Kozhikode: Praising India's composite culture,
Vice President M Hamid Ansari on Friday highlighted the country's
diversity and tolerant mindset.
He was inaugurating the second edition of 'Sneha sangamam',
a cultural programme organised as part of commissioning of the
renovated ancient Tali Mahadeva temple and Kuttichira Mishkal
mosque in the city at a function here.
Complimenting the Central and state governments and
district administration for renovating the ancient temple and
mosque, he said: "This is not merely an exercise of building
or rebuilding. It is a projection of how India really is...the
composite culture of India, the tolerant mindset of India, the
ability of average Indian man or women, adult or child to
accept diversity and to glorify diversity," and added "the
whole world is struggling with this."
He also said it was not every day that one finds under one
roof "such a vast gathering of citizens and devotees of place
of worship... temple and mosque on the one side" .
"This is to me a remarkable tribute to the people of this
ancient city and to the people of the state of Kerala."
Recalling an experience he had when he was in Europe 40
years ago, Ansari said he had met a devotee and a film-maker,
who was in the business of making serious documentary.
The film-maker came to India and Kerala and made a
documentary titled 'the men and gods of Kerala, a study
through camera of four faiths, four religions that live side
by side in harmony in the state', he said.
"It was a beautiful film which projected the real, clear
life of the people of the state on the screen," he said,
adding it was a great tribute to the people of state, tribute
to the government of the state.
PTI
First Published: Friday, November 11, 2011, 17:16