Indian Council of cultural relations (ICCR)

Indian Council of cultural relations (ICCR)

Subject: Art and Culture

Context: The Department of Indian Studies at the university in South Korea had been considering phasing out the teaching of Hindi language at the university saying that knowledge of English would be sufficient for Korean nationals interested in working, studying and travelling in India.

Concept:

• The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was founded in 1950 by MaulanaAbulKalam Azad. It completed 70 years in 2020.
• It is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India, involved in India’s external cultural relations i.e., cultural diplomacy.
• Its objectives are:

1. 1. to actively participate in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes pertaining to India’s external cultural relations.
   2. to foster and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries,
   3. to promote cultural exchanges with other countries and people, and to develop relations with nations.

• It is running 36 cultural centres in different countries with the promotion of Indian culture and projecting India as a hub for higher education.
• It instituted several awards for foreign nationals as a way to promote India’s culture abroad:

1. 1. Distinguished Indologist Award
   2. World Sanskrit Award
   3. Distinguished Alumni Award – Citation and Plaque
   4. Gisela Bonn Award