NEW DELHI, July 14: In an attempt to bring the people of India and Pakistan closer and build cordial relations between the neighbouring countries, the Government is mulling to set up a cultural centre in Pakistan.
Besides this, for the first time such centres will also come up in the US, France and Canada where despite a large number of Indian population, no such cultural centres exist.
Director General of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and senior diplomat Suresh K Goyal in an exclusive interview with the reporters said, “cultural diplomacy is of utmost importance to bridge the gap between the people of the two nations.”
Mr Goyal said places for opening up such cultural centres in France and the US have been finalised and soon these would be opened.
“We are also hoping that soon in Pakistan also such a centre will come up,” he said.
“Actually after the exchange of views between the scholars of the two nations, the misunderstandings diminish, mutual understanding builds up and the two-way bond develops stronger,” Mr Goyal observed.
The ICCR DG said, “both the nations will now see at each other’s culture and traditions with a new approach.”
Mr Goyal has been working on ICCR’s DG post for about last four years and is getting retired this month.
Giving an account of works done during his tenure, Mr Goyal said, ICCR, which is a major pillar of External Affairs Ministry, has done a lot to bring the world close to India’s cultures and values.
He said a lot of work in this direction has been done and a lot more needs to be done.
Mr Goyal said, “In the international arena, India’s reputation is increasing rapidly. The world is looking towards our nation with a new view point. India is fast becoming ideological and philosophical hub, along with becoming a strong economic and military power.”
“To understand this new approach of the nation, there is a dire need of cultural diplomacy. Considering this need, the seats under ICCR in various international universities have been increased and it will shortly touch the mark of 100,” Mr Goyal said.
Besides this, in the next two years, the number of Indian Cultural Centres functioning over the world will increase from 30 to 40. These centres will soon come up in the US, European and African nations, he assured. (UNI)
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