Poet-diplomat Abhay Kumar’s proposals find Smriti Irani’s support
New Delhi: Union Textiles, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani has endorsed Bihar-born poet-diplomat Abhay Kumar’s suggestion that ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ ( which means the whole world is a family) and comes from Maha Upanishad, should be inscribed in the premises of the United Nations General Assembly where the world leaders gather in September every year, so that they can understand the core message of Indian Civilisation that sees the whole world as a family.
Speaking on Novembere 29 at a webinar organised by the Alumni Association of Jawaharlal Nehru University on the role of Language, Literature and Culture for Aatmanirbhar Bharat ( Self Reliant India), Kumar, who is serving as India’s Ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros, also proposed that a draft resolution should also be introduced at UNGA for a common Earth Anthem as our planet does not have an anthem while even universities and football teams have their own anthems.
He also proposed the establishment of a National Poetry Library in India which could become a centre for collecting poetry published in all languages of India and translating them into foreign languages to take Indian poetry and literature to the world.
Ambassador Kumar also requested that the works of contemporary Indian poets should be promoted by encouraging well-known personalities in Indian film industry and politics to read contemporary poetry.
Irani, in her address as the chief guest, remarked: “…Today Ambassador Abhay Kumar spoke about the need to put out an institution dedicated to poetry and as I listened to him I wanted to remind him that he is a part of a service that can actually leverage the ICCR and I’m hopeful that all the pronouncement she has made on this platform today will find support and home under the aegis of the ICCR.”
She further added— “What is Self Reliance? Self reliance is a community that can meet its needs and what are needs- ‘Baant kar khana’ ( share and eat), which means we are not only empathetic consumers but as Abhay Kumar said the theory of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is not just a theory or a plaque on the wall, it is very much a way of life for us as we speak… and that is why when we today look at the concept of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self Reliant India) let’s not limit it only to the pursuit of economic goals, let’s recognise that it is opportunity for us as a civilisation to meet the new world and say India arrived at concepts that you embrace today more than million years ago. It is time for you to recognise that we seek not to confront you with arrogance or prejudice, we seek to envelop you in our knowledge systems and in our empathetic behaviour towards our fellow global citizens.”
Other speakers at the event included Prof. Kapil Kapoor, Prof. Dhananjay Singh, Prof. Rana P. Singh, Sandeep Mahapatra. Books of Shubha Sarma and Padampani Bora were also released on this occasion by the Hon’ble Minister. The event was broadcast live and was attended by JNU alumni across the globe.
– globalbihari bureau
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