Arunachal Pradesh: The inter-faith cultural programme got underway on Friday with participation of Art of Living (AOL) founder, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in presence of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and his cabinet colleagues, legislators, officials with huge participation from the locals.
A colorful cultural dances from different tribes representing state’s diversity were presented before the guests on the occasion. The programme was also attended by religious heads of Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu and indigenous faith groups.
Speaking on the occasion, Gurudev appreciated the people of Arunachal of having maintained unity despite its huge diversity. “I give credit to the people of this state for having accepted and respected the diversity. Let not diversity be a reason for discord but to celebrate and to bring excitement,” he said.
He said respect for fellow human being can be cultivated through finding happiness in other’s happiness. He said Arunachali indigenous culture finds much similarity with those of indigenous tribes from Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. He said the foundation would like to give the people of Arunachal a chance to interact with them.
Gurudev proposed to host a ‘World Tribal Culture Festival’ in Arunachal to reflect India’s cultural intelligence and the spirit of diversity that the country is known through ages. He said India being repository of knowledge and culture has always been known as ‘Vishwa Guru’.
Speaking on youth potential in Arunachal, Gurudev said youths here have smart brains, good physique and are naturally gifted with talents in music and sports. He also said Aruanchali youths being good at healing art have huge demand outside the state as therapists. He said Arunachal has all the ingredients to become prosperous state in future.
Gurudev said Arunachal has withstood itself as peaceful state despite its neighbours having witnessed trouble for decades. Together with its huge potential and its ability to sustain peace, Arunachal can become an ‘happy state’, he said.
Gurudev called upon the youths to ‘volunteer for better Arunachal’ and urged them dedicate few hours everyday for the state. He expressed to harness the youth potential by opening technical colleges, skill development institutes in Arunachal to produce scientists, philosophers and to take their talent to the whole world.
In his welcome speech, Chief Minister introduced the AOL foundation as an organization dedicated to the upliftment of poor, youths and unemployed. He recalled his earlier visit to the AOL campus in Bengaluru where youths are given skill development training and various initiatives are also being taken for welfare of poor.
Emphasizing on strengthening of education in Arunachal, the CM said the state desires to seek help from AOL and other institutes such as VKV, RK Mission and Don Bosco institute. He said govt schools in Arunachal are witnessing decrease in enrolment despite huge investment in manpower and infrastructures, which has been already reflected in NITI Aayog’s report on country’s education scenario.
He suggested that private institutes such as VKV or Don Bosco can adopt govt schools that are failing to perform, and specifically requested the AOL to assist in this mission.
Courtesy: NorthEast Today
