. In fact, let me take the liberty of modifying Tagores statement a little bit. I believe that more than Asia, it is South Asia, with very literally the worlds youngest population, which is rising speedily in the face of new global challenges.
Prime Minister Modi indicated at the very outset of his tenure that South Asia would be the fulcrum of his foreign policy. And we in India continue to remain strongly committed to this idea that our neighbours are our closest geopolitical allies, that through our common vision and co-operation, we will improve in a collective fashion the state of all our peoples. This is why I am particularly delighted to welcome our honoured friends here on this occasion of the 3rd SAARC meeting of Culture Ministers, because flowing beneath the official world of diplomacy are the perennial rivers of shared histories and cultures. Ultimately, to affect any deep change anywhere, it is to cultural practices and cultural ties that we must turn.
The Culture Secretaries of SAARC have deliberated upon the revised SAARC agenda for Culture. In their proposals the Culture Secretaries of SAARC have recommended
Strengthening cultural institutions in member states;
On behalf of the host country, I extend a warm and hearty welcome to all of you on the occasion of the 3rd meeting of Culture Ministers of SAARC countries. The last such meeting was convened in 2006 in Colombo which resulted in the establishment of the SAARC Culture Centre. The SAARC Culture Centre has accredited itself with considerable distinction, undertaking the difficult job of coordination in the sphere of cultural activities between the member nations of SAARC. In this meeting we propose to take forward the momentum generated over the past few years through the SAARC Culture Centre and formulate a revised SAARC agenda for culture that would not only address cultural festivals, activities in archives, libraries, museums and performing arts, but go beyond the hitherto done to break new ground in making the online presence of SAARC cultures felt far and beyond.
In 1927, our Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore had written, In the midst of much that is discouraging in the present state of the world, there is one symptom of vital promise. Asia is awakening. This great event, if it be but directed along the right lines, is full of hope, not only for Asia herself, but for the whole world.(Rabindranath Tagore, An Eastern University, Viswa Bharati Bulletin, Number 6.)
Almost ninety years later, both sentiments expressed by Tagore in 1927, ring just as true and urgent as they had in his day and age. If colonial oppression and the spectre of war were looming large then, today climate change and global conflict offer similar issues to contend with. And now as then, we can certainly counter it with the hope of galvanized Asian unity, for which, a precursor is SAARC unity. In fact, let me take the liberty of modifying Tagores statement a little bit. I believe that more than Asia, it is South Asia, with very literally the worlds youngest population, which is rising speedily in the face of new global challenges.
Prime Minister Modi indicated at the very outset of his tenure that South Asia would be the fulcrum of his foreign policy. And we in India continue to remain strongly committed to this idea that our neighbours are our closest geopolitical allies, that through our common vision and co-operation, we will improve in a collective fashion the state of all our peoples. This is why I am particularly delighted to welcome our honoured friends here on this occasion of the 3rd SAARC meeting of Culture Ministers, because flowing beneath the official world of diplomacy are the perennial rivers of shared histories and cultures. Ultimately, to affect any deep change anywhere, it is to cultural practices and cultural ties that we must turn.
The Culture Secretaries of SAARC have deliberated upon the revised SAARC agenda for Culture. In their proposals the Culture Secretaries of SAARC have recommended
Strengthening cultural institutions in member states;
- Showcasing SAARC cultural heritage to the world at large;
- Improving the reading habits of people in member states, and facilitating literary interest by providing books and access to libraries;
- Developing cultural and creative industries in the region;
- Supporting cultural festivals being conducted in all SAARC Countries;
- Facilitating the SAARC Cultural Centre further;
- Promoting cultural festivals in the region;
- Enabling SAARC exchange programmes on culture;
- Developing archives;
- Providing technical support in skill-development and infrastructure-building in order to facilitate archaeological advancements;
- Disseminating regional literatures, through translation and better modes of dissemination, as well as through direct support to writers and artists;
- Preserving folklore and oral narratives in the SAARC Countries;
- Promoting visual and performing arts
The far-reaching objectives of the SAARC Agenda for Culture, outlined by the Culture Secretaries of SAARC, can be offered greater support and commitment in this meeting of Culture Ministers.
India has undertaken some major initiatives in the field of cultural festivals, most notably through the Festivals of India Abroad series, in which cultural festivals have been conducted in 2014, in China, South Africa and Japan, and are proposed to be held in Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and Myanmar. In SAARC countries, India would be conducting the CRICKET CONNECTS Exhibition in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. We would also be taking up the Buddha Mahotsava in Bhutan. The promotion of cultural festivals is a far-reaching initiative that would offer opportunities to a number of performing artists to perform in SAARC countries.
One of the major proposals of this meeting is the announcement of 201617 as the SAARC year of Cultural Heritage. This will not only bring significant focus to the implementation of the SAARC agenda for culture but will also enable efforts to strengthen cultural institutions in SAARC member states and give centrality to culture diplomacy. This can be done by building technical assistance programmes in areas of mutual strength to enhance capacities through development of infrastructure and honing of professional skills. The promotion of regional literatures by aiding translations and making them available more easily is a commendable initiative. Given the number of languages that are spoken in India, we are particularly aware of the importance of translation in the world of letters and its key role in locating and transmitting cultural specificity. The Sahitya Akademi has a great deal of knowhow in the area of translation studies and we hope to extend its expertise in order to facilitate a greater understanding of literary landscapes and realities within the SAARC region.
While the ASI has made great strides in the area of tangible cultural heritage though a great deal remains to be achieved yet the Sangeet Natak Akademi has focussed on the importance of intangible cultural heritage, through the immediacy of dance, theatre and musical performances. Finally, we hope also to go into slightly less obvious but by no means less important aspects of culture in the future, by including other marginal traditions into the fold of renewed research.
I look forward to cordial and constructive discussions through the day to take agenda forward.
India has undertaken some major initiatives in the field of cultural festivals, most notably through the Festivals of India Abroad series, in which cultural festivals have been conducted in 2014, in China, South Africa and Japan, and are proposed to be held in Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and Myanmar. In SAARC countries, India would be conducting the CRICKET CONNECTS Exhibition in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. We would also be taking up the Buddha Mahotsava in Bhutan. The promotion of cultural festivals is a far-reaching initiative that would offer opportunities to a number of performing artists to perform in SAARC countries.
One of the major proposals of this meeting is the announcement of 201617 as the SAARC year of Cultural Heritage. This will not only bring significant focus to the implementation of the SAARC agenda for culture but will also enable efforts to strengthen cultural institutions in SAARC member states and give centrality to culture diplomacy. This can be done by building technical assistance programmes in areas of mutual strength to enhance capacities through development of infrastructure and honing of professional skills. The promotion of regional literatures by aiding translations and making them available more easily is a commendable initiative. Given the number of languages that are spoken in India, we are particularly aware of the importance of translation in the world of letters and its key role in locating and transmitting cultural specificity. The Sahitya Akademi has a great deal of knowhow in the area of translation studies and we hope to extend its expertise in order to facilitate a greater understanding of literary landscapes and realities within the SAARC region.
While the ASI has made great strides in the area of tangible cultural heritage though a great deal remains to be achieved yet the Sangeet Natak Akademi has focussed on the importance of intangible cultural heritage, through the immediacy of dance, theatre and musical performances. Finally, we hope also to go into slightly less obvious but by no means less important aspects of culture in the future, by including other marginal traditions into the fold of renewed research.
I look forward to cordial and constructive discussions through the day to take agenda forward.
