Preserve ancient knowledge and wisdom: CM

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, March 18: In view of the declining population of priests in various tribal communities, Chief Minister Kalikho Pul has exhorted the community cultural bodies to find ways to preserve ancient wisdom and knowledge. “We have to preserve our culture and traditions for posterity, and it is through priests that we can carry forward it to our next generations,” said the Chief Minister while speaking to the representatives of the Indigenous Faith & Cultural Society of Aruchal Pradesh (IFCSAP) here yesterday. Expressing his anguish over the loss of ancient knowledge and wisdom, Pul said “Preservation of culture is not only about protecting the tangible cultural assets; but it’s also about seeking a deeper connection with ourselves, while appreciating our own culture,” an official release said here today. “The priests are our cultural storehouse and it is through them we seek spiritual solace. They are our spiritual leader, they are our healer,” he said and added that relevance of priests in modern times cannot be invalidated. “It is in the chants of the priests, that we find mention of our cultural history and about our ancestors. So we have to find ways through which we can preserve our ancient cultural heritage,” said Pul. The Chief Minister urged the cultural bodies to create programs, device curriculum and suggest measures through which the knowledge and metaphysical wisdom of the priests can be documented and preserved.

In response, the IFSCAP representatives sought government’s active support in preservation of the institution of priests, without which they fear treasure of ancient knowledge, will be lost forever.

They also suggested on having remunerations for priests as incentives, the release added.