Culture flourishes when rooted in human values: Ex-VP Venkaiah Naidu

Former Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday said that culture truly flourishes when it engages with real human concerns such as social harmony, environmental sustainability, dignity of labour and inclusive growth.

He was addressing the valedictory ceremony of the 27th Foundation Day of the Utkal University of Culture here.

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Expressing pleasure at attending the ceremony, Naidu said Odisha occupies a unique place in India’s civilisational narrative, where culture has always been regarded as a living force shaping collective life. From rituals and customs to architecture, literature, music, dance and craftsmanship, he said, culture in Odisha permeates everyday life. In this context, he added, it was fitting that the country’s first university dedicated exclusively to cultural studies was established in the State.

Addressing students, the former Vice-President said they were not only inheritors of a rich cultural legacy but also creators of its future. He urged them to respect tradition while embracing innovation, and stressed that education should empower them to question, create and serve society.

Observing that the present era is dominated by speed and technology, Naidu said institutions like the Utkal University of Culture remind society that progress must remain rooted in identity, ethics and shared memory. Development without cultural grounding, he cautioned, risks becoming hollow.

Emphasising that culture is dynamic and continuously evolving, Naidu said the responsibility of the university extends beyond conservation to meaningful reinterpretation of traditions through research, documentation, creative experimentation and academic dialogue. He also lauded the university’s interdisciplinary approach, outreach initiatives and community engagement, describing teachers as mentors and torchbearers who uphold a balance between academic excellence, ethics and creative sensitivity.

Addressing the gathering, Odisha Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati highlighted the need to view culture as a driver of innovation, enterprise and sustainable livelihoods in a rapidly changing, technology-driven world. He said students and alumni of the university are not only custodians of tradition but also potential cultural entrepreneurs and innovators.

“Culture is not merely something to be preserved; it is a living resource that can generate employment, strengthen social cohesion and contribute to sustainable development,” the Governor said.

Highlighting Odisha’s rich civilisational legacy, Dr Kambhampati said the State’s culture has remained vibrant and continuous through the ages, evolving through dialogue, synthesis and diversity. Referring to the Kalinga War, he said Emperor Ashoka’s transformation conveyed a timeless message of peace and humanism, while King Kharavela’s reign reflected courage, cultural vision and social responsibility. He also referred to Odisha’s temple architecture, Jagannath culture, and its classical, folk and tribal artistic traditions.