Friends
I thank Manjiri Dhamankar for kind words of introduction. She has painted precise picture of my personality. She also tells me that Door Darshan suggested my introduction for the National Audience. They would like to know more about the Organizer of spell binding Malhar Aavishkar concerts. Its all the more important that the audience know me, now. Because, I will be presenting,nnow, totally new dimension of Indian Culture. Knowing me well, You will take me more seriously and listen to me more carefully.
L/G
I present to the people of India my mission to make India a Cultural Super Power in the world. My theme is :
Indian can be Cultural Super Power,
If not Economic or military super power.
Politicians & their Scientists always hit the headlines with the Dream of India being a economic or military Super Power. But, we sensible common people know it's a myth. We understand ground realities. We know how we suffer for daily needs. Corruption is all too pervasive. Lets presume this myth of Economic or military super power becomes reality. But, scholars & historian know that Military or Economic supremacy don't win the world for long nor it can rule the whole world. Hitler and Changes khan could rule for a few decades that too in small part of Europe or Asia. With all the Economic prowess, America has been trying to rule the world for a century, but barring for a few small countries, they have no influence in large part of the world and surely not in China, Russia and in even in India!
Friends
Military or Economic Super Power is a Myth
Please mark my words :
In tomorrow's World, Cultural Super Power is the Reality!
And, India has all the ingredients of being a Cultural Super Power!!
You will agree with me that its misnomer to use the word Super Power in the world of culture. We don't think of Super "Power" etc when we think of Art & Culture. Art and culture really Charm us, no power equation etc ! I would rather coin a phrase "Super Charmers" in culture. And we, Indians are super charmers in Art & Culture!
I have had meaning-full discussions with senior artists, art-lovers & cultural organizations. They are convinced that India can be cultural super power. They are also convinced that to propagate Indian culture in the world we need a strong & powerful Institution with very sound foundation. Taking inspiration from them, I am planning An Institution to propagate Indian culture globally. The Institution is, tentatively, named as :
The Centre for Global Propagation of Indian Culture
I have also drafted a Memorandum for the Centre. Its tentative at this stage. I will circulate the text in the Hall. For want of time, I will, now, read just the Gist of the Memorandum. I humbly admit I am too small a man to build an Institution of this stature. I have Dream, I have a passion. I am confident India will be Cultural Super Power, nay Super Charmer to win billons of hearts world wide ! We need well directed sustained efforts for decades. Its herculean Task. But, it's not as difficult or as expensive as Economic or Military power. I am confident you all will help to win Billon Hearts!
This Memorandum is based on meaning full discussions of my innovative concept with senior cultural leaders, art lovers, historians and well wishers. "We", here, means these leaders.
(1)
Art & Culture is the only Medium to bring Peace & Harmony in the Humankind, transgressing the Boundaries of Geography, Race & Religion. History has proven that these Artificial Boundaries of Geography, Race and Religion have failed to bring peace & happiness globally. We have experienced that Military & Economic power also do not bring peace. Only the cultural bond binds the people.
(2)
Indian Art & Culture is the Medium to win the Friends Worldwide, Because : -
(A) Art & Culture is our "core competence"
(B) Indian Culture has intrinsic charm to influence the mankind globally.
(C) To Win & Rule Millions of Hearts worldwide by Charm of Art & Culture is the path of least resistance for us than the illusory path of Economic or Military Super Power
(3)
Indian Culture is all too pervasive to include: Classical & Folk Arts (Music, Dance, Paintings, Sculpture, and all other traditional & contemporary forms), Practice of Yoga, traditional Foods, Festivals, Family Values, Literature, Languages like Sanskrit, among many other facets of life.
(4)
Over the Centuries, International Scholars, Researchers, Painters, Performing Artists, have understood the intrinsic beauty, charm & strength of Indian Art & Culture.
(5)
Young foreign students (particularly, the North Americans, British, European Japanese & Korean) have also developed great respect for Indian Art & Culture due to relentless pursuits of Pt Ravi Shankar, Ustd Ali Abkar Khan, Maharshi Mahesh, Osho, Deepak Chopra, B K Iyengar, since the 60's, and regular global performances, workshops, seminars, lecture tours, conferences, festivals, exhibitions by many of us, since 80's.
(6)
Though from totally alien culture & life style, most of our foreign students are extremely serious, sincere, dedicated & devoted. They deserve the training which is more authentic, truly pure, systematic, structured, and disciplined. Indian Art & culture will win these students, their families & future generations, in years to come.
(7)
At the root of the Global Success of IT and High tech Indian Corporations are the Young Indian Professionals. Most of them are from educated middle class families. Parents have imbibed the values of Indian Culture in children. These children have grown into well educated, proficient, trainable human resource, far superior to many other cultures in the world. These very children, now young professionals, have not only preserved but propagated Indian Art & Culture wherever they live across the Globe.( America/England /Gulf/Australia). They have proved the intrinsic charm of Indian Arts & Culture. Unfortunately, many of us, in India, have ignored our cultural strengths.
(8)
Its time to re-create, revitalize, the awareness of our cultural values, strengths & charm , among Indians as well as other civilized societies , to win their hearts for lasting peace & harmony.
(9)
We will convince the responsible Corporate & Governmental authorities to provide to The Center the requisite financial & infrastructural inputs for the larger interest of Global Indians. We will also convince the people at large to fund the Centre.
With this Belief, We have set following Objectives & Methodology :
(1)
To win the Hearts of billions of foreigners charming then with our culture. To recreate the awareness and To imbibe the values of Indian Art & Culture in the mindset of citizens around the Globe as also young Indians.
(2)
To institutionalize the activities of The Center by forming a broad based, autonomous Society or Public Trust with requisite organizational & financially viable structure of global standards, using systematic, disciplined methodology with due managerial, financial, entrepreneurial, Corporate inputs, and To formalize all the Activities with sound financial feasibility and healthy cash flows.
(3)
To associate with sincere & best talent in each of the fields of our activities with a view to achieve our visionary goals in missionary spirit.
(4)
To carry out more profound, Applied Research in Indian Arts (Folk, Classical, Contemporary Music, Painting, Sculptures, Theatre) with the focus on preservation & global propagation.
(5)
To network with Indian & Global Institutions for speedy implementation, by-passing the beaurocratic / administrative bottlenecks
(6)
To conduct well structured, short duration, user friendly, academic, fee-based, courses using advanced technology. The focus will be on foreign students in all age groups. Because they have limited avenues/opportunities in .home country. The course content will have varied modules. In addition to Art & Culture related activities, The Fee-based Modules will include traditional features of Indian Life Style such as : Family values, Festivals, Rituals of marriage, vratbandh etc.
(7)
To organize the Cultural Events such as Concerts, Exhibitions, Cultural Meets, Talent Search, Healthy Competitions, Seminars, Work Shops, Conferences, Felicitations
(8)
To bring together the Organisers of Art Events with a view to co-ordinate their activities, solve common issue and problems, avoid overlapping of programs, extend chain booking of Artists like Spic Macay, standardize costs & fee structures like the AIR/T
(9)
To publish Literature, Research papers, bulletins, news letters
(10)
To conduct global exchange of teachers & students ni the field of art & culrure
(11)
To conduct well structured courses for Appreciation of Art, Music, Films, and Dramas related to Indian culture with focus on foreigners.
(12)
To install "in house" audio & video studio, art gallery, Archives.
(13)
To set up Private Broadcasting of Radio & TV
(14)
To Run Art & Culture School for Local & Foreign students
(15)
To promote and organize cultural/Festival /Concert Tours across the Globe
Thanks for bearing with me, Ladies & Gentlemen. Feel free to ask questions, now or later. |
