|
Inagural Speech By Shri Jual Oram, Minister of Tribal Affairs on the occasion of the conference of elders of anciant traditions
Venue: MUMBAI............................................................ DATE: 4th February 2003
Respected Chairman Sir, dignitaries on the dais, fellow delegates from different countries and traditions.
At the out set, let me salute the elders who have come here to participate in this First, but unique, international conference of the World Council of Elders of the Ancient Traditions and Cultures. There are many, but two main reasons why I salute the delegates are: one, in real physical terms I am younger to most of them, and two, that most of the delegates are from cultural traditions that are actually ancient. I have came here as a student who wants to get enlightened by the elders who are not only knowledgeable but also wise. Few days back I got a chance to interact with some of you in my residence in Delhi. Since that day my curiosity increased disproportionately and I was looking forward to this occasion. I wish all the delegates a happy and fruitful stay in India.
I sincerely thank the International Center for Cultural Studies, who have organized this conference, for inviting me to inaugurate this conference and giving me a chance to learn about the ancient traditions.
The theme papers for presentation in the conference like the Concept and Role of Elders in ancient Traditions, Threat to the Ancient tradition from various sources, Revival of the Ancient traditions, Spirituality-Metaphysics of ancient traditions, Role of Elders and Indigenous medicines ect. are well selected and intellectually rich. I hope the deliberations would enrich the world and the humankind in total. This conference would be interesting and fulfilling as there is a plan to organize poster and exhibitions, cultural presentations and tour programs. During all these six days, let there be lots and lots of introspection and commensurate action.
India, that is Bharat, is an ancient country. Its cultural tradition is rich because of its thousand years of history, society and religion. Hundreds of cultural tradition are found in this country. These are the results of thousand years of interactions, from with in and from with out. The assimilation of different socio-cultural traditions took place continuously over years. Every body learns from every body. The result is a grand country that is vibrating in all fields of art, literature, religion, science and technology. We have learned from the world traditions and at the same time the world has received a lot from us. Let us keep up this process through organizing conferences like this.
Probably I was invited to such a conference of elders of ancient traditions because of my holding a post of minister in the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the Government of India. As far as my understanding go, all the Indians have their roots in ancient traditions of Vedic age. But I believe that the cultural traditions of the Tribal of India is the rock bottom on which foundation the other traditions stood. Though culturally, socially and religiously the tribals are rich in tradition, because of relative progress of rest of the population in economic terms, they lag behind economically. I believe this as a transitional period and tribals of India would grew stronger socially and economically in coming time.
I thank the organizers for giving me this opportunity to inaugurate this conference.
Thanks a lot, Namaskar, Bharat mata ki Jai.
|
