Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to France and Slovakia not only involved diplomatic discussions but also showcased India’s rich cultural heritage through specially selected gifts for global leaders.
Among the notable gifts were two ancient Indian texts, Susruta Saṃhita and Charaka Samhita, presented to the Speaker. Susruta Saṃhita, attributed to Suśruta, is a significant work on surgery, while Charaka Samhita is a key text in Ayurveda attributed to Acharya Charaka.
Renowned Hindi poet Vyomesh Shukla highlighted the symbolic gesture of sharing these texts, emphasizing the global promotion of India’s knowledge tradition. He praised the move as a demonstration of India’s intellectual and cultural diplomacy on the world stage.
Vyomesh Shukla underlined the importance of reviving the tradition of exchanging books, especially in the digital age, to promote India’s ancient wisdom and culture globally. He expressed optimism that this gesture by PM Modi would facilitate the translation of Indian literature into foreign languages, expanding the reach of India’s vast knowledge base.
India’s wealth of knowledge, including Vedic literature, Ayurveda, and music, is encapsulated in books, according to Vyomesh Shukla. He stressed the significance of not only preserving but also sharing this wisdom with the world to enhance cultural understanding and harmony.
The exchange of these ancient texts is seen as a step towards strengthening India’s cultural ties and knowledge-based diplomacy. This gesture coincides with Slovakia’s emergence as a prominent medical tourism destination in Central Europe.
