File Photo: President Pranab Mukherjee
Noting that the world is presently "struggling to deal with the worst impulses of intolerance", President Pranab Mukherjee today said this was the time to reinforce the values that bind together the complex diversity of modern-day India and promote them throughout the globe.
Inaugurating the first-ever International Conference of Indologists, he cited Swami Vivekananda's message that "the world has yet to learn from India, the idea not only of toleration, but of sympathy" as he sought to remind people of the high values for which the country has been known.
"We are today witnessing events without precedent; when the world is struggling to deal with the worst impulses of intolerance and hatred that mankind has ever witnessed.
"At such a time, there can be no better recourse than to remind ourselves of the high values, written and unwritten samskaras (tradition), duties and the way of life that is the essence of India," he said.
He further stressed that "this is the time to reinforce the civilisational values that bind together the complex diversity of modern-day India and promote them among our people and the world".
He appealed to the scholars attending the three-day meet to not excessively dwell on ancient times or merely fill the people with nostalgia about India's grand past but "highlight the manner in which pluralism and multi-culturalism are at the very core of the Indian psyche".
"I am confident that your deliberations over the next three days will highlight the manner in which pluralism and multi-culturalism are at the very core of the Indian psyche.
They will surely make an important contribution to our existing body of knowledge in the area of Indology," he said.
President Mukherjee also gave away the first Distinguished Indologist Award to Prof Emeritus Heinrich Freiherr von Stietencron of Germany in recognition of his great work in Indology, or the study of India from the perspectives of history, culture, religion and languages, among others.
The award, instituted by the External Affairs Ministry and Indian Council for Cultural Relations, includes USD 20,000 and a citation. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was also present during the function.
President Mukherjee also asked the younger generation across the world to study, practice and benefit from Ayurveda and other ancient Indian healing systems.
With June 21 having been designated as the International Day of Yoga, the President said that the ancient science of yoga has been demystified. It has been taken to the man on the street, who has learned how to make the practice of yoga a part of his daily routine, he added.
"The global popularisation of yoga will help to improve the lifestyle of those who adopt it and proactively safeguard their physical and mental well-being. I would like to encourage the younger generation of the world to study, practice and benefit from Ayurveda and other ancient Indian healing systems.
"I look forward to the increasing integration of this science into a holistic treatment of diseases. I would also like to see more Indology in the academic collaborations between India and her foreign partners. This will not only add new dimensions to the bilateral discourse of India with these friendly countries but will also create yet another layer of co-operation and mutual understanding," he said.
The conference will be attended by 22 Indologists, including from China and Russia, and seven Indian scholars.