Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Amit Shah Urges Asiatic Society to Spread Indian Knowledge
Amit Shah spoke in Mumbai about India’s knowledge and history.
He said knowledge should not be controlled by one ideology.
He also said Indian history was often explained through a colonial viewpoint rather than India’s own voice.
Shah believes this could reduce people’s confidence in their country.
He asked the Asiatic Society of Mumbai to share its books, records, and collections more widely.
He said knowledge can survive through people’s memories and traditions even if a library is destroyed.
He used Nalanda’s library as an example.
He also said the Society should help spread Indian knowledge across India and the world.
Amit Shah said Indian intellectual traditions should be freed from ideological and colonial interpretations.
He argued that knowledge should remain free, uninhibited, and not controlled by any ideology.
Shah said colonial perspectives presented Indian knowledge without adequately reflecting India’s own voice.
He urged the Asiatic Society of Mumbai to use its collections for India, humanity, and the wider world.
Shah said memories and traditions can preserve knowledge even when repositories such as Nalanda’s library are destroyed.
- Who
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah; the Asiatic Society of Mumbai; and officials including Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.
- What
- Shah inaugurated the Ganesh Gyanarthi exhibition and called for Indian knowledge traditions to be freed from ideological and colonial interpretations.
- When
- Sunday; the articles do not specify the date.
- Where
- The Asiatic Society of Mumbai in Mumbai, India.
- Why
- Shah said knowledge should remain free and that the Society’s collections should serve India, humanity, and the wider world.
- Speaker
- Amit Shah, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation
- Event
- Inauguration of the Ganesh Gyanarthi exhibition
- Venue
- Asiatic Society of Mumbai
- Central argument
- True knowledge should not be held hostage by ideology.
- Colonial perspective
- Shah said Indian knowledge was often presented through a colonial framework rather than in India’s own voice.
- Historical example
- Shah referred to Nalanda’s library to argue that memory and tradition can preserve knowledge.
- Institutional role
- He urged the Asiatic Society to spread Indian knowledge traditions across the country and the world.
