By Liz Mathew, IANS,
Sao Paulo : India and Brazil have many things in common, including folk traditions, intellectual traditions and most importantly cows, President Pratibha Patil said on her arrival here as part of a three-nation Latin America swing.
While addressing the Indian community here Sunday, her first official engagement during her 12-day trip, Patil recollected the unique trade connection between the two democracies.
“I am told that nearly 80 percent of Brazilian cattle stock derives its origin from India´s Nellore variety, which is known in Brazil as Zebu,” Patil told the 500-strong audience gathered at the Hotel Hilton here.
“The year 2006 marked the 100th anniversary of the import of the first cow from India to northeast Brazil,” said the president, who was warmly welcomed by the community members.
Patil also pointed out that Sao Paulo had the world’s only university of yoga.
“The footprint of yoga schools is visible all over Brazil. It is also interesting that two Brazilian floats participated in Goa´s Carnival this year depicting Portuguese exploration of Brazil.”
Patil, who will be meeting delegates of FIESP (Industry Federation of the State of Sao Paulo), recollected the long history of friendship between India and Brazil.
“The Portuguese presence in Goa as well as in Brazil, during the 17th and 18th centuries, provided a common historical bond which facilitated interaction at the popular level.
“This reflected in the food, linguistic vocabulary and the folk music traditions of our two countries. India and Brazil share folk traditions such as the stories of Panchatantra and Poikal Kudhirai of southern India and Boi Bumba of Northern Brazil,” she said.
The president also pointed out that Indian philosophy has influenced Brazilian intellectual tradition, reflected in the works of philosophers like Farias Brito and poets like Cruz e Souza.
Praising the small Indian community – said to have less than 500 members – for its contributions, Patil asked the diaspora to “provide a place” in their lives and hearts to both the countries.
Patil said the Indian government has already initiated works on establishing a “diaspora knowledge network” – a platform to facilitate transformation of ideas into community action in India and it was planning to constitute an India Development Foundation to allow the diaspora to contribute to social development causes in India.
Besides Brail, Patil is also visiting Chile and Mexico. A 14-member Indian business delegation is attending the FIESP.