Pune

Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on Friday paid glowing tributes to revered personalities Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Dr B R Ambedkar, saying their contributions played a crucial role in preserving India's cultural heritage and reinforcing unity.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 38th Pune Festival at Shri Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch, Radhakrishnan noted this historic western Maharashtra city was a land that had nurtured the ideals of courage, social justice, equality and patriotism.

"Whenever we want to start any auspicious work, we worship Lord Ganesh first. That is the custom and tradition we follow in Hindu dharma," he said.

The Vice-President paid homage to the 17th-century Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and legendary freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak and emphasised their contributions should not be forgotten.

"If there is no Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, there is no Hindu dharma in this land. We should not forget the great sacrifice because of which the great Hindu dharma was saved," he said, adding the great Maratha ruler captured Vellore Fort, Thanjavur Palace during his southern campaign (1676-77) and because of him, the Hindu dharma was saved in the present-day Tamil Nadu.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's campaign in southern India had helped preserve Hindu traditions and Tamil literature, the Vice-President affirmed.

He recalled Tilak's famous declaration, "Freedom is my birthright, and I will attain it at any cost."

Radhakrishnan also spoke glowingly about social reformer and chief Constitution maker Ambedkar, saying the Constitution he gave was among the reasons India has remained united all these decades.

Present on the occasion were Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Verma, Deputy Chief minister Sunetra Pawar, state cabinet ministers Chandrakant Patil, Ashish Shelar, and Meera Kalmadi, wife of former city MP and Union minister late Suresh Kalmadi, who laid the foundation of the Pune Festival nearly four decades ago.

Radhakrishnan congratulated Pune Festival president Krishnakumar Goyal, chairperson Meera Kalmadi and their entire team for their continued commitment to the event, which coincides with Ganesh festivities.

Referring to Meera Kalmadi and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar (wife of late deputy CM Ajit Pawar), he said both faced personal losses, but continued to move forward and contribute to public life.

"They have not felt dejected (by personal losses)... They are still holding the flag in the front and marching forward. This confidence should come to all the sisters who are sitting here," he told the gathering.

Radhakrishnan described Pune as the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and well-known social reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule.

He recalled the 1932 Poona Pact between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Ambedkar, saying the city, Maharashtra's cultural capital, had nurtured ideals of social justice and equality.

"Pune is now also a renowned educational hub. The institutions and libraries of Pune serve as vibrant nerve centres of intellectual discourse," the Vice-President opined.

He highlighted the presence of the National Defence Academy and the College of Military Engineering in Pune, describing them as institutions of national importance that train personnel for the armed forces.

Radhakrishnan said the participation of students from 21 countries in Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and in the Pune Festival inauguration ceremony demonstrated mutual respect for different faiths and traditions.

He described this spirit of respecting every faith as "real secularism" and said the Pune Festival reflected India's cultural diversity and unity.

India's progress should not be measured only through infrastructure, technology or GDP, but also through the preservation of its civilizational values, languages, traditions and art forms, Radhakrishnan affirmed.

Citing the principle of "Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi" (development along with heritage), he stressed the need to build modern cities while protecting their cultural identity.

The Vice President said over the years Pune has emerged as a global education hub and a centre for industry, IT, automobile manufacturing, sports, tourism and horticulture.

He highlighted the Pune Festival's 38-year journey in bringing together music, dance, drama, literature, sports and tourism.

The 12-day-long Pune Festival started on September 14 amid Ganeshotsav celebrations, but was formally inaugurated on Friday (September 18). This year, the festival, which will culminate on September 25, has been dedicated to the memory of its founder-president and former Pune MP Suresh Kalmadi, who died in January this year.

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The annual festival features a grand showcase of art, classical music, traditional dance, and drama.