By TCN News,
New Delhi: Dr Najma Heptullah, Union Minister for Minority Affairs, inaugurated ‘MIRAAS 2015’ – the national inter-University cultural festival – at Jamia here on Thursday.
The Minister said Jamia is fruitfully carrying forward the cultures and traditions of India by holding such cultural festivals.
Making reference to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s contribution to the promotion of Indian culture, she said as India’s first Minister of Education, he (Azad) took pains to establish major national academies viz. Sahitya Akademi; Lalit Kala Akademi; Sangeet Natak Akademi and also Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), a release from Jamia’s media coordinator said.
She said that he wanted Indian culture to be institutionally preserved and propagated across the world.
Dwelling upon India’s inherent strengths, she observed that it represents its syncretism, best manifested as Ganga-Jamuna tahzeeb. She felt that it was incumbent upon youth – our future leaders – to uphold this glorious tradition. She went on to add that India has traditionally excelled in cultural diplomacy by leaving footprints of its culture and philosophy in different parts of the world.
India, she stated, has never occupied even an inch of foreign territory but has ruled the hearts of people all over the world through its all-inclusive cultural reach and profound philosophy, the release said.
She congratulated Professor Talat Ahmad, vice chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, for organising an event of this scale in the University to enable students from different universities to interact and share their cultural accomplishments through the forms of dance, songs, debates, poetry composition & recitation (in Urdu, Hindi & English), baitbazi competition, mime competition, etc.
She asked the university to organize International Inter-University Cultural Festival so that youths from different parts of the world could come closer and experience diverse cultures to make this world a tolerant and peaceful place. ‘Unity in Diversity’ represents India’s fundamental strength for the world to admire, she concluded.
Earlier, Professor Talat Ahmad thanked her for her continuous encouragement to take forward many of the student-centric programmes. Professor Tasneem Meenai, Dean of Students Welfare, Jamia Millia Islamia, joined the Vice-Chancellor, JMI in welcoming the guests.