Cultural Exchange

Indian culture is understood and highly respected in Kazakhstan. The knowl­edge about India and its culture is disseminated here primarily through Indian films, which are popular locally. To promote Indian culture and in order to strengthen the long-standing cultural relations between the two countries, an In­dian Cultural Centre (ICC) has been opened in Almaty in May ’94. The ICC has been organising several programmes for the promotion and strengthening of Indo- Kazakh cultural ties. It has been organising exchange of visits, quiz programmes, essay competitions, cultural evenings, talks, exhibitions and other programmes for achieving these ends. New programmes, which have been started include regular film shows, Hindi language classes, Indian dance classes, Yoga classes etc.

An Indian Studies Centre was set up in the Al-Farabi University in Almaty in September 1998 and the Kazakh State Ablai Khan University for Inter­national Relations and World Languages in November 1999. Widening its activi­ties to the other part of the country, an India Study Centre was set up in Astana in the prestigious Eurasian University. We have revived our contacts with the Friend­ship Society in Ust-kaminogorsk. Recently we have established contacts with State Universitv named after Mirza Haider Unlati in Taraz The TP.fTR offers p.verv vear

scholarship to nineteen meritorious students in Kazakhstan on the recommenda­tion of the Ministry of Education and Science for attending various courses in the Indian Universities.

Kazakhstan celebrated Mahatma Gandhi’s 125th birth anniversary by pub­lishing two commemorative stamps on 2nd October ’95 to mark this occasion. This is for the first time Kazakhstan issued a postage stamp dedicated to a leader outside Kazakhstan. The press also carried important articles on the life and teach­ings of the Mahatma. India celebrated the 150th Birth Anniversary of the famous Kazakh poet and philosopher, Abai, in December 1995 with the publication of Abai’s compositions in Hindi. India issued a postage stamp on Abai on this occa­sion.

A seven-member delegation from Kazakhstan visited Srinagar to pay a visit to the tomb of Mirza Mohammed Haidar Dulati in June 1999 on the occasion of 500th Birth anniversary of Mirza Dulati. They have also organised seminars in Srinagar, Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University and met Chief Minister and Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

The Indian Cultural Centre in Almaty has been organising cultural events, seminars, lectures, books and photo exhibitions and book presentations. The Cen­tre has also organised many visits of intellectuals from both the sides. Jour­nalists from Kazakhstan have also been visiting India.