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A.
A brief overview
Indo-Greek
Cultural Relations date back to a period of almost three
millennia. In 327 BC, the expedition of Alexander the Great
brought the dawn of a new era of Indo-Hellenic cultural
interaction which lasted long after Alexander's death with
Mauryan Kings Chandragupta and Ashoka.
The
Greek influence on Indian Art appeared in the minting of
coins, the Graeco-Buddhist sculptures of Gandhara and Mathura
and the introduction of the Zodiac symbols to Indian astrology.
In the 18th century, an interesting Greek commercial presence
flourished in what is now West Bengal and Bangladesh. A
considerable number of Greek traders, employees of the East
India Company and intellectuals created vibrant communities
in Calcutta, Dhaka and later Bombay.
Dimitrios
Galanos (1760-1833) spent 47 years in India, studied Sanskrit
in Benares and became the first European Indologist of world
reputataion . His work encompasses translations into Greek
of Indian texts as well as a Sanskrit - English - Greek
dictionary.
After
the Independence of India in 1947, the cultural relations
of both countries were regulated by a bilateral Agreement
as well as by two-year programmes of cultural exchanges.
During the same period, with the gradual spread of information
about the vast richness of India's culture, many Greeks
began visiting the country and a number of them established
long-term links in the academic and business domain.
Among
those who studied in India are former Cultural Counsellor Aliki
Zannas, archeologist V. Sariyiannidis, psychologist Helen Abasiz,
indologists M. Spyrou, Theodore Bitos, Mary Athanassopoulos, Apostolos
Michailedes, Konstantine Tsioulos, Nick Marioris, Lida Sandala,
Alexis Karsiotis, Demetrios Vassiliadis can be mentioned. Silhouette.
In the context of the overall Indo-Greek Cultural Cooperation,
the Onassis Foundation has provided awards and scholarships
to Indian Intellectuals among them namely Ms. Manjula Padmababhan,
Ms. Lolita Nehru, Prof. U.P. Arora and Prof. Bharat Gupt.
Following the tradition of Megasthenes, three Greek diplomats,
Dimitrios Velissaropoulos (1959-1963), Vassilis Vitsaxis
(1973-1976) and George Sioris (1984-1989) contributed through
their written works in greek, to a deepening and better
understanding of India in Greece.
In
May 1999 an Indo-Hellenic Friendship Association was established
in New Delhi with the support of the Embassy of Greece.
It comprises of a number of distinguished Indian friends
of Greece and aims at a vibrant social and cultural activity.
B.
Recent Cultural Activity.
Apart
from a multitude of events including Film Festivals, book
presentations, recitals, theatrical performance and exhibitions
etc. that were organized during the seventies and eighties,
the most recent cultural activity during the period 1995-2000
can be summarized as follows:
- The
celebration of 2500 years of cultural exchanges between
the two countries with a Symposium held in New Delhi
in March 1995.
-
A Greek Cultural Week encompassing an exhibition of
ancient Greek artifacts, a film festival and a culinary
event were held in New Delhi in October 1996.
-
As a tribute to the 50th anniversary of India's independence,
an archaeological exhibition was held in August and
September 1997 in New Delhi with the title "Macedonians
: the Northern Greeks". The exhibition was inaugurated
by H.E. the President of the Republic of India Mr. K.R.Narayanan
and was the first event that opened the Golden Jubilee
celebrations.
-
A painting exhibition from the Municipal Gallery of
Athens was held in New Delhi in April 1998 at the national
Gallery of Modern Art.
-
A leading Greek folk music group under distinguished
vocalist Lakis Halkias performed in Mumbai, New Delhi
and Calcutta in October 1998 with great success.
-
The Benaki Museum photographic exhibition " Man and
Landscape - Greek photography 1930-1960" toured the
subcontinent. Exhibitions were held in New Delhi (1999),
Colombo (1999), Male (1999) and Dhaka (2000) and met
with considerable success.
-
An International Symposium entitled "Relevance of Ancient
Classics in the New Millenium" was held in Bareilly,
in February 2000, organized by the Rohilkhand University
-
Three leading Greek academics, participants in the above
mentioned Symposium, attended and gave lectures at an
one-day seminar entitled "Aspects of Greek History"
held at India International Centre, New Delhi.
- A
leading Greek theatrical group "ATTIS" presented the
ancient Greek tragedy "Prometheus Bound" in New Delhi,
Mumbai and Ahmedabad in March 2000.
- A
Greek Film Festival was held in New Delhi and Manipur
between 27 November 2000 and 15 December 2000.
C.
Greek
Studies in India
A
Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 1999 between
Greece and Jawaharlal Nehru University (J.N.U.) established
a Chair of Greek Studies (Greek Civilization, Language,
History and Philosophy at the School of Language, Literature
and Cultural Studies of the J.N.U.). To honour the contribution
to Indology of Dimitrios Galanos, this Chair bears his name.
It will become operational by October 2000, after the recent
appointment of Professor George Andreadis.
The
address and contact numbers of JNU are :
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi - 110067
India
Tel : 009111 - 617.22.41
009111 - 616.75.57
(ext. 2080)
fax.: - 616.58.86 - 619.82.34
Since 1991, the Department of Ancient History and Culture
of the M.U.P. Rohilkhand University (R.U.) in Bareilly has
been extremely active in the promotion of Greek Studies
under the direction of Professor U.P. Arora
Professor Arora also heads the Indian Society for Greek
and Roman Studies (ISGARS) within the R.U. Among the Society's
activities are a postgraduate studies course on Greek History
and Civilisation, seminars on ancient and modern Greek and
the annual edition "Yavanika" on the interaction between
the Hellenic and Indian civilisations.
The
address and contact numbers of Rohilkhand University are:
Prof. U.P. Arora
Deptt. Of Ancient History and Culture
Rohilkhand University
Bareilly 243006
U.P. - INDIA
Tel./fax.: 0091 - 581- 472232
The Greek Club "Kyklos" was established in Calcutta in 1988
and encompasses Indian intellectuals linked by admiration
and interest in Greek civilisation. The club has been very
active in organizing courses of Greek language, seminars
on Hellenic History and Philosophy and publishing the magazines
"PARTHENON" and "PELAYIA" in Bengali.
The
address and contact numbers of the "Kyklos" Club are:
Mr.
A.R. Chakraborty
Greek Club Kyklos
10/16, Kobi Bharot Chandra Road
Calcutta - 700 028
West Bengal
INDIA
tel.: 0091-33-559.26.42
For the last four years, a course on Modern Greek for adults
has been operative within the premises of the High Commission
of the Republic of Cyprus in New Delhi. It is an ongoing
experiment and with the support of the Embassy of Greece
has become very successful. 60 students enrolled during
the academic year 1999-2000.
The address and contact numbers of the High Commission of
Cyprus are:
HIGH
COMMISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
106, JOR BAGH
NEW DELHI - 110003
TEL.: 009111-4697503 4697508
FAX: 009111-4628828
Mrs. Puja Bedi
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