AMN
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu says poetry has the capability to change attitudes, mindsets and social norms.
He was addressing the valedictory ceremony of 39th World Congress of Poets at Bhubaneswar today, Mr Naidu said, if we aim at a more compassionate world, poetry can be one of the most powerful instruments. He said, poetry can serve as a powerful catalyst that could hasten the process of social transformation.
The Vice President said, there is a need of poets, writers, artists and singers as much as we need doctors, engineers and scientists. He urged schools to make poetry reading and appreciation a compulsory part of the curriculum. He also asked universities to encourage literature, arts and humanities education.
Mr Naidu said, poets have the capability to be influencers and opinion-makers and they have a unique potential to shape thoughts, feelings and attitudes. He expressed confidence that they will use this tremendous power at their disposal, to build a better world.
The Vice President said, poetry is one of the finest expressions of human emotion as it conveys deep insights, a wide range of emotions and elevates the human experience to the highest levels of consciousness.
He said, artists are very often the conscience keepers of society and they constantly question the absurd and the illogical and help instil positive values in the society.
The Vice President said, it is crucial to promote arts and culture in order to build an enlightened and healthy society. He said, Arts nurture creativity in the society and without a creative voice, a society will become stagnant. He said, artists, enliven and transform the lives of people and change our perception.
Mr Naidu said, India’s tryst with poetry is as old as its civilization. He said, great Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are among the finest specimens of poetry ever written. They are celebrated world over for grandeur of their themes, extraordinary literary heights and depth of messages they convey.