Culture of development moving ahead in the right direction: Minister Pandey

Kathmandu, June 16: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, has said reconstruction of the heritages of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan Durbar Square damaged by the earthquake to their original status has proved that the culture of development has moved ahead in the right way.

Addressing a seminar organized by Nepal Academy in collaboration with the Religious and Cultural Journalists Society, Nepal, here on Monday, Minister Pandey shared that there was no problem faced in the course of the reconstruction of heritages as there was a sufficient number of human resources for the same. He opined that cultural development, only from infrastructure development, was not enough, as there was a possibility of sustainable development if culture was not developed.

Likewise, the Chancellor of the Academy, Bhupal Rai, emphasized the need to promote culture positively as culture is the main foundation of the system of thought. He added that development could be achieved by recognizing cultural diversity. Member-Secretary Dr. Dhan Prasad Subedi opined that such a type of discussion has begun as cultural issues have remained in the shadow in the course of physical development.

On the occasion, Prof Dr. Som Prasad Khatiwada presented a working paper on ‘Culture for development’. Commenting on the paper, Prof Dr Nirmala Pokharel expressed the view that it was necessary to move ahead as per Vedic culture while another commentator Bhogi Raj Chamling stressed that the problems had surfaced as development-related laws and policies are not in line with culture.

Chairperson of the Society, Purna Prasad Mishra, said such types of discussion would be continued with the collaboration of bodies concerned.