Ulaanbaatar, 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 220^th 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 20^th 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.