Vice President's Secretariat
04-February, 2018 18:50 IST
We must promote a greater understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity around the world: Vice President
Inaugurates 1st International Kala Mela
The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that we must collectively promote, through events like International Kala Mela, a greater understanding and appreciation of the cultural diversity around the world. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the 1st International Kala Mela, organized by the Lalit Kala Akademi, here today. The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, the Administrator of Lalit Kala Akademi, Shri C.S. Krishna Setty and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
The Vice President said that the culture is like the heartbeat of a civilization and it is an expression of its world view, a symbol of its value system. He further said that it represents the hopes and aspirations of its people and it chronicles the saga of their lives. It springs from the depths of their hearts and touches the inner core of humanity and is truly the barometer of the quality of life, he added.
The Vice President welcomed the delegates from various countries, and said to a country that had believed that the entire world is like one large family. It is also a country that believed that we should treat our guests with reverence ‘
Atithi Devobhava’, he added.
The Vice President said that India is one of the oldest civilizations with an unmatched richness in culture and heritage which are manifested in different art forms. The spirit of tolerance and accommodation is an Indian way of life and best encapsulated by the principle of ‘
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the entire universe is one family), he added.
The Vice President said that as the world is becoming increasingly globalized, we should preserve and propagate the best facets of our individual cultures. We should bring out the best traditions, noble ideals and the finest expressions of human excellence in all art forms, he added.
The Vice President congratulated the Lalit Kala Akademi for fostering cultural contacts within the country and also with other countries, through art exhibition and such Art Festivals.
Following is the text of Vice President’s address:
“I am extremely happy to be amidst you to inaugurate the first International Kala Mela, which will showcase and celebrate various art and cultural forms from across India and abroad by providing a platform to artists from different genres. This indeed is a major international event of its kind and I must congratulate the organizers for holding it.
Sisters and brothers,
I recall what Mahatma Gandhi, who is reverentially called the Father of our nation, said about culture:
“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people”.
In essence, it is like the heartbeat of a civilization. It is an expression of its world view. It is a symbol of its value system. It represents the hopes and aspirations of its people. It chronicles the saga of their lives. It springs from the depths of their hearts and touches the inner core of humanity. It is truly the barometer of the quality of life.
Each country in the world has its own distinct culture. There is a unique richness in each of these cultures. Since we live in an interconnected world, there has been an intermingling of cultures. Our world is richer because of this diversity in cultures.
Gandhi ji had also said:
“No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.”
We must collectively promote, through events like the one we are having today, a greater understanding and appreciation of the cultural diversity around the world.
Friends from different countries around the world!
Let me welcome you to India, a country that had believed that the entire world is like one large family. It is also a country that believed that we should treat our guests with reverence ‘
Atithi Devobhava’.
India is one of the oldest civilizations with an unmatched richness in culture and heritage which are manifested in different art forms. Indeed, India is a cultural melting pot in which people from different religions, languages and ethnicities co-exist reflecting their unity in diversity. The spirit of tolerance and accommodation is an Indian way of life and best encapsulated by the principle of ‘
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the entire universe is one family).
The cultural diversity of India from cuisine to various performing arts is represented by the distinct flavor of each region. Various musical genres, dance forms, plays, dramas, folk theatre, paintings, architecture and songs are as diverse as different flowers in a bouquet.
Culture and creativity manifest themselves in almost all economic, social and other activities. It can be a positive force that gives meaning to human life.
Dear Sisters and brothers,
We are inheritors of a rich intangible cultural heritage consisting of songs, music, dance, theatre, folk traditions, performing arts, rites and rituals, paintings and writings.
As the world is becoming increasingly globalized, we should preserve and propagate the best facets of our individual cultures. We should bring out the best traditions, noble ideals and the finest expressions of human excellence in all art forms. We have a unique opportunity today through technology to learn from each other, appreciate the subtle nuances of artistic expressions and enrich our collective cultural capital.
I urge all of you to continue your artistic pursuits and create a world of literature, music, dance, paintings, sculpture, architecture and other art forms.
I congratulate the Lalit Kala Akademi for fostering cultural contacts within the country and also with other countries, through art exhibition and such Art Festivals.
Sisters and brothers,
Let me mention to you that in the grand Indian tradition, there are 64 “kala”s or fine arts. We believe that goddess Lalitha is an embodiment of these fine arts. She is called “chatus-shasti- kalaamayi”. She is also “kalyani”, an embodiment of well being and happiness. It is this unique blend of “kala” with “kalyana” that we should aspire for. Let us strive for a world where art unites hearts. Let us avoid distracting cacophony and, together, create a symphony that makes our lives more livable.
As the Upanishadic sages in India said centuries ago: “Let us hear all that is pleasant, let us see all that is beautiful and with strong bodies and sound minds, dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of common good”.
Thank you. Jai Hind.”
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The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu at an event to inaugurate the 1st International Kala Mela, organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, in New Delhi on February 04, 2018. The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen.
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu lighting the lamp to inaugurate the 1st International Kala Mela, organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, in New Delhi on February 04, 2018. The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen.
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu releasing the Booklet on the 1st International Kala Mela, organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, in New Delhi on February 04, 2018. The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu addressing the gathering after inaugurating the 1st International Kala Mela, organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, in New Delhi on February 04, 2018. The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu addressing the gathering after inaugurating the 1st International Kala Mela, organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, in New Delhi on February 04, 2018.
The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma addressing at the inauguration of the1st International Kala Mela, organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi, in New Delhi on February 04, 2018.
The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu witnessing a bull-show at the second anniversary of Swarna Bharat Trust, in Atkur, Andhra Pradesh on February 04, 2018.
Ministry of Culture
04-February, 2018 20:50 IST
The first ever International Kala Mela inaugurated by the Vice President , Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi today
The First ever International Kala Mela was inaugurated by the Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi today . The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, the Administrator of Lalit Kala Akademi, Shri C.S. Krishna Setty and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. The International Kala Mela has been organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi in partnership with IGNCA of the Ministry of Culture. More than 800 artists from across the world are taking part in the Festival.
Addressing the gathering, the Vice President said that Culture is like the heartbeat of a civilization and it is an expression of its world view, a symbol of its value system. He further said that it represents the hopes and aspirations of its people and it chronicles the saga of their lives. It springs from the depths of their hearts and touches the inner core of humanity and is truly the barometer of the quality of life, he added.
The Vice President said that as the world is becoming increasingly globalized, we should preserve and propagate the best facets of our individual cultures. We should bring out the best traditions, noble ideals and the finest expressions of human excellence in all art forms, he added.
The Vice President congratulated the Lalit Kala Akademi for fostering cultural contacts within the country and also with other countries, through art exhibition and such Art Festivals.
The Culture Minister , Dr Mahesh Sharma said that the essence of Indian culture is Unity in Diversity. “This has been the vision of our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi i.e. Unity in Diversity and what he has been talking about in the form of Ek Bharat Shresta Bharat”. The Government has taken a large number of measures to promote this unity in diversity through its Ek Bharat Shresta Bharat programme . The Ministry of Culture has also taken up the ambitious project of Cultural Mapping of India by registering artists across the country on a portal and 1.17 crore such artists have already been registered, the Culture Minister disclosed. Dr Mahesh Sharma welcomed the artists from the country and from across the globe for their participation in the first ever International Kala Mela organised by the Ministry of Culture.
Shri C.S. Krishna Setty, Administrator, Lalit Kala Academy, in his welcome address, said, “This is for the first time that the Akademi has planned the International Kala Mela at such a large scale. It is going to prove a boon to especially those artists who cannot afford to exhibit their works of art in the Art Galleries. With a firm commitment to the art fraternity, the Kala Mela will be a great delight to observe the paradigms of the contemporary nuances of the modernistic trends in art. All in all it is intended to be first of its kind and a great milestone event”!
Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretory, IGNCA in his thanking note, paid gratitude to all the participants. He concluded his words by saying, “ This International Art Mela is not just a fair, it is a pilgrimage for artists.”
A catalogue on the International Kala Mela was also released on the occasion.
The inauguration ceremony was followed by folk dance presentation by Karunadasa Olaboduwa Dance Troupe, Srilanka and ‘Sargam’ Kathak Recital by Pandit Harish Gangani’s Team, India.
With a total of 325 exhibition stalls, it has more than 800 participants from across the globe. These participants are from countries such as China, Venezuela, Peru, Portugal, Srilanka, Poland, Tunisia, Mexico, Bangladesh, Trinidad, Tobago, Fiji, France, Papua New Guinea, Czechia, UK, Spain and Brazil. The Festival is being organized from February 4th, 2018 to February 17th, 2018 at the IGNCA, New Delhi.
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