Spread India's cultural richness: President to Asiatic Society

      Kolkata, Aug 23 (IANS) The 225-year-old Asiatic Society should go for more partnerships with other academic institutions in the country as well as abroad to disseminate India's cultural richness, President Pratibha Patil said Saturday.

      "I would encourage the Asiatic Society to develop partnerships with other academic and research institutions in India and abroad to enrich work about Indian cultural thought," Patil said at the Bi-Centennial Silver Jubilee celebration of the society here.

      She said: "With the collection of its arts, books and archaeological relics, the Asiatic Society can become an important institution for disseminating information across the world."

      "We are a country with a great diversity of languages, religions, customs and traditions that together constitute our composite culture. The diversity of India makes it a country of numerous lamps," she said, adding that India occupies an important place on the cultural map of the world.

      She said that in the 21st century there is renewed global interest about Asia and India.

      "Indology, covering a range of issues about India, is being given great importance in academic, commercial and political institutions in many parts of the world. And, I believe, the Asiatic Society has a very important role to play in this endeavour."

      She said that India is committed to inclusive growth where all sections of people, particularly the weaker and economically backward sections, can benefit from the nation's economic growth.

      "Our nation is committed to inclusive growth. Pro-poor schemes must be implemented vigorously across the country. This requires the collective effort of the government, civil society organisations and the people themselves," said Patil.

      "All human beings desire to progress and prosper in an atmosphere of peace and stability. Today, in a globalised world, there should be a constant process of interaction and flow of ideas."

      The Asiatic Society, a treasure trove of Indian history, was founded in 1784 by William Jones - then judge of the Bengal Supreme Court and a noted scholar.

      The society was set up as an institution that would explore whatever was performed by men and produced by nature in the Asian continent.

      Patil arrived here Saturday afternoon on a two-day visit to West Bengal.

      She was received at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport by West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

      During her visit, she is also scheduled to attend the 150th centenray of the Uttarpara Jai Krishna Public Library in Kolkata's neighbouring district Hooghly Sunday, about 30 km from here.

      "I would encourage the Asiatic Society to develop partnerships with other academic and research institutions in India and abroad to enrich work about Indian cultural thought," Patil said at the Bi-Centennial Silver Jubilee celebration of the society here.

      She said: "With the collection of its arts, books and archaeological relics, the Asiatic Society can become an important institution for disseminating information across the world."

      "We are a country with a great diversity of languages, religions, customs and traditions that together constitute our composite culture. The diversity of India makes it a country of numerous lamps," she said, adding that India occupies an important place on the cultural map of the world.

      She said that in the 21st century there is renewed global interest about Asia and India.

      "Indology, covering a range of issues about India, is being given great importance in academic, commercial and political institutions in many parts of the world. And, I believe, the Asiatic Society has a very important role to play in this endeavour."

      She said that India is committed to inclusive growth where all sections of people, particularly the weaker and economically backward sections, can benefit from the nation's economic growth.

      "Our nation is committed to inclusive growth. Pro-poor schemes must be implemented vigorously across the country. This requires the collective effort of the government, civil society organisations and the people themselves," said Patil.

      "All human beings desire to progress and prosper in an atmosphere of peace and stability. Today, in a globalised world, there should be a constant process of interaction and flow of ideas."

      The Asiatic Society, a treasure trove of Indian history, was founded in 1784 by William Jones - then judge of the Bengal Supreme Court and a noted scholar.

      The society was set up as an institution that would explore whatever was performed by men and produced by nature in the Asian continent.

      Patil arrived here Saturday afternoon on a two-day visit to West Bengal.

      She was received at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport by West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

      During her visit, she is also scheduled to attend the 150th centenray of the Uttarpara Jai Krishna Public Library in Kolkata's neighbouring district Hooghly Sunday, about 30 km from here.

     Indo-Asian News Service

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