Bhopal, November 12, 2024, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the All-India Kalidas Festival in Ujjain today, celebrating the legacy of the great poet Kalidas, whose works beautifully illustrate the unbreakable bond between humanity and nature. In his keynote address, Vice President Dhankhar emphasized that Kalidas’s creations represent India’s priceless cultural heritage and continue to inspire our core values and reverence for nature.
The inauguration of the 66th All-India Kalidas Festival was presided over by Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, while Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and other dignitaries graced the event. The festival’s guests included Swami Govinddev Giriji Maharaj, Treasurer of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Ayodhya, along with cultural ministers and Members of Parliament.
Vice President Dhankhar praised Kalidas’s work for conveying essential messages about environmental preservation, noting the timeless relevance of his masterpiece *Meghadutam*, which emphasizes the importance of protecting the Earth. He also lauded the Madhya Pradesh government and Chief Minister Yadav for preserving and promoting India’s rich cultural heritage through such events.
In his address, Vice President Dhankhar highlighted Kalidas’s contribution to women’s empowerment, pointing to his celebrated work *Abhijnanashakuntalam* as an enduring example. He also spoke about family values, stressing the need for character development in youth to build a stronger nation.
The Vice President further applauded India’s progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly in areas of technology and environmental conservation, referencing the “One Tree in Mother’s Name” campaign as a significant environmental initiative.
The evening also saw the presentation of the prestigious Kalidas National Awards, recognizing luminaries from diverse fields, including classical music, visual arts, and theater. Among the awardees were Pandit Uday Bhawalkar and Dr. Sandhya Purecha for classical music, P.R. Daroch and Raghupati Bhatt for visual arts, and Bhanu Bharti and Rudraprasad Sengupta for theater.
The event also included the release of ten publications by the Kalidas Sanskrit Academy, focusing on topics ranging from grammar and classical literature to environmental studies and artistic exhibitions, furthering the Academy’s mission to preserve and promote India’s cultural and scholarly heritage.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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