(a) the countries where the Indian Embassies are propagating Indian culture;
(b) the number of countries where people of Indian origin are living; and
(c) the details of efforts being made to preserve the Indian culture there?
(a) the countries where the Indian Embassies are propagating Indian culture;
(b) the number of countries where people of Indian origin are living; and
(c) the details of efforts being made to preserve the Indian culture there?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)
(a) The propagation of Indian culture forms an important aspect of the responsibilities of all Indian embassies, irrespective of location.
(b) People of Indian origin are spread over all parts of the world and are to be found in almost all countries.
(c) Indian embassies undertake a wide variety of activities to propagate and help preserve Indian culture abroad, which include the holding of Indian cultural performances, exhibitions of visual arts and lectures and seminars on various aspects of our cultural heritage. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations works in close association with Indian embassies abroad and maintains fourteen Indian Cultural Centres, most of them located in countries with significant populations of people of Indian origin. These Cultural Centres organise Indian cultural and academic activities of interest to people of Indian origin residing there, as also to the local population. Such activities include the holding of classes to teach Indian dance, music, yoga and languages. The Centres also maintain libraries where books and audio-visual material regarding Indian culture are available for the local population.