New Delhi, June 25: The Vice President of India, C.P. Radhakrishnan, unveiled the book ‘Sanskriti Ratna Bhandar: Bhowaiya Itibrito’ (Bhowaiya: A Cultural Treasure and Its Historical Journey) on Thursday at the Vice President’s residence. The book is authored by Lok Sabha members Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy and Sangeeta Roy.
In his address, Radhakrishnan praised the dedicated efforts of the authors to bring the rich cultural heritage of the Koch Rajbanshi community and the Bhowaiya folk tradition into the mainstream. He also acknowledged the contribution of the publisher, Katha-O-Kahini, in documenting and preserving a significant aspect of India’s cultural heritage.
He stated that the diverse languages, music, customs, and traditions across the country are a treasure trove of collective memory and a vibrant testament to the nation’s shared heritage. Radhakrishnan emphasized that the Bhowaiya language, which has emerged from the soil of North Bengal and surrounding areas, has reflected the emotions, aspirations, struggles, and wisdom of the common people for generations.
The Vice President noted that the book systematically describes the historical development of Bhowaiya and presents a fresh perspective on its origin and evolution. He highlighted that this work sheds light on folk traditions, religious practices, agricultural customs, seasonal festivals, and the role of community life, shaping Bhowaiya as a natural expression of people’s social and cultural experiences.
He further mentioned that the book provides invaluable insights into the cultural history of North Bengal and the Koch Rajbanshi community.
Radhakrishnan remarked that in ancient India, music was considered a means to connect human consciousness with the cosmic order. Citing the Samaveda, the concept of Nada Brahma, and the traditions of Bhakti and Sufism, he noted that music has always been seen as a pathway to reach the divine. He pointed out that long before the rise of Western classical music, Bharat Muni’s Natya Shastra existed in India, where music was regarded as a fundamental expression of human emotions and spiritual experiences.
Highlighting the resilience of the Bhowaiya tradition, Radhakrishnan stated that despite the forces of modernization, urbanization, and globalization, this tradition continues to thrive and evolve as it is rooted in authentic human experiences and universal emotions.
He called upon the younger generation to actively participate in cultural preservation, urging them to use technology to safeguard languages, customs, values, and traditional knowledge systems. He emphasized that as India moves towards its goal of a developed nation by 2047, cultural preservation should remain an integral part of national development. He stressed that development is meaningful only when accompanied by cultural confidence and civilizational awareness.
In the context of the recently celebrated International Yoga Day, Radhakrishnan remarked that India’s ancient traditions continue to offer solutions to contemporary global challenges. He noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the world is increasingly looking towards India for initiatives like Yoga and Mission Life.
Quoting the great poet Subramania Bharati, he underscored that India’s strength lies not in uniformity but in its vibrant diversity united by a shared civilizational spirit. Radhakrishnan affirmed that despite having numerous languages, cultures, and communities, we are one nation sharing a singular civilizational ethos. India is one and will always remain one.
Among those present at the event were Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Lok Sabha MP and co-author Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy, co-author Sangeeta Roy, former Vice-Chancellor of Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University Professor (Dr.) Nikhil Chandra Roy, and publisher Debaraj Patra of Katha-O-Kahini.
Bhowaiya is a traditional folk music style from North Bengal, Assam, and surrounding areas. This musical tradition is deeply embedded in the region’s social, cultural, and agricultural landscape, serving as a significant expression of its collective heritage.
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