India had global concept even during ancient times: Dr Karan Singh

New York, July 16 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special representative Dr Karan Singh, said the concept of globalisation has never been alien to India and noted that the country probably contributed it to the rest of the world.

''For thousands of years, the concept has been with us as our principle even in the ancient days which was vasudhaiva kutumbakam' (the whole world is one),'' Dr Singh said while delivering the valedictory address to the just-concluded three-day Eighth World Hindi Conference.

''Ekam sat vipra bahuda vadanti (the truth is one but wise men interpret it differently)'', he said.

Dr Singh, who is also the head of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, received a round of applause at the end of his half-hour speech at the packed auditorium of the Fashion Institute of Technology premises in Manhattan, just across the street from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan US, which co-organised the event.

''Our concept has not only been to protect humans and other animate things, but also to protect the environment,'' he said in his Hindi speech at the Eighth World Conference, which ended in New York yesterday.

Dr Singh called for ''learning and respecting others'' languages.

He pointed out his knowledge of Dogra, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi and English and observed that his 'sanskruti' (culture) came through Sanskrit. '' You should not insult anyone's language. Insulting or disrespecting a language is nothing but insulting Goddess Saraswati,'' he said.

Praising Amir Khusro for his contribution in popularising the Hindi language centuries ago, he said it is rich in literature and vocabulary.

Referring to the India's bid for including Hindi as an official language in the United Nations, Dr Singh pointed out that former Prime Ministers Atal Behari Vajpayee and PV Narasimha Rao had spoken in Hindi at the world body.

''It can easily be learnt and used,'' he said adding, ''It is now a common person's language.'' Dr Singh said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wished to attend the Conference but could not due to the Presidential Elections.

''I am not a competitor for the president's post and hence I am here,'' he remarked in a lighter vein.

Before the valedictory speech began, 40 language scholars (20 Indians and 20 foreigners) were honoured by Nepalese and Mauritian ministers.

UNI