The 8th triennial conference of Elders of Ancient Traditions & Cultures under the auspices of International Centre For Cultural Studies (ICCS) with the theme “Shared Sustainable Prosperity”began on a colourful note in collaboration with RIWATCH Arunachal Pradesh in the premises of famed Shiksha Valley School campus in Dibrugarh. A procession with the delegates from 33 countries in their traditional attires and fineries, to the accompanying drums and devotional dances by some of the tribes of Northeastern region of India traversed through the main streets of Dibrugarh, Assam. This procession was witnessed by thousands of jubilant citizens of the township including RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan along with senior RSS leader Shri Suresh Soni.
The graceful inaugural session was presided over by the Assam CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma with Dr Mohan Bhagwat being the keynote speaker. The program began with lighting of auspicious lamp, followed by religious prayers of eight representatives of ancient faiths representing seven continents of globe, in lauding one by Arunachal Pradesh’s Idu Mishmi tribe.
Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the delegates to Assam, that is home to hundreds of indigenous tribes and faiths. He pointed out that in the current intolerant and strife torn world, indigenous faiths have suffered the worst, and it is our duty to nurture them. We must preserve these belief systems as they are deeply committed to environment. They have been living in harmony with nature from time immemorial. He mentioned many Assamese tribes and their connect with nature, that form the rich tapestry of ancient beliefs. The CM Assam expressed his pain that these communities have been targets of conversion. Education and health care are used as baits.
The erosion of indigenous faiths is deeply worrying as it weakens the society. He gave example of various tribes across Bharat who have faced this attack. He recalled how Bhagwan Birsa Munda made it his life’s mission to protect his community from conversions and revive Munda faith. He quoted Mahatma Gandhi from his book – “Why I am a Hindu” where he said that demise of a faith is demise of its wisdom. He informed the audience that Assam government has formed a separate department for preserving, promoting and nurturing indigenous faiths of Assam.
RSS chief, Dr Mohan Bhagwat in his keynote address, began by welcoming the international delegates to Assam, the land of spirituality. He pointed out that this gathering which came together two decades back as a beginning. It sustained itself over two decades together, that was progress and now with the theme of working together for a “Shared Sustainable Prosperity” will spell its success. He congratulated the Elders of the ancient traditions and cultures, representing more than 33 ancient traditions from across more than 30 countries, that they could keep alive their ancient faiths despite highly aggressive environment around them; because world now needs their wisdom.
Despite two thousand years of progress and material prosperity, the world is facing conflicts. There is no peace outside or within. Children go to schools with guns and shoot people without any apparent reason. There is envy and ego and there are struggles due to narrowness of minds where people are divided into “us and them, ours and theirs.” Those who wish to go beyond these groupings and save humanity, end up becoming another group. Leaders and thinkers have been talking about saving environment but nothing concrete has come up except talks.
He noted that many theories and ‘isms’ came up – from “individualism” that didn’t consider society important, to “communism” that considered society as supreme, with no space for individual bliss and social peace. All theories focused on material prosperity. Religions evolved to find solutions but they too failed. At the most they reached the ideal of maximum good for the maximum people. Because they did not look at the integral whole; they couldn’t discern the underlying element of oneness that connected all these human dimensions. They could not reach the ancient wisdom of “sarve sukhinah santu.” – let all be happy. Their idea was competition for best results. Naturally, the strongest won. Whereas ancient traditions knew the underlying aspect of “spiritual oneness”, which the Bharatiyas call dharma. Following our dharma, there is bliss in the beginning, in the middle and in the end.
These ancient cultures realised that “all are not one but everything is one.” We can have different forms and expressions, there is no point in viewing this diversity negatively; we need to respect diversity because that is the expression of oneness expressed in different forms. This wisdom says, happiness is within, not only outside. Happiness is not in consumption of an object, but consuming it because you are happy.
Dr Bhagwat noted that an individual, the community or society, the nation and the nature are related in a spiral, each leading to next mechanism. They don’t exist in concentric circles. Factoring this culture can bring peace and prosperity. He pointed out how a UN resolution in 1951 talked about scrapping of ancient philosophies and disintegration of old social institutions for one goal of rapid economic progress. “But in 2013,” Dr Bhagwat pointed out, “it had to admit that integration of culture into development policies was necessary for global development.” We, the ancient knowledge systems belonging to different traditions knew this. Thus, our time has come. Ancient cultures may think that we are too small and may not be able to change the situation. The RSS Sarsanghchalak then shared a folk story, the lesson of which was that with right wisdom, we can come together change the situation and create a new world devoid of conflicts and environmental disaster; and bring in an era of peace with ancient wisdom.
On this occasion a new academic and research journal was launched by ICCS that will focus on history, anthropology, and governance. A souvenir with insightful articles and highlights of earlier conferences. The five day conference will end with the Sarkaryavah, RSS, Shri Dattatreya Hosabale and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Miniister Shri Pema Khandu and Deputy CM Shri Chowna Mein addressing the valedictory session on 31st January and a visit to RIWATCH campus in Roing, Arunachal Pradesh, by delegates the following day.
