‘Battle today for cultural re-balancing’
Jaishankar: It’s crucial to project our own heritage, culture & belief
New Delhi, March 31: Underscoring the importance of “cultural re-balancing” in today’s world, External affairs minister S. Jaishankar said on Sunday that projecting one’s own heritage, culture and faith is as crucial in international relations as in traditional politics. He was speaking at the Purana Qila here to announce NGO Sabhyata Foundation as the “Smaarak Saarthi” for four historic monuments — Purana Qila, Humayun’s Tomb, Safdarjung Tomb and Mehrauli Archaeological Park — for five years under the government’s “Adopt a Heritage 2.0” project.
“Today the battle is for culture rebalancing. How do we recognise the entire diversity of the world, how do we undo the distortions of an era which was distorted by a few countries and a few regions. That is why it is crucial today to project our own heritage, our culture, our way of life, our faith, our belief, and that to me, is as crucial in diplomacy and international relations as traditional politics,” the Union minister said.
The 69-year-old here also talked about Hindu epic Mahabharata and how other epics in the world are no match to it.
“There are none (epics) that really compare with the Mahabharata in terms not just of the complexity and the subtlety but actually how relevant it is even today to look at the world, its challenges and its opportunities,” he explained.
“Adopt a Heritage 2.0” project — an initiative of the ministry of culture and Archeological Survey of India (ASI) — aims for partnerships with private/public sector entities to provide, develop and maintain amenities at centrally protected monuments and sites.