Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said a nation that respects its past was better prepared to build its future.

Speaking after dedicating to public the renovated 190-year-old lighthouse on the Beach Promenade here, Ms. Sitharaman said the lighthouse is a landmark connected to Puducherry’s maritime history. 

“As the country moves towards the idea of Viksit Bharat, our idea of development must include the preservation of civilisational and institutional memory. A developed India must build new infrastructure and also preserve the assets that carry the memory of our public institutions. India is a civilisation with a long memory. Our responsibility is to preserve that memory, present it with confidence, and pass it on to future generations,” she said.

Complimenting the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs for taking up the renovation project, the Finance Minister said the initiative showed that the government departments could become custodians of culture and memory. “Heritage conservation requires administrative endurance and a firm commitment to public value. The renovation of the lighthouse is therefore a good example of institutional collaboration,” she said.

Pointing out the role played by lighthouses during yesteryears in maritime trade, the Finance Minister said like the lighthouse once guided ships through the uncertainty of sea, country’s economic institutions now guide trade through the complexities of a modern economy. They have to remain “steady, fair, alert and service-oriented,” Ms. Sitharaman said.

Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan in his address said the lighthouse stood as a testimony to the maritime heritage of Puducherry. “The lighthouse is a symbol of Puducherry’s relationship with the sea from generation to generation. It will remain as a landmark for generations to come,” the Lt. Governor said.

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy complimented the CBIC for taking up the renovation of the lighthouse. He said the Union Territory’s economic activity to a great extent depended on tourism and the lighthouse project was a welcome step. “We look forward to the Centre for enhanced financial assistance for taking up projects,” he said.