By IANS,
New Delhi : The nomadic culture of gypsy communities across India will be showcased here in the run up to the Commonwealth Games in October.
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) will bring gypsy communities to Delhi for an exposition-cum-showcase at the Azad Bhavan theatre here during Sep 17-21.
“This is the first time ICCR will exhibit the cultures of nomadic gypsies – the itinerant sub-tribes of India – in an attempt to document their mores,” ICCR director general Suresh Goel told IANS.
A seminar, Indian Culture in the Globalised World, Nov 11-12, will host scholars of repute from the Commonwealth countries to discuss the changing cultural milieu, he said.
The forthcoming Games from Oct 3 to 14 as well as celebrations for the 150th birth centenary of Rabindranath Tagore in 2011 will keep the ICCR busy this year that happens to be its 60th anniversary year.
“We have elaborate plans. We will host a series of exhibitions of Tagore’s art across the country and abroad, accompanied by performances of Tagore’s plays that project diverse sensibilities, each appealing to a particular segment,” Goa said.
“In Europe, Tagore will be portrayed as a humanist and an economic liberal – the facet of his personality that appeals to Europeans. We are drawing a schedule of events to suit the different socio-cultural milieus,” Goel said.
The ICCR will begin its Tagore centenary calendar in May 2011.
“We are contemplating seminars to link Buddhism in Southeast Asia with Tagore to probe how Buddhism impacted him. The Orient influenced the Nobel laureate profoundly. He was one of the few 19th century litterateurs who wanted to break the shackles of convention. We will try to highlight his personality through our programmes,” he said.
Besides the Tagore centenary celebrations, the council will play host to nearly 30 overseas festivals of India next year, he said.