Bali (Indonesia): An
Indonesian university plans to establish a Centre for Indian
Studies here next year.
Rector of Udayana University, Made Bakta, said his university was
looking forward to strengthening educational opportunities with
Indian universities, especially in the field of science and
technology. The university plans to establish a Centre for Indian
Studies next year which will facilitate visit by Indian scholars.
The official was speaking Tuesday at a seminar
"India-Indonesia-Shared History & Culture and opportunities for
deepening 'people-to-people' contact" organised jointly by
Consulate General of India, Bali, and Udayana University, Bali, a
press release from the Indian embassy said.
The well-attended seminar saw eminent people speak on topics like
cultural relations of India and Indonesia, common threads of
traditions between India and Indonesia, the relationship of
India-Balinese Hindus, development of Hinduism in the island of
Bali, comparison of dances from Bali and Southern India, as well
as strategic agenda for cooperation between India and Indonesia.
Ketut Putra Erawan, executive director, Institute for Peace and
Democracy, spoke on strategic agenda for cooperation between India
and Indonesia. He said India and Indonesia are now emerging giants
that world cannot ignore.
Ambassador Gurjit Singh, who was the keynote speaker, said India
and Indonesia share historical and civilisation ties which was so
well established and the challenge now is how to modernise the age
old relationship.
He said both India and Indonesia have a young population and
therefore it was imperative to enhance people to people
connectivity through academic exchanges, scholarships, twinning of
university programmes. He said there was a need to engage each
other directly rather than through third sources and the cross
fertilisation of ideas generated through these exchanges could
reinvigorate the relationship to a new level.
Zahur Zaidi, director, Jawaharlal Nehru Culture Centre,
highlighted the common threads of traditions found in India and
Indonesia such as historical epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata,
religion, historical monuments, usage of Sanskrit words in Bahasa
language, food, textiles and Bollywood.
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