Encyclopaedias need constant revision to be up to date: Ansari

Vice President Hamid Ansari today called for the need to frequently revise encyclopaedias to keep pace with the expansion of our perceptions.
Noting that knowledge is dynamic and not static, Ansari said exclusivity in domain knowledge has to be ruled out and expertise is to be judged objectively and sought globally.
Speaking at the launch of the international edition of the 'Encyclopedia of Hinduism' at an event organised by the Indian Heritage Research Foundation (IHRF) and Global Citizen Forum here, the Vice President stressed on the need for compiling encyclopeadias on a varied range of subjects, saying that the "industry" of such collections of knowledge is "flourishing".

"Given the pace at which we are adding to our perceptions, it becomes necessary for encyclopaedias to be revised. Thrice in a century has been cited as the thumb rule.
"By the same logic, exlusivity in domain knowledge has to be ruled out and expertise is to be judged objectively and sought globally. This test, I am confident, will be applied to future editions of this otherwise excellent compilation," he said.
Ansari hoped the users of the encyclopaedia would discover the wisdom inherent in Swami Vivekananda's dictum that "the goal of mankind is knowledge" as it helps uncover the human soul and the limitless knowledge secreted in it.

He said there were tens of thousands of encyclopaedias available in the market presently and soon there may be a need for an "encyclopeadia of encyclopeadias".
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union HRD minister Smriti Irani, Bollywood Actor Vivek Oberoi and heads of various religious organisations were present on the occasion.