Nirmala Sitaraman Stresses Need for Multi‑Lingual Scholarly Debate

At the FHCR annual ceremony, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman declared that India no longer needs external approval to explore its own legacy. She appealed for a comprehensive, tough‑minded approach to the country’s intellectual history, one that embraces a wider archival pool and multiple languages.

She pointed to projects that are re‑studying ancient scripts, reconstructing historic maritime networks, and revisiting India’s mathematical achievements. According to Sitaraman, true decolonisation is more than swapping a prescribed textbook for another; it requires expanding the range of scholars, diversifying linguistic sources, and posing challenging research questions.

The minister reflected on the contributions of Kannada thinker Dr. S.L. Bhairappa, whose doctrine of "Satya Mattu Saundarya" – truth and beauty – underscores the importance of nuanced, aesthetic inquiry for an ancient civilization like India.

Labeling the movement as "intellectual Swaraj," Sitaraman said political freedom gave Indians the right to self‑govern, while intellectual freedom grants them the right to understand themselves. She called for continued collective introspection, guided by evidence, rigor and conscience, to steer the nation toward a golden era of scholarly independence.