“Youth and students must become catalysts to safeguard the culture and historic glory of the region during this present period of crisis where the social values are slowly vanishing,” said Alameri Kalancheri Math Pontiff Shanthamallikarjuna Swamiji.

Addressing the gathering at the district-level students’ seminar ‘Vaividhyamaya Kodagu’ at Pathrika Bhavan on Monday, he said that we have enclosed our traditions and history in a box and we have not yet tried to get its glory out. He said that life can be meaningful only when we club traditions with the knowledge of the present.

“We conduct studies on European history due to which our own history which is there right in front of our eyes is vanishing from our sight. We have no idea about our own history. Our duty should not be confined to just conserving our culture but we should also take up studies about our own culture and history,” he added.
Earlier inaugurating the seminar, Department of Archaeology Deputy Director Dr J V Gayathri said that tourism can develop only when the link between history and culture becomes strong.

She said that there are more than 20 monuments in the state but the Government has been able to conserve and restore only a few of them. “Youth must develop a sense of belongingness towards these monuments and take up the responsibility of protecting the monuments and culture,” she added.

FMC College Principal Dr Pushpa Kuttanna and others were present. Several sessions on various topics on culture and history were held in which eminent speakers delivered talks.