Avoid side effects of disruptive technologies: President Murmu
Observing that today’s era is that of disruptive technologies, President Droupadi Murmu Friday called for taking advantage of these technologies while avoiding their side effects.
Underlining that Indian arts were the best examples of India’s soft power, President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said these arts had the potential to spread the message of peace and harmony at a time when the world was witnessing tensions and conflicts.
She was presenting the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puruskar) for the yeasr 2019, 2020 and 2021 in New Delhi.
The president observed that civilisation showcased the material achievements of a nation but intangible heritage was revealed through its culture. ”Culture is the real identity of a country. India’s unique performing arts have kept our incredible culture alive for centuries. Our arts and artists are the carriers of our rich cultural heritage. ‘Unity in diversity’ is the biggest feature of our cultural traditions,” she said.
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President Murmu said that in India’s tradition, art was a spiritual practice, a medium of the search for truth, a medium of prayer and worship, and a medium of public welfare. ”Collective exuberance and unity also find expression through dance and music. Art binds the linguistic diversity and regional characteristics in one thread,” she added.
She said Indians should take pride in the fact that the oldest and the best definitions and traditions of art have developed in this country. ”Our cultural values have become more useful in the modern era. In today’s time which is full of tension and conflict, Indian arts can spread peace and harmony,” she added.
The president said that just as nature’s gifts like air and water did not recognise human limitations, the art forms were also above language and geographical boundaries. The music of M. S. Subbulakshmi, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Lata Mangeshkar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Bhupen Hazarika was unhindered by language or geography. With their immortal music, they have left an invaluable legacy for music lovers not only in India but all over the world.
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