Vice President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book "Sanskritir Ratna Bhandar: Bhaowaiyar Itibritto" (Bhawaiya: A Cultural Treasure and Its Historical Journey) at Uprashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on June 25, 2026. The book is authored by Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy and Ms. Sangita Roy, and published by Katha-O-Kahini.
The Vice President congratulated the authors for their efforts in bringing the cultural heritage of the Koch Rajbanshi community and Bhawaiya folk tradition to mainstream attention. He described Bhawaiya as a musical tradition that emerged from North Bengal and adjoining regions, reflecting the emotions, aspirations, struggles, and wisdom of ordinary people for generations. The book systematically traces the historical evolution of Bhawaiya and offers fresh perspectives on its origin and development, highlighting the role of folk traditions, religious practices, agricultural customs, seasonal festivals, and community life in shaping this cultural expression.
Radhakrishnan emphasized that music in ancient India was regarded as a means of connecting human consciousness with the cosmic order, referencing Sama Veda, the concept of Nada Brahma, and traditions of Bhakti and Sufism. He noted that long before Western classical music emerged, India had the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni which treated music as fundamental to human emotion and spiritual realization. The Vice President highlighted Bhawaiya's resilience despite modernization, urbanization, and globalization, attributing its survival to its roots in authentic human experiences and universal emotions.
Calling for younger generations to participate in cultural preservation, Radhakrishnan urged harnessing technology to safeguard languages, customs, values, and traditional knowledge systems. He stated that as India moves toward the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, cultural preservation must remain integral to national development, emphasizing that development becomes meaningful only when accompanied by cultural confidence and civilizational awareness. Referencing recent International Day of Yoga celebrations, he noted that India's ancient traditions continue to offer solutions to contemporary global challenges, and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the world is increasingly looking toward India for initiatives like Yoga and Mission LiFE.
Quoting Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi, the Vice President underscored India's strength lying in its vibrant diversity united by a common civilizational spirit, stating "Bharat is One and shall remain one forever." The event was attended by Rajya Sabha Member Harsh Vardhan Shringla, the authors, former Vice-Chancellor of Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University Prof. Nikhil Chandra Ray, and publisher Debraj Patra. Bhawaiya is described as a traditional folk music genre of North Bengal, Assam, and adjoining regions, deeply rooted in the social, cultural, and agrarian landscape of the region.
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