WB: ASI to preserve cultural heritage of India

Kolkata, May 8: At a time when opening up of market to private companies is the buzzword, the Asiatic Society of India is vouching for preserving the cultural heritage in this ever-changing world of globalisation.

At their 223rd Annual General Meeting here yesterday, University of Calcutta Vice-Chancellor Asis Kumar Banerjee dwelt extensively on the contribution of the Asiatic Society in the current era of globalisation.

Mr Banerjee said, "In a nation such as ours, where the stress is now on liberalisation and globalisation, we need to preserve our heritage." "I fully respect what our government is doing and feel that the market should be opened up for free competition. This should, in fact, help the local businesses grow. But we must not forget to protect what is rightfully ours," he added.

"When Sir William Jones founded the Asiatic Society in 1784, he realised that there was spiritual greatness and literary wisdom in India, and that is our heritage," he said.

"Heritage does not only mean cultural heritage, it also means artistic, musical and scientific heritage, that needs to be carefully enshrined by us, and Asiatic Society has been doing just that throughout all these years," he opined.

Mr Banerjee emphasised on the point that a process of cultural aggression had been set as a result of the combination of the socio-economic trend and advancement in the field of science and technology.

"Economic policy of liberalisation and globalisation and the trend set by audio-visual media and its coverage have managed to erode the surface of our cultural heritage," he asserted.

"He hold the "invasion of the Coca Cola culture" responsible for the change in our attitude towards our culture and what is rightfully ours and yet we forget to shield it from its pollutants," he averred.

"We should spare no pains to preserve our heritage and do away with sinister elements in a bid to create a better environment for our coming generation," he iterated.

Echoing Mr Banerjee's view, Asiatic Society president Biswanath Banerjee said, "Many countries like Myanmar, China, Burma, China, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Japan, Java and Sumatra have, in the past, been influenced by our culture, and yet we fail to remain firmly grounded to our roots."

UNI