<span style="color: #222222;">Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has said, India's cultural diversity must always remain the vehicle of unity, peace, prosperity and happiness. He presented the 'Hamsadhwani Thyagaraja Award'' to the violin maestro M. Chandrasekharan at a function held at the Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai this evening.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />'' In his address, Mr Naidu said, the cultural diversity of India is a delight that must always be celebrated through mutual interactions and reciprocity between people of different States so that a common spirit of understanding resonates throughout the country. He stressed that this sense of understanding is essential now, as rifts threaten to divide and fragment the bonds of socio-cultural cohesion. He noted that mutual understanding and trust have always been the foundations of India's strength and all citizens should feel culturally integrated in all corners of the nation.<br />'' <br />'' The Vice President said, the rich cultural diversity of India must form the platform on which its future is built and a path for its rapid growth and development is charted. He said, though we speak different languages, eat different food and wear different clothes, we must acknowledge that fundamentally, we are one nation, one people. He applauded the Union Government for coming up with innovative programs like 'Ek Bharat Shresta Bharat ' where states are paired with each other and people are encouraged to learn about each other's language, literature, cuisine, festivals and cultural events.<br />'' <br />'' He also urged that the children must be taught to respect and appreciate cultures that are different from their own. He said, schools must sensitize children to different cultures and ways of life through frequent exchanges, cultural programs and exposure visits.</span><br />