Source: New Europe, the European Weekly: http://www.neurope.eu/view_news.php?id=48925
4 June 2006
| 4 June 2006 - Issue : 680 |
During a curtain raiser address at a news conference, Dr. Karan Singh, president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) said, “The Festival comes at a time when there is a tremendous interest in the EU vis-a-vis India.”
Singh pointed out that India has been quite the flavour in Europe in 2006: it was the partner country for the Hanover Trade Fair (April, 2006), the Theme country for the Bonn Biennale (May, 2006) and will be the Guest of Honour country for the Frankfurt Book Fair (October, 2006.) The Festival would encompass a variety of disciplines around a central exhibition “TEJAS” (meaning energy/radiance/effulgence) that would present a clear picture of the rich, pluralistic cultural heritage and contemporary creativity of India.
“The Festival of India in Brussels is an event to which we give very great importance. We are organising such a Festival in any country after a hiatus of almost over two decades.”
The Brussels Festival, organised by the ICCR in collaboration with the Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR) will also consist of a series of other events including the performing arts, a fashion show, a film festival, a food festival, an exhibition on contemporary Indian art, several photographic exhibitions, theatre and the folk arts.
“In all of these manifestations, we will attempt to show-case, through some of the best artists and creative minds from India, the immense richness and diversity of India’s ancient, plural and composite culture,” said Singh.
Later last Thursday evening, Singh, well-known Indian political scientist, environmentalist, a former Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament and ambassador spoke on the topic “India and Europe: The Way Ahead” at Belgium’s Royal Institute of International Relations (IRRI-KIIB.) “The emergence of the EU after centuries of internecine conflict was a miracle and one of the most remarkable and positive developments of the twentieth century,” he said.
“I often hold this as a model for the way in which our own regional Association – SAARC - should develop in the years ahead,” he said. On the political front, the EU and India have an important stake in the reforms In the United nations, in the whole WTO exercise, in the question of human rights and in dealing with the menace of global terrorism.
“That is why the relationship between India and Europe cannot be built solely through bilateral cooperation,” he stressed.
Singh also called for inter-faith dialogue to promote religious tolerance. The event was chaired by Viscount Etienne Davignon, President of IRRI-KIIB who in his welcoming remarks noted that among many other things, Singh has set up the India Forum, is a life-long conservationist, is equally an author of distinction and has written a number of books on political science and religion, as well as philosophical essays.
Born in 1931 as heir to the then-princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, Singh was catapulted into political life at the age of 18, when his father Maharaja Hari Singh appointed him regent.
Singh, who was accompanied by Pavan K. Varma, Director General ICCR, also met with Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and with several Members of the European Parliament during their visit to Brussels. Commenting on the event, Sunil Prasad, Secretary General, Europe India Chamber of Commerce (EICC) and President, Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Belgium said, “For the last 20 years, for the first time I have seen real progress being made with person to person contact and it is time for the European Union especially the European Commission to recognise India’s global role.”
Tejinder Singh