President Khurelsukh’s Greetings to International Scientific Conference on Nomadic Culture and Mentality
PoliticsUlaanbaatar, September 15,
2023 /MONTSAME/. The President of
Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa has sent greetings to the International Scientific Conference
on Nomadic Culture and Mentality being the Foundation of Professional Theatre
in Mongolia. We present the full transcript of the President's greetings.
Honorable scholars,
Distinguished guests,
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
I
extend my heartfelt greetings to the distinguished organizers and participants
of the International Scientific Conference “Nomadic Culture and Mentality as
Foundation of Professional Theatre in Mongolia” who have come together in
solidarity to exchange best experiences and create necessary conditions for
collective development and prosperity.
I
appreciate the consistent efforts of The Saint Muse Academy to promote inheriting,
developing and spreading Mongolian national cultural heritage, and initiating
and hosting this Conference in cooperation with government and non-governmental
organizations to factualize the rich pool of our cultural heritage and
facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge and experience with international
entities of similar activities and mission.
One of the esteemed
cornerstones of our collective will, inspiration and aspiration is, undeniably,
our cultural heritage. It is the sacred duty of us to study, enrich and promote
the spread of this precious treasure - our cultural heritage - bestowed upon us
by our ancestors.
As we stroll back
through the pages of history, the cultural legacies of our fathers and
forefathers are brightening up testifying numerous evidences to demonstrate the
intellectual might and resourcefulness of the Mongol nation. In particular,
this year we are commemorating the 220th Anniversary of the birth of
the Fifth Noyon Khutagtu Lama of the Gobi Dulduityn Danzanravjaa, Mongolia’s
renowned intellectual who laid the foundation to Mongolian national theatre.
Being a prominent
religious figure, this Holy man was a poet, musical composer, playwright,
dramaturge and a painter. Of his hundreds of masterpieces, his plays remain a
rich source of reference for scholars and researchers of our time.
Upon his return from
Alshaa in 1830s, where he had learnt of the biographies of Milarepa and other
enlightened men, the Holy Danzanravjaa had a temple built at Khamryn Khiid
Monastery called “the House of Songs of Life” and produced “Saran Khukhoo” ballade,
which displayed core features of a theatrical drama and boasted a delicate
theatrical composition.
As he undertook the
performances of “Saran Khukhoo” ballade across many provinces and counties of
Mongolia, he developed his own school of dramaturgy thus laying the foundation
to the national professional theatre in Mongolia.
A more recent history
shows that the youth who studied in the west beginning early 20th
century introduced the Russian and German schools of dramaturgy upon their
return to Mongolia, which remain the central theories and methods of our modern
screen and stage arts.
At this time when
globalization takes a wider stride, every nation endeavors to preserve and
develop its own national arts and cultural legacies, it is highly commendable
that efforts are being made to study and factualize the role national culture,
arts and aesthetic mentality of nomadic countries played in the establishment
of professional theatre in those countries.
Therefore, I would like
to once again extend my gratitude to the organizers, scholars and researchers
participating in the Conference and wish every success in the proceedings of
this wonderful exchange.