15-Jul-2021: PM inaugurates the International Cooperation and Convention Centre – Rudraksh in Varanasi
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Cooperation and Convention Centre – Rudraksh in Varanasi, which has been constructed with Japanese assistance. Then he inspected the Maternal and Child Health Wing, BHU. He also met with officials and medical professionals to review Covid preparedness.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that despite Covid, the pace of development remains intact in Kashi. He added that the 'International Cooperation and Convention Center - Rudraksh' is the result of this creativity and dynamism. He said this Centre shows the strong connect between India and Japan. He lauded Japan's effort in helping to build the convention centre.
Shri Modi recalled that Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Suga Yoshihide was the Chief Cabinet Secretary at that time. From then till he became the Prime Minister of Japan, he has been personally involved in this project. Shri Modi added that every Indian is grateful to him for his affinity towards India.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi remembered former Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe who was closely connected with today's event. He recalled the moment when he had a discussion with the then Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe on the idea of Rudraksh when he came to Kashi. The Prime Minister said this building has both the shine of modernity and cultural glow, it has the connection of India Japan relationship as well as scope of future cooperation also, said the Prime Minister. Shri Modi said that from his visit to Japan this kind of people to people relations were envisaged and projects like Rudraksh and Zen garden in Ahmedabad symbolize this relationship.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lauded Japan for being one of the most trusted friends of India today in both the strategic and economic spheres. He added that India’s friendship with Japan is considered one of the most natural partnerships in the entire region. India and Japan are of the view that our development should be linked with our gaiety. This development should be all-round, should be for all, and should be all-encompassing.
The Prime Minister said songs, music and art flow from veins in Banaras. Here on the ghats of the Ganges so many arts have been developed, knowledge has reached the summit and so many serious thoughts related to humanity have taken place. That is how Banaras can become a huge global centre of music, religion, spirit and of knowledge and science. He added that this Centre will be a cultural hub and a medium to unite different people. He requested the people of Kashi to preserve this Centre.
Kashi has been adorned with so many development projects in the last 7 years, how could this adornment be completed without Rudraksha ?, said the Prime Minister. Now that Kashi which is the real Shiva has worn this Rudraksha, the development of Kashi will shine more, and the beauty of Kashi will increase more.
19-Jun-2021: Ministry of Culture to celebrate IDY 2021 by organizing special drive “Yoga An Indian Heritage” across the country
Yoga is gradually taking a centre stage in everyone’s life for its proven role in physical, mental and spiritual happiness, being globally acknowledged. It signifies the intangible cultural heritage of humanity for the whole world making it imperative to disseminate and promote its importance on a larger platform.
Therefore, Ministry of Culture, Government of India is planning to celebrate International Day of Yoga by organizing a drive named “Yoga An Indian Heritage” as a part of “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” campaign. The program will be conducted at 75 cultural heritage locations with the active participation of all institutions/bodies of the Ministry. Considering the current pandemic situation, the number of participants for Yoga has been restricted to 20 at each site. Several prominent people will take part in the programmes being organized at these locations.
The event will include 45-minute Yoga, followed by a 30-minute short Cultural program, to be performed by Young Awardees from Sangeet Natak Academy or Zonal Cultural Centres. Livestreaming of the event shall run on all the digital platforms/pages of the Ministry of Culture for selected 30 sites including Ministry’s Media partners viz., Radio Fever 104, Doordarshan, Curefit and FICCI for maximum coverage.
Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (I/C), Shri Prahlad Singh Patel would be performing Yoga at Lal Qila, Delhi on 21st June, 2021 from 7 a.m. to 7.45 a.m. along with senior officials of the Ministry and a live stream of the same shall also run on all the digital platforms of the Ministry.
23-Mar-2021: Progress of Project Mausam
Project ‘Mausam’ is the initiative of Ministry of Culture to be implemented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as the nodal agency with research support of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and National Museum. This project aims to explore the multi-faceted Indian Ocean ‘world’ – collating archaeological and historical research in order to document the diversity of cultural, commercial and religious interactions in the Indian Ocean. The main objective of the project is to inscribe places and sites identified under Project Mausam as trans-national nomination for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Mausam has now been extended up to 31st March, 2023.
- Indian Missions in the 39 countries have approached local authorities and several countries including the following, have nominated their resource persons for the Project Mausam: - Bangladesh, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Indonesia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Malaysia, The Islamic republic of Iran, UAE, Myanmar, Philippines and Jordan.
- It is proposed to hold an international conference with these experts on the next steps forward.
- It is proposed to prepare two transnational nominations namely; (a) Routes followed by the Cholas in the Southeast Asia region and; (b) Spread of Buddhism through land and sea routes in the South and Southeast Asian region (those countries that are a part of Project Mausam).