VP Radhakrishnan Stresses Indigenous Culture Preservation
Vice-President says tribal communities are partners in India’s future and urges youth to embrace modern skills while staying rooted
- Radhakrishnan visited Nyedar Namlo, a Donyi-Polo place of worship in Itanagar.
- He highlighted the importance of preserving indigenous faith, culture and traditional knowledge.
- He said tribal communities are partners in building a developed India.
- He stressed balancing modern education with indigenous traditions and mother tongues.
GG News Bureau
Itanagar, 10th Sept: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan visited Nyedar Namlo in Itanagar on Wednesday and highlighted the need to preserve indigenous faith, culture and traditional knowledge systems while pursuing modern development.
Nyedar Namlo is a sacred place of worship and community hub associated with the indigenous Donyi-Polo faith of the Nyishi community and other indigenous groups of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Vice-President offered prayers at the prayer hall and was briefed on Nyishi beliefs and prayer systems, the Yerko indigenous Gurukul system, traditional knowledge and medicinal practices, and initiatives to promote the mother tongue.
Addressing a community gathering, Radhakrishnan said he felt blessed to visit Nyedar Namlo during his first visit to Arunachal Pradesh. He described Arunachal Pradesh as an embodiment of India’s unity in diversity, where ancient traditions and modern aspirations coexist.
Highlighting the Donyi-Polo tradition, he said its emphasis on nature, truth, harmony and community remains relevant to the modern world. He stressed that development must go hand in hand with cultural preservation.
Radhakrishnan appreciated the work of the Nyishi Nyidung Mung-jwng Rallung in documentation, research, traditional festivals, cultural activities and preservation of customary laws and social values.
He also highlighted the Yerko Gurukul system as a model that combines contemporary education with indigenous knowledge, enabling children to pursue modern opportunities while remaining connected to their roots.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi”, the Vice-President said tribal communities are not merely custodians of India’s past but important partners in building its future. He also linked indigenous cultural preservation with the spirit of Vocal for Local and Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.
“Preservation of indigenous culture is not about resisting change. It is about ensuring that change does not come at the cost of identity,” he said.
Radhakrishnan called upon young people to embrace modern science, technology and global skills while remaining connected to their mother tongue and traditions. He said India must be modern in its aspirations while remaining rooted in its civilisational and cultural values.
He expressed hope that Nyedar Namlo would continue to inspire peace, harmony, respect for nature, social unity and a strong sense of community.
Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, MP Tai Tagak, Minister for Home and Indigenous Affairs Mama Natung and Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta were present on the occasion.
