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(ix) India and Mauritius exchanged on January 3, 1975 in New Delhi Instruments of Ratification of the Indo- Mauritius Cultural Agreement which was signed in Port Louis on February 6, 1973. The exchange was done by Shri Mohan Mukerji, Additional Secretary, Department of Culture on behalf of the Government of India and by H.E. R. Ghurburrun, High Commissioner of Mauritius in India on behalf of his Government.
(x) Bahrain : The Cultural Agreement was signed in New Delhi on January 8, 1975 by Prof. S. Nurul Hasan, Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture on behalf of the Government of India and by H.E. Shaikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al-khalifa, Foreign Minister on behalf of the Government of Bahrain.
(xi) Tanzania : It was signed on January 17, 1975 in New Delhi by Prof. S. Nurul Hasan, Minister of Edu- cation and Social Welfare on behalf of the Government of India and H.E. G. Mapunda, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare on behalf of United Republic of Tanzania.
(xii) Zambia : The Cultural Agreement was signed in New Delhi on January 26, 1975 by Shri Y.B. Chavan, Minister of External Affairs on behalf of the Government of India and by H.E. Mr. V.J. Mwaanga, Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Republic of Zambia.
These Agreements envisage strengthening of relations with other countries in the fields of art and culture education including academic activity in the field of science and technology, sports, mass media of information, public health, etc. In pursuance of these Cultural Agreements, regular Cultural Exchange Programmes are drawn up which comprise exchange of visits of professors, writers, artists, grant of scholarships for higher studies, exchange of books, publications, art exhibition, etc.
Under the Indo-US Joint Commission Agreement which was signed recently, a Sub-Commission to promote educational and cultural co- operation between the two countries has been set up. A meeting of the Sub-Commission was held in New Delhi from February 3-5, 1975 and it was chaired by Shri G. Jarthasarathy,
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former Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Dr. Robert F. Goheen, Chairman of Council on Foundations, New York. The sub-commission covered a wide range of topics during the discussions and made a number of recommendations, among which was a proposal to develop in addition to the existing programmes, a Government to Government programme of scholarships and visitorships. The recommendations of the sub-commission will be discussed by the Joint Commission.
Proposals for concluding Cultural Agreement with the, following countries are under active consideration
1. Italy
2. Portugal
3. Rawanda
4. Algeria
5. Jordan
6. Syria
7. Sri Lanka
Negotiations are also at various stages for entering into Cultural Agreements with the following countries
1. Chile
2. Mexico
3. Uruguay
4. Cambodia
5. Malaysia
6. Thailand
7. Fiji
8. Zaire
9. Lebanon
10. Spain
Cultural Exchange Programmes A number of Cultural Exchange Programmes were drawn up during the year :
1. Indo-Belgian Cultural Exchange Programme for the years, 1974 and 1975 was signed at New Delhi on 15-3- 1974.
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2. Indo-U.S.S.R. Cultural, Exchange Programme for 1974-75 was signed in Moscow oft 26--4-1974.
3. lndo-G.D.R. Cultural Exchange Programme for the year 1973-75 was signed at New Delhi on 9-5-1974.
4. Indo-Czechoslovak Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1974-76 was signed in New Delhi on 20-5-1974.
5. Indo-Romanian Cultural Exchange Programme for the period 1-4-1974 to 31-3-1976 was signed in Bucharest on 10-7-1974.
6. indo-Bangladesh Cultural Exchange Programme for the period from 1-10-1974 to 30-9-1975 was signed in Dacca on 27-9-1974.
7. Indo-FRG Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1975 and 1976 was signed in New Delhi on 15-11-1974.
8. Indo-Bulgarian Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1974-76 was singned in Sofia on 18-11-1974.
9. Indo-Japanese Cultural Exchange Programme for the year 1974-75. Letters exchanged in New Delhi on 18-11- 1974.
10. Indo-Mauritius Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1975 and 1976 was signed on 9-1-1975 in New Delhi.
The Cultural Exchange Programmes generally envisage cooperation in various fields of education, art and culture, radio, television, press and films, health, sports, etc.
Cultural Delegations (Incoming) To promote mutual understanding and good-will and to foster closer relations with foreign countries, a number of cultural delegations and art exhibitions are invited to visit India every year under the various Indo-foreign Cultural Exchange Programmes and the Cultural Activities Programme of the Department of Culture.
The Cultural delegations invited to visit India from foreign countries consist of performing delegations, non-performing dele- gations, Journalists, Educationists, Officials, Musicians, Writers,
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Painters, Scholars, Indologists etc. and Art Exhibitions comprising paintings, theatre art, photographs, graphic arts, posters etc.
Till February 28, 1975, 43 Cultural delegations (7 performing, 35 non-performing and one art exhibition) visited India under the various Indo-foreign Cultural Exchange Programmes and the Cultural Activities Programme of the Department of Culture.
Performing Groups/Ensembles from the, G.D.R., the U.S.S.R., Republic of Korea (South Korea)., Yugoslavia, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Hungary visited the country and gave performances during the year under report.
Besides, distinguished visitors who have made a mark in the fields of Art, Letters, and Culture from Bulgaria, the USSR, Romania, Bangladesh, the FRG, Italy, Belgium, France, Burma, the GDR, Trinidad, El-Salvador, Sri Lanka, Brazil, U.S.A., Iraq, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Hungary and Sweden were received in the country during this report. One art exhibition from Czechoslovakia was also held during the period.
During the period from 1st to 31st March, 1975, four cultural delegations (non-performing) from Hungary, the GDR and Thailand are likely to visit India under the various Indo-foreign Cultural Exchange Programmes and the Cultural Activities programme of the Department of Culture.
Performing Delegations Abroad Indian dancers/musicians participated in the following Inter- national Festivals under various Cultural Exchange/Cultural Activities Programmes :
(i) 4th Festival of the Arts of India-was organised by the Sanskritik Centre of Indian Arts Ltd., London dur- ing May-June, 1974.
A six-member group led by Birju Maharaj, who was on a private visit to New York, were sponsored to participate at the Festival in May, 1974. Another 13-member group of musicians, dancers and instrumentalists from India participated in the Festival in June 1974 and presented 18 performances in 25 days in the U.K., France and Italy. They received good reports from the press.
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(ii) Copenhagen Youth Band Festival, July, 1974 20-member Folk Song and Dance troupe of Calcutta Youth Choir led by Smt. Ruma Guha Thakurta, participated in the Festival and won the first prize, in the Copenhagen Youth Festival there.
(iii) International Choir Song Festival-Miedzyzdoirje and Arts Students Festival (FAMA) Swinonjscie (Poland) were held in May 1974.
Paranjoti Academy Chorus, Bombay conducted by Coomiwadia was given assistance by the Department of Culture to participate in these Festivals. They got a prize from Polish Radio for their particular artistic qualities.
(iv) 18th Berlin Festival of Theatre & Music-was or- ganised at the 25th Anniversary of Foundation of the German Democratic Republic in 1974. 40-Member Theatre Troupe of the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh, Bombay participated in the Festival and presented Marathi version of Brecht's 'The Caucasion Chalk Circle'. In addition to the performances in Berlin they toured the G.D.R. and also visited Switzerland for giving performances at Zurich. Their performances evoked great appreciation in the audience as well as many theatre- critics.
(v) The Belgrade International Theatre Festival- September 1974-Dance/Music ensemble consisting of Kumari S. Kanaka (Bharatanatyam dancer) with five accompanists and Lok Bharatiya Group of folk singers led by Shri Nirmalendu Chaudhuri gave one performance at the Festival. Thereafter they along with Rani Karna (Kathak dancer) with five accompanists toured Yugoslavia, Romania, France and the U.S.S.R. for giving performances there. Their performances were watched by capacity houses and received thunderous applause.
(vi) 21-Member dance/music troupe of Arya Kanya Maha- vidyalaya, Baroda, led by Miss Pratibha Pandit visited Kuwait, West Germany, France and the U.K. The troupe won all-round praise for its performances in the countries visited.
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Visitors to Foreign Countries Under the Cultural Exchange/Cultural Activities Programmes, over 25 eminent Indians were sent abroad to attend meetings/conferences organised in the country of their visit and for meetings and exchange of experience with their counterparts in those countries wherever possible.
Exhibitions (i) Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi sent an exhibition to Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Belgium and Poland for display in those countries from December 1973 to April 1974 on behalf of this Department. The Exhibition represented an intriguing and exciting cross- section of both experiment and achievement on the Indian Art Scene and was a great success.
(ii) An Exhibition of Murals and Wall Paintings compiled by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and accompanied by Shri A. Das Gupta, Technical Expert from Lalit Kala Akademi, was displayed in Paris on the occasion of Unesco General Conference that was held there in October-November 1974. Thereafter the Exhibition was displayed in Denmark, Yugoslavia, Romania and G.D.R.
(iii) An Exhibition of Indian Miniatures compiled by the. National Museum, New Delhi on behalf of this De- partment was displayed at Brussels (Belgium). This Exhibition was held at the Bibliothica Royale at Brussels under the patronage of the King of Belgium from October 1974.
(iv) An Exhibition of the Paintings of Prof. N. Roerich Was sent to the USSR under the Cultural Exchange Programme in connection with his centenary observed in the USSR. Mr. & Mrs. S. Roerich accompanied the exhibition.
(v) It has been decided to send an Exhibition of Sculptures for display at the Middleheim Biennial at Antwerp (Belgium) in May 1975. The number of Exhibits. envisaged is 30 sculptures.
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Travel Subsidy A part of economy class air fare was granted to the following for their cultural tour abroad;
(i) Dr. T.S. Satyamurthy, Director of Museums, Madras for participation in the Conference of International Council of Museums at Copenhagen in June 1974.
(ii) Shri Faiyaz Khan, Tabla Player for lecture- cum-demonstration programme in Universities of Australia during July-August 1974.
(iii) Miss H.K. Singh, Miss M. Ramdurai and Mrs. Chitra Ghosh, delegates nominated by the University Women's Association for participation in the Biennale Conference at Tokyo and Kyoto of the International Federation of University Women in August 1974.
Plan Projects The work on the preparation of a Source Book on Indian and Asian Civilization has been going at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Simla and at the Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi on behalf of this Department at a steady pace. The Council is expected to finish its part of the work, by December 1974. The work by the Institute will continue till the Project is completed.
Transferred Items of the Indian Council for Cultural Relation 1. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations under "Transferred Items" sent seven Cultural Delegations abroad. These included Smt. Shanno Khurana, Vocalist, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Santoor Player and Kumari Sumitra Mitra, Kathak dancer to Afghanistan on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Afghanistan; Smt. Vaijayantimala Bali with party to Nepal in connection with Independence Day Celebrations; Smt. Maya Rao and party of the Natya Institute of Choreography to Sri Lanka; Smt. Meera Banerjee with party, Shri Jyotirindra Mitra, poet, composer and singer to Bangladesh in connection with the celebration of the 105th birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Bangladesh. Smt. Swapan Sundari, Kathak dancer and her party to Nepal and Smt. Rohini
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Bhate and party from Poona to Colombo on the occasion of Republic Day Celebrations, a team of 8 eminent writers from the different States in India to Bangladesh to participate in a 7-day Literary Seminar organised by the Bangla Academy on the occasion of the Language Movements Martyr's Day during February 1975.
2. Prizes consisting of Indian handicrafts and books were sent for award to the prize-winners in the Essay Competition held in France, Ethiopia, Kenya, the U.S.A., Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Mexico, Mauritius, Sikkim, Thailand, Turkey, A.R.E., Czechoslovakia, Fiji, Indonesia, Malawi, Guyana, Afghanistan.
3. Under the Book Presentation Programme, books were despatched to Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malawi, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Afghanistan, Hungary, Indonesia, Mauritius, U.S.A, Austria, Ghana, The Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Vietnam, Nigeria, Bangladesh, A.R.E., Ethiopia, Guinea, Lebanon, Maxico, Panama, Peru, Somalia, Tunisia, Trinidad, Yugoslavia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Fiji, and Poland.
Building Grants to Voluntary Cultural Organisations The scheme covers all organisations primarily working in the cultural fields of dance, drama, music, fine arts, indology, lite- rature, other than religious institutions public libraries, museums, municipalities, schools and universities. Due to continued financial stringency and the ban imposed on construction programmes, no fresh applications were invited for consideration for assistance during the current year also. However, the institutions selected in the past, continued to receive the instalments of grants as admissible under the scheme.
Shanker's International Children's Competitions This year about 1,50,000 entries from about 120 countries were received for this competition which continues to receive financial assistance from the Government.
Financial Assistance to Professional Dance-Drama and Theatre
Ensembles The objective of the scheme is to provide help to performing troupes in the country which have been working in the field
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through purely voluntary efforts during the last 10-15 years. Under the scheme, 13 dance-drama and theatre groups in the country were covered during the Fourth Five Year Plan. The scheme is being continued in the Fifth Five Year Plan, and during the current year, two more institutions, besides the 13 selected during the Fourth Plan, will be covered.
Propagation of Culture among College and School Students 150 educational kits each comprising a projector, slides, cassette tape-recorder and tapes, eight booklets on literature, architecture, painting, music, dance, theatre etc. and plaster casts on sculpture were got prepared during the year.
153 sets of these educational kits were formally presented by Sri D.P. Yadav, Deputy Minister for Education, Social Welfare and Culture to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan at a function held on 20th August 1974 for distribution to those schools of the Sangathan from which teachers were deputed for the refresher courses. Efforts are afoot to organise about three refresher courses including one at Poona during the current year.