New Delhi, Dec 6 (NationPress) Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and India Foundation President Ram Madhav took part in a book launch and discussion event in the capital, where the book ‘Bharat: That Is India - Reclaiming Our Real Identity’ was unveiled.

Published by Suruchi Prakashan, the event was hosted by the Kala Nidhi division of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). Bihar Governor Khan served as the chief guest, while Madhav was the special guest.

During the gathering, Khan remarked: “We do not need to fit ourselves into frameworks defined by Western nations. Why should we? India is not just a nation-state; we are a cultural nation, a spiritual nation.”

He noted that the knowledge encapsulated in the book spans back 1,100-1,200 years, highlighting that UNESCO officially recognizes the Rig Veda as the world's oldest text.

“If this knowledge hadn’t been deeply ingrained in the populace, Shankaracharya wouldn’t have achieved his mission so easily,” he remarked.

Khan indicated that the unique essence of Indian civilization lies in the divinization of humanity and the humanization of the divine.

He further questioned whether a country could be constructed solely on cultural and spiritual unity, remarking that while India has always excelled in the spiritual domain, its political history has been marred by internal strife.

He recalled how Shankaracharya traversed India to foster cultural and spiritual harmony during a politically fragmented era.

“It seems to me that his soul did not rest until his unfinished mission was completed. To fulfill that mission, his soul took birth again as Sardar Patel,” Khan stated.

Delving into the book's themes, Khan emphasized how the meanings of words transform over time, asserting that equating 'dharma' with 'religion' is a misconception.

“The Amritkosh enumerates 18 definitions of dharma, and the one associated with religion is the least significant. At its heart, dharma is about fulfilling one’s obligations and responsibilities,”

he explained.

He quoted: 'Swakarma dharma vimukhah Krishnam Krishneti vadinam, te Hare Krishna murkhe', elucidating that those who neglect their duties and oppose Krishna are not only foolish but also adversaries of Hari, as Hari incarnates to uphold dharma.

“Dharma is inherently prescriptive. A person must continually reflect on what their duty is -- whether it is Sanatan Dharma, Yoga Dharma, Rashtra Dharma, or most importantly, their own Swadharma,” he added.

Khan also pondered how the idea of the 'nation-state' is relatively contemporary, pointing out that previously, the world acknowledged only empires and tribes. Using pre-Islamic Arabia as an example, he illustrated that tribes often engaged in conflict, and when an empire conquered them, collective responsibility overshadowed individual accountability.

India Foundation President Madhav mentioned that it has been 34 years since the demolition of the Babri structure, an event that incited widespread turmoil yet also marked a pivotal moment.

He expressed that the ensuing developments have propelled India toward realizing its true potential.

Author Abhijit Jogi stated that the fundamental question inspiring him to write the book was: “What is India’s real identity?”

He asserted that a nation's identity is its most treasured asset, yet India's genuine identity has been obscured and replaced with a constructed narrative.

“I aimed to uncover India's authentic identity, discovering numerous facets unknown to the public. I felt it essential to share these truths, which is why I authored this book,”

he concluded.