Mumbai, Sept. 13 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that "true knowledge is never held hostage by an ideology" and called for the vast wealth of knowledge and collections preserved by the Asiatic Society of Mumbai to be used for the welfare of the country and the world.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 'Ganesh Gyanarthi' exhibition at the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Shah said knowledge should remain free from ideological constraints and be allowed to develop without restrictions.

"True knowledge is never held hostage by an ideology. Knowledge itself is an ideology. If you bind it in any way, you change the very meaning of knowledge. Knowledge should be free and uninhibited, and its declaration should also be free ...