World needs to see India without prejudice: PM Modi

While the Western scholars proposed that chariots and weapons came to India with the Aryan invasion, ASI says the Sinauli excavation shows evidence of burials of warriors, weapons and chariots which is indigenous in nature.

Talking about the discovery of the 4000-year-old horse-driven chariot, the PM said, “Such discoveries stress that in order to know India, there is a need for prejudice-free new concepts.”

The World Heritage Committee meets annually and is responsible for managing all matters on World Heritage and deciding on sites to be inscribed on the World Heritage list. India is hosting the WHC Meeting for the first time.

Referring to the artifacts returned from abroad the Prime Minister mentioned that more than 350 heritage items have been brought back in recent times. “This return of ancient heritage artifacts is a display of global generosity and respect for history,” he said. He also pointed out the growing research and tourism opportunities in the field as the technology progresses.

On Delhi hosting of he global meet, Modi said one can find heritage and history at every step of the way. He cited the example of the 2000-year-old Iron Pillar which has been rust-resistant and gives a glimpse of India’s metallurgical prowess in the past.

Union Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Director General of UNESCO Ms Audrey Azoulay and Chairperson of World Heritage Committee Vishal Sharma were present on the occasion.