EMPHASISING the need to impart education in local language, the Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu urged all Central and State Governments to impart education till high school in their respective mother tongues.

Inaugurating the 50th session of All India Oriental Conference (AIOC) and its centenary celebrations at Suresh Bhat Auditorium in Reshimbagh on Friday, the Vice President pointed at the recommendations in Dr K Kasturirangan Committee report that suggests changes in current education system. “Every Vice Chancellor, professor, academician and politician of the country should work for positive improvement in our education system as per the recommendation,” he added.

Asserting that no nation would make progress if it neglects its history, the Vice-President wanted the education system to be revamped to include the real Indian history and stories about heroes such as Sant Tukaram, Sant Dnyaneshwar, Narayan Guru, Alluri Sitaramaraju and Veerapandian Kattabomman and others. The Vice-President also called for increasing use of Indian languages in education, administration and in daily life.

Warning that the culture and history of a land disappears if its language becomes extinct, Naidu called for popularising usage of Sanskrit by simplifying words. “Sanskrit should be simplified so that common man can understand it. New words can be added as and when required,” he said.

Observing that a language should not be seen through the prism of religion or community, Naidu asserted that, “the Vedas, Upanishads and Sanskrit belong to the entire country. Everybody should have access to learn a language,” he stressed.

Underlining the difference between culture and religion,the Vice-President point outthat while religion was a personal way of worship, culture was the way of life. “Indian culturehas great traditions handed down by our ancestors and we must preserve, protect, propagate and respect this for better future,” he stated.

Naidu wanted all ancient books to be translated into various regional languages for younger generation to understand the culture, traditions and history of India. In this context, the Vice-President pointed out that extensive research on Sanskrit was being undertaken in Germany, while India was not paying adequate attention to the growth and promotion of the language, he rued.

Highlighting the importance of literary and linguistic sources in history writing, Naidu said that a language is not just a medium of communication and rather it represents a whole culture – a whole civilisation. “Our languages are a common thread that connects us with our past and our the future,” he added.

In India, where there are around 19,500 languages and dialects around 200 languages are reportedly facing extinction, cautioned Vice-President.

Union Minister for Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Energy Minister of Government of Maharashtra and Guardian Minister Dr Nitin Raut, Vice Chancellor of Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University Professor Shrinivasa Varakhedi, President of All India Oriental Conference Prof Gautam Patel, General Secretary of AIOC Prof Saroja Bhate and Local Secretary AIOC Prof Madhusudan Penna also shared the dais during the inauguration function.

The digital format of 111 books on AIOC was released at the hands of Vice President along with AIOC Volume during the event. A national book exhibition was also inaugurated during the first session of the conference. The event commenced with screening of history of AIOC documentary.

Large number of national and international delegates, experts, researchers, academicians, public representatives and students were present during the inauguration function. Prof Madhusudan Penna proposed a vote of thanks.