Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan Inaugurates 38th Pune Festival, Emphasizes Vision of 'Development along with Heritage'
During the inauguration of the Pune Festival, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan highlighted the need to remember the country's history and the sacrifices of its heroes while preserving cultural heritage alongside development.
Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 38th Pune Festival at the Shri Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch in Pune. The occasion was attended by several dignitaries, including Maharashtra Governor Shri Jishnu Dev Verma, Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Sunetra Pawar, Higher and Technical Education Minister Shri Chandrakant Patil, Culture Minister Shri Ashish Shelar, Member of Parliament Smt. Hema Malini, Member of Parliament Dr. Medha Kulkarni, and former Union Home Minister Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde.
In his address, the Vice President stated that the country must never forget its history and the great sacrifices made by its heroes. He emphasized remembering the contribution of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in saving Hinduism and India's cultural heritage. He also paid tribute to Lokmanya Tilak, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule, and Babasaheb B. R. Ambedkar.
Referring to the deep historical ties between Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, Shri Radhakrishnan noted that it was due to Maratha leaders that Tamil literature was preserved in the Saraswati Mahal Library of Thanjavur. He praised the global identity of Pune and described the traditional Ganesh Puja program, performed by students from approximately 20 countries during the inaugural session, as a beautiful example of the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'.
The Vice President observed that Pune has evolved into a major hub for education, industry, sports, information technology, automobile manufacturing, tourism, and horticulture while maintaining its cultural identity. He appreciated the contribution of the festival in making Pune a 'City of Festivals' and commended the vision of its founder, the late Shri Suresh Kalmadi. He further praised the efforts to provide a platform for young and women artists through programs such as 'Ugavate Tare', 'Indradhanu', and 'Mahila Mahotsav'.
Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi' (Development along with Heritage), the Vice President stated that there is no need to sacrifice cultural values for the sake of modernity and technological progress. He clarified that the vision of 'Viksit Bharat' includes an inclusive society connected to its cultural heritage alongside economic growth and infrastructure.
During the event, the Vice President honored veteran actor Shri Mohan Joshi with the 'Founder Suresh Kalmadi Pune Festival Lifetime Achievement Award' for his distinguished contribution to Indian cinema and performing arts. He expressed hope that the Pune Festival would continue to inspire national unity, tourism, and young talent.
