The former Vice President spoke after inaugurating the four-day LokManthan Bhagyanagar 2024 exhibition at Shilparamam in Hyderabad.
At the inauguration of the four-day LokManthan Bhagyanagar 2024 exhibition at Shilparamam in Hyderabad, former Vice President of India Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu today urged Indians to reconnect with their cultural heritage, language and traditions.
"We have forgotten our language, attire and culture. It is time for everyone to return to our roots, which are deep. Indian sanatana dharma is so profound that it emphasizes even co-existing with animals and nature," he said.
Naidu lamented the deleterious impact of colonialism, saying, "Western influence has robbed Indians not only of their resources but also their minds. We have abandoned our culture, literature, music, instruments, and even our words, in favour of English. It's essential to return to our Indian roots, promote Indian languages, and prioritize our mother tongue before learning any other language. We are not against English, but it must not replace our identity."
He said that preserving one's mother tongue was important, and that our mother tongue was equivalent to our eyes while English was just eye-glass. "Without eyes, no matter how good the glasses are, they are useless. LokManthan aims to leave behind the colonial mindset and revive our cultural roots," he said.
"President Draupadi Murmu, former President Ram Nath Kovind and former Chief Justice of India N V Ramana were all educated in their mother tongue. I myself studied in a street school. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi never attended a convent school, yet he has emerged as a great leader."
He also reflected on India's rich cultural heritage, pointing out practices like feeding ants with sugar, offering milk to snakes and drops to trees, and other traditions that symbolize India's harmonious co-existence with nature. "Unfortunately, the invasion and influence of the West have distanced us from these values. They not only looted our wealth but also reshaped our minds, leading us to forget our roots. It's time to undo this damage and reclaim our identity," he said.
He called upon the people of Hyderabad and surrounding districts to participate in the LokManthan program and learn about their cultural roots.