India's Diaspora and Culture in Indian Ocean: A basis of Cultural Diplomacy in the Region

8/11/2019 India's Diaspora and Culture in Indian Ocean: A basis of Cultural Diplomacy in the Region

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Indian Diaspora and Culture in the Indian Ocean: a

basis of cultural diplomacy in the Region

*Mohammed Khalid

Cultural diplomacy is a specified form of diplomacy that encourages a deliberate

effort of cultural exchange. It facilitates the understanding of foreign cultural dynamics. It

is exchange of ideas, information, art, lifestyles, value systems, traditions, beliefs and

other aspects of cultures. Cultural Diplomacy has existed as a practice for centuries.

Explorers, travelers, teachers and artists can be all considered examples of informal

ambassadors or early cultural diplomats. Cultural exchange can take place in fields

including art, sport, literature, music, science and the economy. Such exchange implies

communication and respect beteen the cultures involved, based on a sounder

understanding of respective values and a reduced susceptibility to stereotypes. Cultural

diplomacy plays an essential role in the integration of nations such as among the

countries of !frican "nion, #eague of !rab States, and European "nion and so on. It

helps to improve international relations and secure agreements that cover issues like

trade, investment, tourism, and security. $rivate and public enterprises and non%

governmental organisations &'()s often employ cultural diplomacy as a means toinfluence government policies for their benefit or the benefit of a given cause.+

Individuals also

*Professor in Political Science, Department of Evening Studies, Panjab

University, Chandigarh

+


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use cultural diplomacy to build friendships or in discussions to influence opinion about a

particular subect.

India is a cultural hub of South !sia and the oldest civili-ation on the Indian

)cean littoral. ecause of its long history, ancient religions, si-e, diversity and

ulpopulation, India is knon for its ancient civili-ation. Its cultural and religious sites,

temples, monuments such as /a 0ahal and the (anges in 1aranasi are important

symbols of Indian culture. ! fascinating mix of ancient culture, India is endoed ith

enormous contrasts and architectural beauty. /he Indian culture has existed through the

ages precisely for the reasons of anti2uity, unity, continuity and the universality of its

nature. India has been spreading its culture in all directions. Its cultural influences can be

found in !fghanistan, Iran and Central !sian republics and can be felt in almost everycountry on the littoral of Indian )cean.3Spread of Indian culture has been a to ay

process. /he travelers and pilgrims came to India at different times in history and

narrated the outside orld about Indian culture. ut the most effective medium of spread

of Indian Culture has been the people of India ho migrated to the nook and corners of

the Indian )cean during the last millennia.

Indian Diaspora

/he Indian Diaspora is a generic term to describe the people ho migrated from

territories of India from time to time including their descendants. /his Diaspora is

currently estimated to number over tenty million. Composed of 4'5Is4 &Indian citi-ens

not residing in India and 4$I)s4 &$ersons of Indian )rigin ho have ac2uired the

citi-enship of the host country, and covers practically every part of the Indian )cean.

/he Indian Diaspora today constitutes an important, and in some respects uni2ue force in

orld culture.6Indians had been migrating to the far%flung coasts of the )cean for trade

and commerce since ancient times. 7oever, the origins of the modern Indian Diaspora

lie mainly

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in the subugation of India by the ritish and its incorporation into the ritish Empire.

Indians ere taken as indentured labour to other lands in the nineteenth%and early 38 th

century. Indian populations of 0auritius, 0alaysia, South !frica, 9enya, and Sri #anka

are such examples. )ver to million Indians fought on behalf of the empire in the oer

:ars &+;;8%;+ and +;


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"!E +6, 88,888 6+.?@

ahrain +, A8,888 +


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regions, religions and casts etc. creating mini%Indias in those countries. /hey act as true

cultural diplomats and messengers of India. ! perusal of Indian organisationsFassociations

in the states of Indian )cean region reveals various patterns of migration from India,

preferred destinations from particular Indian regions and communities, and also the kind

of activities they indulge in to keep Indian languages and culture alive. /he same is given

belo.

South Africa

Indians have settled in South !frica since long. !rt of #iving has its branches in

$retoria, Durban, and Hohannesburg. !rya $ratinidhi Sabha South !frica has office in

Durban. /here are organi-ations based on Indian regions such as !ndhra 0aha Sabha of

South !frica in. 9a-ulu%'atal (uarat Sanskruti 9endra, 'atal (urati $arishad,

/ransvaal (uarati $arishad 1ereening (uarati Seva Sma Shree enoni (uarati

'atal /amil 1edic Society Durban South !frican /amil >ederation :estern Cape /amil

>ederation Cape /on. 5eligion based Indian organi-ations in South !frica include al

hakte haan 0andal Divine 7indu !ssociation, 9a-uluJ'atal 7indu 0aha Sabha

Islamic )rganisation 9athiaad 7indu Seva Sama $retoria 7indu )rganisation Surat

7indu !ssociation 9a-ulu%'atal Shree !-adville 7indu Seva Sama 5ooderpoort Shri

$retoria 7indu Seva Sma $retoria Shree Sanathan Dharma Sabha I. S. 9. C. ). ',

5amakrishna Centre )f South !frica, /ransvaal 7indu Seva Sma Shri Saminarayan

0andir &!$S 0ayfair :est and Satsang 0ahila 0andal. )ther Indian organi-ations

include, Indian !cademy Indian !ssociation of South !frica u-me !dab /he Indian

!cademy of South !frica 9a-ulu%'atal !ryan enevolent 7ome 9a-ulu%'atal and

Indian usiness >orumDurban.B

Mozambique

Indian organi-ations in 0o-ambi2ue include !ssociacao 0uculmana De /ete

&Sunni%Hamat%0uslim !ssociation of /ete

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Comunidade 7indu, 'ampula Comunidade 0ahometana, 0aputo &0uslim

Community and Indian $rofessional and usiness Council &I'C)', 0aputo.

Tanzania

/an-ania has a large number of organi-ations formed by the people of Indian

origin. Such associations include ilal 0uslim 0ission Dar es Salaam 9hoa Shia

Ithnasheri Supreme Council Dar es Salaam Shree 7indu 0andal Shri Hain Sangh Shree

7indu Council of /an-ania Sanatan Dharma Sabha, /an-ania and Saminarayan

0andal. )rganisations based on Indian casts include Shree hatia 0ahaan Shree

#ohana 0ahaan Shri (urar Suthar (nati 0andal Shri 5aput hora (nati 0andal

Shri 1agheshari Soni Sama Shri 9oli &Divecha (nati 0andal and /amil Sangam.

/here is Indo /an-ania Cultural Centre and 9alamandalam at Dar es Salaam.?

Kenya

5eligion based Indian organi-ations in 9enya include, !rya Sama !rya

$ratinidhi Sabha of Eastern !frica East !frica Shree Saminarayan 0andal 9enya

rahma Sabha Shri (ayathri $arivar and Sanatan Dharam Sabha. Indian Christians have

created St. Kavier Society and Sikhs have Sri (urudara a-aar and Sikh :omen

Society. !ga 9han Ismaili Council of 9enya and Daoodi ohra 0uslim Community

are organi-ations established by the ohra 0uslims. !ssociations based on Indian castes

in the country include East !frica 5aput #eague #ohana 0ahaan 0andal $atel

rotherhood Shri (urar Sutar Community and Shri 'avnat 1anik 0ahaan 0andal.

Indian professional and business associations in 9enya include Chandaria (roup of

Companies 7arbans Singh !ssociates 0 D 9aycee !uto $arts #td. Sameer Investments

#td. :elfare associations created by Indians include Indian Citi-ensL :elfare !ssociation

of 9enya 9enya $ragati 0andal 9aruna Charitable /rust and 9enya India >riendship

!ssociation &9I>!. Societies promoting

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!rabian 'ations &0I#!' 5iyadh and /amil Cultural Society. !ssociations created by

Indian 0uslims include 9erala 0uslim Cultural Centre Saudi !rabia and '5I 0illi

>orum Saudi !rabia. $rofessional organi-ations include !l%Hufailah Corporation for >ood

Stuff &!l 9abeer Indian !rchitectsM !ssociation '5I, Indian Engineers >orum, Saudi

!rabia International 0anagement >orum 5iyadh Indian Science N /echnology >orum

Saudi !rabia Indian Doctors >orum Saudi !rabia Institute of Chartered !ccountants of

India, 5iyadh. /here is !ligarh 0uslim "niversity )ld oysL !ssociation and ahind

Educational Society &ES 5iyadh. /here are large number of cultural organi-ations such

as haratiya 9ala 9endrum !rts N Cultural Society, Saudi !rabia Deccan Cultural

!ssociation 7industani a-me%e%"rdu Indian !rts Society &I!S 5iyadh /he Cultural

7eritage of India, Saudi !rabia 9alakaar, Cultural !ssociation of 9arnataka State

5iyadh 0usical :aves Saudi !rabia 'avodaya >ine !rts Damman 'attyam, $rathibha,

5agasandya Cultural (roup 5ainbo Cultural !ssociation Saudi !rabia Snehasandesh

Cultural Society Saudi !rabia Sargam >ine !rts Sher%e%$unab (roup of India etc.+8

emen

!ssociations formed by Indian community in emen include er Sheba $rayer

>elloship SanaLa 7atimi 0akan &ohra Community 7addah Indian !ssociation !den

Indian 'ationalLs Club Indian !ssociation 7odeidah 9erala Club 0alayali Samaam

/elugu harathi Club and /amil Sangam. 0ost of these are based in the capital city of

SanaLa.++

!man

Indian community has established associations like !rt of #iving (uarati Sama

and 0uscat 9arnataka Sangha. !ll these associations are based in 0uscat.

"nited Arab Emirates #"AE$

;


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7aving a large number of people of Indian origin, there are many associations

formed by them /hese associations include, !bu Dhabi 0alayalee Samaam hartiya

angiya $arishad Dubai $riyadarshini (urati Sama India !ssociation !ri-ona India

Social Centre Indian #adiesL !ssociation Indian !ssociation at Sharah and Dubai

Indian 5elief Committee, Dubai and 5as !l 9haimah Indian Social Club, >uairah

Indian 0uslim >orum "!E Indian Islamic Centre, "!E 9anrataka Sangh, Dubai

9erala Social Centre, !bu Dhabi 0anglore 9onkans, Dubai 0aharashtra 0andal,

Dubai 5asmayi !ndhra Cultural >orum, Dubai /amil #adies !ssociation, Dubai /amil

'adu Cultural !ssociation, Dubai and "mm%al%uain. !ssociations promoting Indian

culture include havna !rt #oversL !ssociation and Dubai !rt #oversL !ssociation

9airali 9ala 9endram Emirates !rt Centre (oan Cultural Society Indian Cultural

!ssociation and Indian !rt Society Dubai. $rofessional Indian associations in "!E

include Emirates Indian usinessmenLs Club Institute of Chartered !ccountants Institute

of Engineers of India Indian $harmaceutical !ssociation Indian usinessF$rofessional

(roup, !bu Dhabi and )verseas Indian Economic >orum, Dubai.+3

%atar

atar has a large number of organi-ations formed by the Indian community there.

0any of these organi-ations based on various Indian regions include angiya $arishad

Doha Charishma !rts Doha (oans Sports Club 0angalore Cricket Club 0aharashtra

0andal atar /elugu !ssociation and 5as #affan 0alayalee Samaam. Cultural and

religious organi-ations formed by

Indians include haratham !rts N Cultural )rgani-ation Indian )verseas Cultural

Congress Indian Community 5ecreation Center Indian Cultural Centre Indian Islamic

!ssociation Indian :omensL !ssociation Indo%atar "rdu 0arka- Indian "rdu $oetLs!ssociation 9arnataka Sangha 9arnataka "rdu 0arka-, 9arnataka 0uslim Cultural

!ssociation 9alaniketan Club 0anoranan, 0usic #oversL (roup 0alankara Cultural

!ssociation 'orth Indians !ssociation atar (oans Sports Club atar Indian Islami

Centre atar Syro%0alabar Cultural !ssociation South 9anara 0uslim :elfare

!ssociation and /elugu 9ala Samiti atar. Indian professionals have formed /he


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Institution of Engineers /rivandrum !lumni !ssociation atar Chapter Indian

Community enevolent >und Indian DoctorLs Club Indian 0edical !ssociation%Doha

Chapter /he Indian usiness and $rofessional 'etork, Doha and the Institute of

Chartered !ccountants of India, Doha.+6

&ahrain

ahrain has many Indian immigrants and they have formed many associations

based on Indian regions, professions, and culture. Such groups include /he ahrain

9eraleeya Samaam 9arnataka Social Club 0aharashtra Cultural Society /he ahrain

0alayalee CSI $arish 9erala 0uslim HamaLath and Shri (uarati Sama. )rganisations

promoting and preserving Indian religions and culture include, /he Indian >ine !rts

Society Indian #adies !ssociation 9onkan Singers Club 9erala !rts N Cultural!ssociation ahrain 9annada Sangha, /amil Social N Cultural !ssociation &/!SC!

/he Sree 'arayana Cultural Society ongiyo Sama Social N Cultural !ssociation

9erala Social N Cultural !sssociation /elugu 9ala Samithi, Sikh /emple &Sri (uru

Singh Sabha, 9erala Catholic !ssociation, /hattai 7indu Community, and hatia 0itra

0andal, ohra !ssociation. )ther Indian organi-ations in ahrain include /he Institution

of Engineers &India ahrain Chapter ahrain Chapter of the

Institute of Chartered !ccountants of India and oung (oanMs Sports Club.+=

Ku'ait

9uait has a large number of Indians engaged in different professions. In fact

9uait has been a favoured destination for Indians to emigrate. /hey have formed

different organisations based on Indian regions, cultures, and professions etc. /hese

organi-ations include !numan%e%urhani !rihant Social (roup !irays 0alayalee

Cultural )rganisation &!0C) Dasman !rsha 1idya harthi &!1 ochasanasi

!kshar $urushottam Sanstha &!$S harathi 9alai 0andram ChildrenMs !rt (roup

+8


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harat Samskara 9ender &haskar Cultural N 5ecreational Club of Chinchinim

(ayathri !rts Indian !rts Circle Hyothy !rts !nd Cultural !ssociation 9uait Indian

Cultural Congress 9uait 9alabhavan 9uait 9erala 0uslim Cultural Centre 0aurya

9ala $arisar "nited Indian Cultural !ssociation and Saa- aur !aa-. 5eligious

organi-ations formed by Indians include, >ederation of Indian 0uslim Indian 0uslim

:elfare !ssociation (urudara Committee 9uait and Devotional !ssociates of

ogeshar. Indian professionals have formed various associations such as, !ssociation of

Indian $rofessionals College of Engineering /rivandrum !lumni !ssociation &CE/!!

(uild of Chartered !ccountants of India Institution of Engineers &India '5I Investors

>orum and /amil 'adu Engineers >orum. !ssociations based on Indian regions include

engali Cultural Society (oa Cult Cultural N 5ecreational Club (oa :elfare Society,

Indian Sports N Cultural !ssociation 9uait 9annada 9oota 9erala !rts N #iterature

$romoting !ssociation of 9uait &9!#$!9 9uait )rissa !ssociation 9uait

0alayali Cultural Congress 9uait /elugu Seva 0aharshtra 0andal )verseas

0alayalee :elfare !ssociation $unabi Cultural Society $unab Sports and :elfare

!ssociation Sindhi !ssociation of Indians South Indian Cultural Society South Indian

!rts and 5ecreation !ssociation /amil 'adu 0uslim Cultural !ssociation 9uait

&/0C!

"nited 0alayalee )rganisation &"0) and "ttar $radesh 9alatmak 5angmanch

&"$9!5. )ther organi-ations include, Indian :omenMs !ssociation Indian :omenMs

#eague Indian )verseas Congress Indo !rab Socio%Cultural )rganisation &I!SC)

Indian Citi-enMs Committee 'on%5esident Indians >orum '5ILS :elfare !ssociation

9uait.+A

Iraq

Ira2 has an organi-ation called Indian !ssociation in Ira2.

Myanmar

/here are about 3,A8,888 people of Indian origin &$I) in 0yanmar. )f them

about 3,888 are Indian citi-ens settled there and =88,888 are stateless.+B Indians in

++


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0yanmar are from different religions &7indus, 0uslims, Sikhs, and Christians and

regions such as engal, ihar and "ttar $radesh, /amil 'adu, !ndhra $radesh, 9erala

and $unab. /hey speak their respective languages. )rganisations formed by Indians in

0yanmar include, !ll 0yanmar Shia 0uslim )rganisation !rya Sama /emple !ll

urma 7indu Central oard !ll 0yanmar 7indu 5eligious Society !ll 0yanmar

/amilian !ssociation !rya $ratinidhi Sabha angon, a-am%e%(ulshan%e%"rdu urma

7indi Sahitya Sammelan (eeta $rachar Samiti 0ahatma (andhi 0emorial /rust

0ahatma (andhi $rathana havan 0yanmar 0uslim )rganisation $urohit 0andal

5amakrishna /emple /rust Sanathan Dharam Sayam Sevak Sangh Sikh /emple Sri

7anuman /emple /he !ndhra 0ahaan Sangham /he Islamic 5eligious !ffairs

Council /he Hamait "lema%El%Islam and Oafar Shah Dargah /rust.+?

Thailand

/hailand has modest presence of Indians and they have formed different

organisations such as, /hai harat cultural lodge /hai 9annada alaga /hailand 7indi

$arishad Shri Digamber Hain Sama, angkok /hai Sikh )rgani-ation !rya Sama

(eeta

!shram /hailand Indian :omenLs Club (uarati%0arari Society, 0aharashtra 0andal

angkok India%/hai usiness >orum and 0ohona%! angla !ssociation in /hailandand II/ !lumni !ssociation, /hailand.+;

Singapore

0any Indians have been heading to Singapore since long. /hey have formed their

organi-ations based on the regions they migrated from, and their language and culture.

/hese organi-ations include, engali !ssociation 9annada Sangha 0arari 0itra

0andal Sindhi 0erchant !ssociation Singapore (uarati Society Singapore 9erala

!ssociation Singapore /amilian !ssociation 9annada Sangha and Singapore /elugu

Samaam. Indian religious organi-ations in Singapore include, $arsi !ssociation of

Singapore /he 5amakrishna !shram Sikh !dvisory oard Singapore 9halsa

!ssociation Singapore Hain 5eligious Society /he 'orth Indian 7indu !ssociation

>ederation of Indian 0uslims and 7indu Endoments oard. )ther arganisations

+3


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include, !urobindo Society Indian :omenMs !ssociation Singapore, 'rityalaya

!esthetics Society Singapore India !ssociation, Singapore Indian >ine !rts Society

&SI>!S Singapore "rdu Society /agore Society, /he 7indi Society, /he India Club,

/he 9amala Club. It has a D!1 7indi School and D$S International School has been set

up ith the efforts of Indian expatriates there.+orum /elugu

!ssociation of Sydney Sydney 0alayalee !ssociation and 0arathi !ssociation Sydney.

Cast based organi-ations include, asava Samathi of !ustralasia and 0ohyal Sabha

!ssociation. Indian omen organisations include Indian :omen Cultural !ssociation of

!ustralia Indian :orking :omen !ssociation and :omenLs Information 'etork N

Emergency 5elief. )ther organisations formed by Indians include, !nglo Indian

!ssociation of 'S: !rt of #iving >oundation !ssociation for IndiaLs Development

!ustralia !ustralian 7indi Indian !ssociation &!7I! !ustralian Institute of 7indi

language studies 7indi Samaa Sydney Indo%!ustralian al harathi 1idyalaya%7indi

+=


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School /he !ustralian Institute of 7indi language Studies !ustralian Sanatan Sports

!ssociation Satsang !ustralia >ederation of !ustralian Indian !ssociation Indain

)verseas Congress, !ustralia India Club Indian !rts N Cultural !ssociation of

!ustralia, Indian >amily >riends !ccociation, Indian )verseas Students >elloship of

!ustralia Spirit of India &'S: Sadeshi 1ichar 0anch Sara%#aya >ine !rts

Society Sydney kannada Sangha Sydney Sindhi !ssociation "nited $unabi 7eritage

and Cultural !ssociation and 1ihangam oga Sant Sama Sydney,

In risbane &ueensland, associations formed by Indians include, 7indu 0andir

!ssociation Shree Sanatan Dharam 7indu !ssociation 0angalorean Catholics

!ssociation ueensland 7indu Cultural and 5eligious /rust Shiv Dhaam%Sanatan

0andir risbane. !ssociations based on Indian regions are, ihar Hharkhand Sabha

!ustralia risbane 0aharashtra 0andal risbane 0alayalee !ssociation risbane

/elugu !ssociation (old Coast Indians (oldcoast 0alayalee !ssociation (uarati

!ssociation of ueensland 9annada Sangha ueensland and 9erala !ssociation. )ther

risbane based Indian associations include, !ustralian !nglo%Indian !ssociation of

risbane Indian Students Society &ISS "niversity of ueensland ueensland Indian

!ssociation Cultural Society of IndiaJrisbane >ederation of Indian Communities of

ueensland Indian !ssociation of Central ueensland $atel !ssociation of ueensland

ueenslandFIndia usiness Development !ssociation ID! ueensland Indian

Cultural outh !ssociation and Saran 0ohini Inc.

+A


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0elbourne &1ictoria has many Indian settlers and they have formed associations

such as, !ustralia India Society of 1ictoria !ustralia%India 0usic Club haratha

9alanali Dance School iharFHharkhand Sabha, Chinmaya 0ission !ustralia

>ederation of Indian !ssociations of 1ictoria >ederation of Indian Students of !ustralia

>orum of Indian Communities of 1ictoria 7indi 'iketan of 0elbourne Indian )verseas

Students >elloship of !ustralia Indian Subcontinent Students !ssociation &ISS! Hat

Hagat 0elbourne 9alamandir School of Indian Dances 0ai 'achungi Dance Company

'atyalayaa Indian Dance School and Sangam 9ala (roup !ustralia &S9(!.

!ssociations based on Indian religions and regions in 0elbourne include, engali

!ssociation of 1ictoria (oan )verseas !ssociation of 1ictoria Indian /amil !ssociation

of 1ictoria 0elbourne 9annada Sangha 0aharashtra 0andal of 1ictoria 0alayalee

!ssociation of 1ictoria 0elbourne Sikh outh :ing 5aasthan Sabha of

!ustralia /elugu !ssociation 1ictorian Sikh !ssociation &1S! Shree Sanatan Dharam

Society of 1ictoria Shree Saminarayan /emple 0elbourne Sindhi !ssociation of

1ictoria and /elugu !ssociation.

!ssociations formed by Indians in $erth &:estern !ustralia include, !nglo

Indian Institute of :.! 7erb (raham 5ecreational Centre 0irrabooka engali

!ssociation of :! ihar Hharkhand Sabha $erth DESI Indian StudentsL Society

"niversity of :estern !ustralia (oan )verseas !ssociation (urati Sama of :estern

!ustralia 7indi Sama of :estern !ustralia Indian )verseas Students >elloship of

!ustralia Indian Society of :estern !ustralia $erth 0alayali Cultural Club &9airali

0aharashtra 0andal of $erth 0alayalee !ssociation of :estern !ustralia Sikh

!ssociation of :estern !ustralia /amil !ssociation of :estern !ustralia /elugu

!ssociation in :estern !ustralia and /he !ustralian !nglo Indian !ssociation &Inc.

!delaide &South !ustralia also has many organi-ations formed by Indians, such

as, !delaide 9annada Sangha !delaide 0arathi 0andal !delaide 0etropolitan

0alayalee !ssociation &!00! !delaide /amil !ssociation engali Cultural

+B


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!ssociation of South !ustralia &C!S! ihar Hharkhand Sabha !delaide Indian

!ustralian !ssociation of S! Indian )verseas Students >elloship of !ustralia 0ohyal

Sabha !delaide 'orth Indians !ssociation of South !ustralia Sargam, Indian 0usical

!ssociation Shruthi !delaide and /elgu !ssociation of South !ustralia.

Madagascar

0adagascar has a small number of Indian associations such as, !ssociation of

9hoa Shia >ai-%E%0ohammedi 0adagascar 7indou Sama DLantananarivo and

IMassociation 7indou Society, /amatave.

Mauritius

0auritius has a centre of !rt of #iving at Curepipe

Seychelles

Indian associations in Seychelles include, 7indu 9ovil Sangam Indo%Seychelles

>riendship !ssociation and 7indu Council of Seychelles.

$resence of large number of associations formed by Indians in the countries of

Indian )cean region reveals the pattern of migration from India to these countries areas

of their concentration and the religionFregion of India they belong to. It also strongly

demonstrates the spread of persons of Indian origin and its culture to different corners of

the Indian )cean region.

Indias cultural policy

In its earliest history, various Indian kingdoms and empires had maintained close

links ith foreign lands. )ver the centuries, these contacts ere further consolidated.

+?


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Indian culture penetrated other ethno%cultural -ones and a process of mutual cultural

enrichment ensued. IndiaLs culture is marked by a high degree of syncretism and cultural

pluralism.33/he earliest and closest of these cultural ties ere those linking India and

Iran, for these can be traced as far back as 'eolithic times. /he ancient Indians and

Iranians ere closely related people both ethnically and linguistically. /he period of

particularly close Indo%Iranian ties began during the !chaemenid Empire hen Iranian

culture influenced the development of Indian culture and uddhism spread to Iran from

India. 0any Indian scientific achievements and orks of art became knon in Iran.

Similarly, links beteen India and Sri #anka ere established immediately after the first

Indo%!ryan settlers came to the island. :hen uddhism first began to spread to the

island, culture exerted a strong influence over Singhalese literature, architecture and

religion. !t a very early stage India began trading ith many countries of Southeast

!sia and later Indian settlements ere set up there. /he settlers brought ith them

Sanskrit language and also many achievements of Indian culture and religions. In the

early centuries !.D., Indian communities also appeared in Indonesia. #ater, Indians

increasingly engaged themselves in overseas trade ith !rabia and !frica and

consolidated links ith countries as far as Egypt.36#arge number of Indian Diaspora

began to take roots since then and has only gron in nature and strength over the years.

Indias diplomatic relations in the Region

/o keep liaison ith Indians settled in the countries of Indian )cean, and maintain

historical relations, India set up its embassies, high commissions, and consulates in these

countries after independence. In some of these countries India sent its ambassadors even

before their independence. India has diplomatic representation in 3B littoral states and ?

island states of the Indian )cean. It set up embassy in South !frica after the end of

apartheid regime there in +


19/34

them in +


20/34

:ith 0yanmar India signed a bilateral Cultural Cooperation !greement in 388+. /o

strengthen age%old cultural ties, India signed a Cultural !greement ith /hailand in !pril

+


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Durban, &South !frica hich functions under the aegis of the Consulate (eneral of

India, Durban. esides organi-ing various cultural programmes in different cities of

9aOulu%'atal, Eastern Cape N >ree State by visiting artists from India, the Cultural

Centre also organi-es talks, discourses N lectures, dance and music orkshops by

eminent personalities. /he Cultural Centre also conducts regular classes to teach Indian

dance and music by 2ualified tutors. Centre has a library of more than 6?88 titles on a

variety of subects. Indian Cultural Centre has also been set up at Hohannesburg in +


22/34

/able% 3

Distribution of !cholarships under "C!!

In the Countries of Indian Ocean Region

Dibouti 8+ atar 8+

Indonesia 38 Saudi !rabia 86

Iran +6 Somalia +or list and detail see, $ravasi haratiya Samman, from :ikipedia, the free

encyclopedia, at, httpFFen.ikipedia.orgFikiF$ravasiGharatiyaGSamman.

6B. Cabinet secretariat to take a final call on $I) universityT, !he Economic

!imes, )ctober 3, 388B

66


34/34

6B. Chishti, 0u-affar, /he 5ise in 5emittances to India ! Closer #ookT,

0igration $olicy Institute, >ebruary, 388? !iyer, Saminathan S.

!nklesaria. 4!n "nexpected onan-a from the '5Is4, The Economic

Times, 0ay 3A, 388A.

6?. Chishti, op cit,

6;. Debabrata $atra, 0ichael and 9apur 0uneesh, IndiaMs orker remittances a

"sersM #ament about bop compilationT, Sixteenth 0eeting of the I0>

Committee on alance of $ayments Statistics :ashington D.C., December +JA,

3886 also see, (ulati, I2bal and !shok 0ody, 5emittances of Indian 0igrants

to the 0iddle%East !n !ssessment ith Special 5eference to 0igrants from

9erala StateT, ESC!$, D$F5I#0, angkok, +

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