Major issues pertaining to the Indian Diaspora: Culture

Deep commitment to their cultural identity has manifested itself in every component of the Indian Diaspora.

Deep commitment to their cultural identity has manifested itself in every component of the Indian Diaspora. The members of the Diaspora are, together with Indians, equally the inheritors of the traditions of the world's oldest continuous civilization. Members of the Indian Diaspora have done remarkably well and seldom sought conflict with their fellow citizens - in every major region of the globe, whether they are descendants of indentured labourers or of highly qualified professionals.

HT Image

The members of the Indian Diaspora are naturally keen to pass on their value systems, which have been an essential part of their success - to coming generations, and they would welcome the mother country's support in this endeavour. India should also initiate constructive measures to ensure that the Diaspora's pride and faith in its heritage is strengthened, which would inter-alia revitalise its interest in India's development.

The Committee made several recommendations to this effect, as follows:

1. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) should deepen linkages with the Diaspora;

2. The scope and activities of the Cultural Centres in countries with a substantial Indian presence should be expanded;

3. A large number of religious institutions, other institutions like the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, the Rama Krishna Mission, the Chinmaya Mission, and institutions of the performing arts run by PlOs/NRls - which organise programmes on Indian culture and languages - should be provided assistance in the form of advanced training and in procuring teachings aids, music and costumes, for which ICCR should evolve a mechanism

4. Successful models for promoting cultural interaction, such as the British Council and the Alliance Francaise models, should be appropriately adapted and emulated;

5. Initiatives for establishing sister city relationships by NRIs or PIOs should be supported;

6. University scholarships for Diaspora students should be instituted, seats/ credit courses in recognised colleges/Universities created, and Chairs for the dissemination of Indian perspectives in the humanities and social sciences should be instituted;

7. The Birthright Israel programme which assists the younger generation of the Jewish Diaspora to visit Israel and learn about their cultural roots should be emulated.

8. Interaction with the French and Dutch-speaking members of the Indian Diaspora should be intensified;

9. In addition to the recommendations made on the Bharatiya Samman Awards, the achievements of eminent cultural, literary and sports personalities of the Diaspora should be recognised by organisations like the Jnanpeeth, the Sahitya Akademi, and the Lalit Kala Akademi and by the conferment of awards like the Arjuna awards

10.Specially tailored, high quality courses on Indian culture and languages should be launched through distance learning programmes and other means; and finally

11.The practice of Festivals of India should be revived.