If India is culturally diverse country which is considered one of the nations biggest assets, why is the practice of intolerance on the rise in the recent past?national president of All India Democratic Womens Association Malini Bhattacharya questioned the audience at a lecture session on ‘India’s cultural diversity-challenges’ here on Sunday.

She said: Culture is not a reservoir but a river, collecting and dispelling several components as it flows from one place to the other. In broader sense, culture symbolises the living practices of people, their mutual coexistence and exchange of rituals.

The AIDWAs national president further said in todays scenario of growing corporate culture and religious intolerance, the notion of cultural diversity can be strengthened only by going a step beyond the practice of mutual tolerance.

Referring to incidents of lynching in the country, senior journalist Telakapalli Ravi said the trend of silencing liberal thoughts should be changed and those raising their voices against injustice should not be targeted.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Acharya Nagarjuna University V. Balamohandas said the country’s charm lies in its cultural richness and there was a need to protect it in every possible manner.

According to former Vice-Chancellor K.V. Ramana, no language or religion is inferior to the other and therefore various religions and and cultures of the nation should be respected for what they are.

Vizag Fest committee secretary Aja Sarma said the government should work towards promoting peace and unity among people rather than religious intolerance.