Annexure 1 the Activities of the Council
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Annexure 1 The Activities of the Council The objectives of the Council are to formulate and implement policies pertaining to India’s external cultural relations, to foster mutual understanding between India and other countries and to promote cultural exchanges with other peoples. The primary mandate of the Council is to create international understanding through culture. I. Scholarship and Welfare of International Students One of the major activities of the ICCR is its scholarships programme for overseas students. Given their immense popularity and outreach, the scholarship schemes being administered by ICCR are increasing in number every year. The thrust of the programme is towards developing nations with a special focus on India’s neighbours. The Council administered 3465 scholarships during 2013-14 under various schemes for foreign students to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes as well as professional courses such as Engineering, Pharmacy, Accountancy, Business Administration and Management, etc. ICCR administered 26 scholarship schemes during the year, eight from its own budget and the rest on behalf of various Territorial Divisions of Ministry of External Affairs/ other agencies. The scholarship schemes cover a variety of courses from undergraduate level to doctoral degrees, including professional courses such as Engineering, Pharmacy, Accountancy, Law, Business Administration and Management, etc. Scholarships are also given for learning Indian dance, music, painting, sculpture except medical and fashion courses. At present, there are over 5000 ICCR scholars studying in various Indian Central and State universities under these scholarship schemes. Of these scholarships, 1000 slots are exclusively for the students of Afghanistan and 900 for students from African countries, offered annually. There are students in India under these schemes from about 120 countries. Scholarship-related activities include an International Students Festival as well. The Council regularly commemorates the Birth Anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the First Education Minister of Independent India, and the Founder President of the ICCR. The Council organized the “XXI International Students Festival” called “Friendship through Culture” in November 2013 at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi. International Students community from various countries participated enthusiastically in this event and presented glimpses of their traditional and varied cultures. The Council’s Regional Offices and some Indian Missions abroad also celebrated this Festival. Besides, ICCR regularly organizes summer/ winter camps for foreign students. During these camps, many activities including visits to historical places and industrial Centres are organized for them. The Council organized seven summer camps during May-June 2013 for benefit of the foreign students. II. Indian Cultural Centres Abroad The primary objective of the Council is to establish, revive and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries in order to promote awareness and appreciation of India’s composite cultural heritage abroad. The Council has been attaching great importance to the implementation of its programmes & activities in South Asia. To this end, the Council has established Indian Cultural Centres (ICC) in many countries abroad. Currently, ICCR has 34 full fledged Indian Cultural Centres and One sub-centre: Cairo 1 (Egypt), Berlin (Germany), Port Louis (Mauritius), Paramaribo (Suriname), Georgetown (Guyana), Jakarta (Indonesia), Bali (Sub-Centre, Indonesia), Moscow (Russian Federation), London (U.K.), Astana, (Kazakhstan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Durban and Johannesburg (South Africa), Port of Spain (Trinidad & Tobago), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Suva (Fiji), Kabul (Afghanistan), Beijing (China), Kathmandu (Nepal), Bangkok (Thailand), Tokyo (Japan), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Thimphu (Bhutan), Mexico City (Mexico), Yangon (Myanmar), Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Seoul (S. Korea), Budapest (Hungary), Prague (Czech Republic), Male (Maldives), Sao Paulo (Brazil), The Hague (Netherlands) and Tehran (Iran). Through continued efforts, the ICCs have been able to increase both the number of programmes they being organize, as well as the diversity of events. The objective has been to make ICCs cultural hubs for promoting Indian culture through not only classes in dance and music, but also by organizing exhibitions of art, literary events such as book readings, poetry sessions, talks, seminars and lectures on a wide range of topics like philosophy, history, sociology, economic trends, cinema in India etc. by both local experts and visitors from India. Many of our centres, earlier focused on conducting routine classes in dance & music, became more pro-active and organized many more varied and high profile events with greater intellectual content. A number of cultural centres started new activities such as fusion music events, book launches, kavi sammelans etc. The India-based teachers deployed abroad are encouraged to do ‘outreach activities’, including visits to other cities and joint programmes with local institutions. Besides, local resources are being increasingly utilized, such as local experts to teach Indian dance & music, yoga, etc. These are much more cost effective than sending troupes or teachers from India. Also, Hindi classes are held at most of the Cultural Centres. Several cultural centres have also organized large scale and multi-faceted festivals. III. Chairs of Indian Studies Abroad Emphasis is also attached to intellectuals’ activities by organizing conferences and seminars and setting up academic chairs. The Council, in consultation with Indian Missions abroad, has established Chairs of Indian Studies in various foreign universities/ institutes. The purpose of these Chairs, apart from educating foreign students about India, is to become a nucleus around which Indian Studies could develop in academic institutions abroad. The academics/ scholars deputed to these Chairs not only teach courses related to India, but through other academic activities like research guidance, seminar coordination, publications, and delivering public lectures, develop scholarly interactions with the academics of that country and assist in disseminating information and a better appreciation of various India related issues. At present, ICCR has 65 chairs of Indian Studies in different premier universities. Besides, 11 Hindi teachers are posted in different universities and ICCs abroad. IV. Conferences and Seminars In 2013-14, the Council organized four major Conferences in India and abroad on various topics. Since the year was the 150 Birth Anniversary year of Swami Vivekananda, three conferences were held on Swami Vivekananda in leading universities in Germany, Argentina and Australia. In collaboration with the India International Centre (IIC), an international conference on ‘The Relevance of Traditional Cultures for the Present and the Future’ was organized at India International Centre in March 2014. The conference was inaugurated by Hon’ble Vice President of India. Dr. Karan Singh, Hon’ble President, ICCR delivered the valedictory address. 2 V. Fellowships ICCR awards Junior and Senior Research fellowships to international scholars specializing in Indian studies in the fields of culture and social sciences. Under this programme, the selected Fellow is affiliated, on the basis of mutual consent, to an academic institution in India. Senior fellowships are given to eminent scholars with proven academic credentials and an established body of published works while junior fellowships are meant for young research scholars wishing to do post-doctoral research on relevant topics. In 2013-14, under this scheme the Council received two Junior Fellows, from Iran and Slovenia, and two Senior Fellows, from Indonesia and Spain. VI. Outgoing Visitors Programme In keeping with its effort to foster and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries, the Council also facilitates visits of Indian scholars, intellectuals, academicians and artistes to foreign countries under the Outgoing Visitors Programme (OVP). During 2013-14, the Council sponsored visits by 15 eminent scholars to various parts of the world. VII. Academic Visitors Programme Under this programme, the Council invites eminent academicians including PIO/NRI academicians, for 7 to 10 days. Economy class air ticket is provided and entire local hospitality arranged by the Council. During 2013-14, inter alia, a 5 member delegation from Bangladesh visited India to participate in the book release function of the publication at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi based on the proceedings of the International Conference on “Contemporising Tagore and the World” held in Dhaka in 2011. VIII. Busts & Statues The Council has an ongoing programme of presenting busts and statues of great Indian leaders for ceremonial installation in other countries. During the year 2013-14, five busts and one statue were sent abroad. IX. Forum of Friends of ICCR (FFOI) To reach out to the general populace and involve them in its activities, ICCR has created a Forum of Friends of ICCR (FFOI). Members are enrolled for life against payment of a nominal fee. The members are kept apprised of the Council’s activities through invitations and e-mail. X. Outgoing Cultural Delegations The Council showcases quality performances by Indian cultural troupes in foreign countries