India, Korea Discuss Cultural Cooperation Over Pandemic

The Indian Cultural Centre and the Embassy of India in Korea jointly organized a video conference on the occasion of the U.N.-designated “World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development” on May 21.

Also known as World Culture Day, it is to celebrate the richness of the world’s cultures and to address intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.

The 2020 celebration came as cultural events were canceled, cultural institutions were closed and cultural practices were suspended in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taking this into account, conference participants from the two countries discussed how to build cultural ties and also the changes in global cultural cooperation in accordance with the new normal.

Indian Ambassador to Korea Sripriya Ranganathan highlighted historical and cultural ties between the two sides and a need to focus on their cross-cultural differences.

“Both India and Korea’s vibrant cultural legacy, comprising music, art, literature, dance, drama, films, architecture, clothing and cuisine, offers a delightful combination of tradition and modernity, and is now appreciated in many parts of the world,” she said in her welcoming speech.

She also said the strength of differences “lies in their unique cultural heritage and pluralism which they have imbibed and nurtured over a period of time extending over several centuries.”

She added, “Such a multicultural environment in both the countries has led to progress of a civilizational culture focused on accommodative ethos and cultural syncretism.”

Shri Ram Madhav, the national general secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party and India Foundation board member, addressed the need for global cooperation and the new role of cultural value.

Korea Foundation President Lee Geun explained the efforts of the foundation, which is tasked with public diplomacy as a government-affiliated organization, toward new cultural diplomacy initiatives in the wake of pandemic.

Shri Dinesh Patnaik, director general of Indian Council of Cultural Relations, talked about the new nuances added to culture and the way “culture adds joy and beauty to the lives of people around the world.”

The conference was moderated by Sonu Trivedi, director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Seoul.
She focused on how both countries emphasize cultural plurality expressed in the idea of “richness” and “pluralism.”
The conference featured music and dance performances.

Classical Indian dance forms like kathak, bharatnatyam and odissi were staged, as well as Korean traditional dance forms like salpuri and seongjupuri.

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Source: Korea Times

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