India should showcase its heritage with pride: Modi
New Delhi, July 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India should showcase its great heritage with pride and questioned rules that prohibit people from taking pictures at some monuments.
Inaugurating Dharohar Bhawan, the new headquarters building of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), here Modi called for people's participation and involvement in protecting the country's archeological heritage.
He said a mentality still prevails which does not allow people to take pride in their past achievements and noted that there should have been a change of such a mindset after Independence.
"It is unfortunate that there is an entrenched mentality which feels that taking pride in our past glory is wrong. I feel till the time we have pride in our legacy, in our past achievements, we are also not fully involved in its conservation," Modi said.
Modi referred to notices at some monuments asking people not to take pictures and said the times had changed and it was possible through technology to zero in on a neighbourhood.
"Using space technology, you can know what is the number of a scooter parked in an area of Delhi. But on the board of monument it is written that photography is prohibited. Time has changed, technology has changed."
Recalling his experience as Gujarat chief minister, Modi said that he gave instructions to withdraw notice that prevented people from taking pictures at Sardar Sarovar dam.
He said there was good response and ticketing was done later.
Modi said corporate sector can also be involved in the task of archaeological conservation and people can contribute some hours as volunteers.
He said school syllabus in cities that have archeological sites can include information on these places so that students can learn about them.
Modi said the youth can be encouraged to work as guides and recalled that he had suggested holding a best guide talent competition on TV channels to nurture interest in people.
He said like some foreign countries, senior citizens in India can also form clubs and work as guides.
The Prime Minister said the ASI had performed significant work over the last 150 years and each archaeological discovery, painstakingly made by archaeologists over long periods of time, had its own story to tell.
"India should showcase its great heritage with pride and confidence to the world," he said.
Modi recalled his meeting with Haibhai Godani, who had made a rich and memorable collection of artefacts through sustained personal efforts.
The new headquarters of ASI is equipped with modern facilities including energy efficient lighting and rainwater harvesting. It has a Central Archaeological Library with a collection of about 1.5 lakh books and journals.
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15 IAS officers transferred in Haryana
Chandigarh (PTI): The Haryana government transferred 15 IAS officers with immediate effect on Wednesday.
Among those who have been transferred are Vineet Garg, Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board. He has been posted as the additional chief secretary to the government's printing and stationery department, relieving Raja Shekhar Vundru of the charge, a government order said.
Ajay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, has been transferred and posted as the deputy principal secretary-II to the chief minister against a newly-created post.
Pankaj Agarwal, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, has been posted as the principal secretary in the architecture department, relieving Apporva Kumar Singh of the charge.
Saket Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Commissioner and Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, has been transferred and posted as the commissioner and secretary in the archives department, relieving Shekhar Vidyarthi of the charge.
Mani Ram Sharma, Registrar, Cooperative Societies, has been posted as the secretary in the health department, relieving Rippudaman Singh Dhillon of the charge.
