New Delhi
06-06-2020
“To keep a nation and its people healthy we
have to keep our rivers healthy. We have laws, orders, rules and regulations
which ensure the protection and conservation of rivers of the nation but we
lack in its proper implementation which can be achieved through the collective
consciousness about the importance of rivers in human life” NGT Chairperson
Hon’ble Justice A.K. Goel expressed the thought in the webinar organised by the
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi This webinar also chaired by him.
Emphasizing on the significance of rivers in for
all forms of life, specially the human life and to pay a sincere homage to our
lifeline rivers, the IGNCA had organised this webinar titled “Riverine
Culture: Associating the Dissociated Communities to the River” on the occasion
of World Environment Day, i.e. 5th June, 2020. Several national and
international scholars and environmentalists attended this webinar with great zeal
and interest.
Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary,
IGNCA asserted in his address, “A river is not a mere physical entity or a natural
resource but we have emotional connection with our rivers and worship them as
Goddesses.” He further emphasised on making sincere attempts to revive
this connection with the river and offer a genuine gratitude to them. He opined
that the Panch-shaktiyan (five sources of knowledge and potentials) i.e.
Vidhi (law), Dharma (religion) Shaurya (valour), Sewa (service),
and Jnyana (knowledge) must work in collaboration to protect the rivers.
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati
ji, President, Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, shared his views in the webinar and
appealed to the nation to protect the rivers of the nation and keep them clean.
He said, “River transverses without discrimination, therefore everyone should
take a vow to ensure its continuity and cleanliness.” He also emphasized on
green activities to protect the nature and requested the NGT to ensure the
implementation of laws and orders formulated to protect the nature.
Retd. Col. Sh. Manoj Keshwar, Founder
of Atulya Ganga foundation, raised the concern over the developmental
activities and rapid industrialization that have brought the rivers on a
backslide. He emphasized on making the young minds aware regarding the
protection of rivers and nature and to ensure the continuous flow of the rivers
as givers of life in future.
Sh. Gopal Arya, Thinker and
environmentalist, mentioned the importance of the World Environment Day and
said that the protection and conservation of rivers cannot be achieved without
public awareness and public participation and this should get converted in a major
public movement for the welfare of environment at the later stage.
The Indira Gandhi National Centre
for the Arts (IGNCA) is a premier research centre under the Ministry of
Culture, GoI, which is actively engaged in research, documentation, publication
and
dissemination
of knowledge in the field of arts and culture. In a sincere attempt to express
a humble homage to the rivers which provide us with life and nourishment, the
centre has initiated a major project on Riverine Culture, under its Janapada
Sampada Division, focusing on the civilization and the culture around a river,
which worships the river as a mother and acknowledges her contributions through
prayers, sacrifices, fairs, and festivals, thus establishing a deep emotional
connection with the river. So
far, under this, the project Glory of Rivers has covered six important rivers
of the country viz,. Kaveri, Krishna, Gomati, Yamuna, Ganga and Vyas.
The webinar was conducted/moderated by Prof.
Molly Kaushal, HoD of the Janapada Sampada Division of the IGNCA. It concluded
with the vote of thanks given by Sh, Abhay Mishra from Janapada Sampada Division,
IGNCA.
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