Society can progress only by retaining its traditional culture while remaining linked to the modern world. Speaking as the chief guest at the Rann Kalyan Sanstha silver jubilee function, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Harish Rawat, said, “It is vital to retain the links with the past in order to ensure that the younger generation knows about their cultural heritage.”
Rawat said that there is hardly any town in north India without the presence of the Rann community. He commended the members of this community for keeping their culture alive. The CM appreciated that three generations of the Rann community from Darma, Chaudas and Vyas valley in the border area of Dharchula had participated in the silver jubilee function. Rawat said, “Joshimath, Mori, Chakrata, Dharchula and Munsyari are being developed as cultural areas. Uttarakhand is rich in culture and bio diversity and preserving this diversity is the responsibility of the Government The Garhwal and Kumaon universities have been told to work on preservation and enrichment of the regional languages of Uttarakhand. Work on the already approved Jauljivi-Tanakpur road will be completed soon. Trekking routes will be developed on the Kailash Mansarovar route, while Chota Kailash has been included in the Himdarshan scheme. The possibility of the State Government providing assistance in establishing the proposed museum of the Rann Kalyan Sanstha at Dharchula will be considered,” said the CM.
Rawat presented the Rann Gaurav award to Florence Nightingale Award 2014 recipient lakshmi Rontli and the Rann Ratan award to Professor Dr Jeevan Singh Tityal. The CM also felicitated other prominent members of the community on the occasion and released a cover issued by the Post Department on the Rann community.
Dharchula MlA Harish Dhami recalled that the State Government had in the past assured assistance in the organisation of the Gunji, Darma and Jauhaar festivals. Patron of the organisation NS Napalchyal and organisation head CS Napalchyal were among those present on the occasion.