Question : Expert Committee on Indian Culture

(a) whether the Government has set up an Expert Committee to conduct holistic study of the origin and evolution of Indian Culture since 12,000 years ago and its interface with other cultures of the world within the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with its composition;

(c) whether the Committee has no representative from the Southern States including Tamil Nadu which has a glorious past and is home to one of the oldest civilisations and if so, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Committee does not consist of any woman, person from dalit community or person from religious minority and if so, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the Government has received any proposal from Tamil Nadu to reconstitute this Committee; and

(f) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE & TOURISM

(Prahlad Singh Patel)

(a) to (f) A statement is laid on the table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY PART (a) TO (f) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *96 FOR 8.2.2021


(a) A Committee for Holistic Study of Origin and Evolution of Indian Culture since 12,000 years before present and its interface with other Cultures of the World was set up in 2016. Currently, there exists no such committee to conduct holistic study of the origin and evolution of Indian Culture since 12,000 years.


(b) Does not arise.

(c) & (d) Does not arise.

(e) & (f) Yes, Sir. In this regard, inter-alia the following representations are received on the subject:

1. Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu to reconstitute the expert committee by inducting eminent scholars from Tamil Nadu.
2. Shri V. Narayanasamy, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Puducherry requested to reconstitute the expert panel having an expert from all the states and UTs.
3. Shri Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, Hon’ble MP (Lok Sabha) requested to reconstitute the expert committee by inducting eminent scholars from Tamil Nadu.

While reconstituting the Committee, due consideration would be given to all these suggestions.