- Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released a book on the Bhawaiya folk tradition.
- He said Bhawaiya reflects the emotions and wisdom of ordinary people.
- The Vice-President stressed that development must go hand in hand with cultural preservation.
- He urged the youth to use technology to safeguard India’s cultural heritage.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th June: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Thursday called for preserving India’s rich cultural heritage, saying national development becomes meaningful only when accompanied by cultural confidence and civilisational awareness.
Speaking after releasing the book Sanskritir Ratna Bhandar: Bhaowaiyar Itibritto (Bhawaiya: A Cultural Treasure and Its Historical Journey) at Uprashtrapati Bhavan, the Vice-President said India’s diverse languages, music, customs and traditions form a priceless repository of the nation’s collective memory.
The book, authored by Lok Sabha MP Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy and co-authored by Ms. Sangita Roy, traces the historical evolution of the Bhawaiya folk tradition associated with North Bengal, Assam and the Koch Rajbanshi community.
Congratulating the authors and publisher, Radhakrishnan said Bhawaiya has, for generations, reflected the emotions, aspirations, struggles and wisdom of ordinary people while serving as a living expression of the region’s social and cultural life.
He said the publication offers valuable insights into the cultural history of North Bengal and highlights the role of folk traditions, agriculture, religious practices and community life in shaping the Bhawaiya musical tradition.
The Vice-President observed that despite rapid modernisation and globalisation, Bhawaiya has survived because it remains rooted in authentic human experiences and universal emotions.
Urging the younger generation to actively participate in preserving India’s cultural legacy, he called for greater use of technology to safeguard traditional knowledge, languages and customs.
Referring to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Radhakrishnan said cultural preservation should remain an integral part of national development.
He also highlighted India’s ancient traditions, including Yoga, as enduring solutions to contemporary global challenges and said the world is increasingly looking towards Bharat for civilisational ideas and sustainable practices.
Emphasising the country’s unity in diversity, the Vice-President said, “We have many languages, cultures and communities, yet we are one nation and share one civilisational spirit. Bharat is one and shall remain one forever.”
