Newsletter

Vol. 1 Issue 1

July – August - September 2014

Published by the Indian Cultural Center, Male’

INDIAN

Cultural Center

INDIAN

Cultural Center

• Inauguration of ICC

Library and ICC Official

Facebook page

• Class schedule of ICC

disciplines

• Interactive Session on Yoga

by Mrs. Sonika Srivastava

• Upcoming Events for the

months Jul-Aug-Sept

• Testimonials

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was founded in 1950

by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, independent India’s first Education

Minister.

Its objectives are to actively participate in the formulation and

implementation of policies and programmes pertaining to India’s

external cultural relations; to foster and strengthen cultural relations

and mutual understanding between India and other countries; to

promote cultural exchanges with other countries and people; and to

develop relations with national and international organizations in the

field of culture.www.iccrindia.net

CONTENTS:

India and Maldives share long cultural links and continuous

efforts are underway to further strengthen of these linkages.

The opening of the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) in Malé was

a major step in promoting the bilateral cultural exchanges.

Inaugurated on 28th July 2011, with the primary objective

of enhancing a better understanding of Indian culture

among Maldivians, the India Cultural Centre has emerged as

a unique institution enjoying a prestigious position as a

place of performing arts in Malé, in a short span of just

three years.

The main objectives of the ICC are as follows:

• Enhancing cultural relations and mutual

cultural understanding between India and

Maldives

• Promoting bilateral relations through cultural

activities

• Creating awareness of India's cultural heritage

among the people of Maldives

• Fostering people-to-people relations through

culture

The Centre has undergone a rapid expansion in its various activities and

outreach, both within Malé and beyond. Apart from the regular classes in

Yoga, Kathak and Tabla, ICC has also promoted the exchange of artists

between India and Maldives on several occasions. Since its inception, the

Centre has won the hearts of many Maldivians and Indians, by delivering the

substance in a unique style. ICC is undertaking all efforts to sustain the

tempo of its regular activities for the benefit of Maldivians.

Glimpse of the Tabla recital performed

on the eve by the ICC Tabla teacher

Islam Khan alongwith his pupil Dev

Shuvam Banerji.

Sunday – Thursday

6 am – 7:30 am

8 am – 9:30 am

4 pm – 5:30 pm

6 pm – 7:30 pm

YO

GA

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mr.

Mohamed Maleeh Jamal and the High

Commissioner of India H.E Rajeev Shahare

inaugurated the new Library in the Indian

Cultural Centre in Male and its Official Facebook

Page on May 17, 2014.

The ICC Library has an excellent collection of

books on Indian cultural tradition, art forms,

biographies of eminent personalities, novels in

Hindi, magazines, etc. It also hosts a digital

section with selected Bollywood movie DVDs,

documentaries and music CDs. The Library will

be open from Sunday to Thursday between

12:30-3:00 pm for interested readers. The Indian

Cultural Centre invites the residents of Male to

benefit from this unique collection of literature.

H.E Rajeev Shahare addressing the

gathering, underscoring the

complementarities in the cultures

between India and the Maldives.

Inauguration of ICC Library and its Official ICC Facebook page

View more photos

Regular Class Schedule of ICC

Sunday – Thursday

9:30 am – 11 am

11 am – 12:30 pm

2:30 pm – 4 pm

4 pm – 5:30 pm

Sunday – Thursday

10 am – 11 am

11 am – 12 pm

3 pm – 4 pm

4 pm – 4:45 pm(4 – 7 yrs.)

5 pm – 6:30 pm

KA

TH

AK

TA

BLA

INDIAN

Cultural Center

Vol. 1 Issue 1

July – August – September 2014

Newsletter

Dance classes have resumed in the

ICC following the appointment of the

new Kathak dance teacher Mrs.

Pranaame Bhagawati to the Centre.

BRIEF BIO-PROFILE

Ms. Pranaame Bhagawati has been

practising dance from the tender age of

5. She is an exponent of Kathak and

Sattriya styles, both as a performer

and choreographer, which she learnt

under the tutelage of Guru Shri Bipul

Das and Guru Jibonjit Dutta

respectively.

She has peformed in several festivals

of Sangeet Natak Akademi, ICCR,

Directorate of Cultural Affairs,

Doordarshan, etc. in India and abroad.

With a strong desire for making Indian

classical dance more popular amidst

the youngsters, she utilised her

creative efforts incorporating

contemporary, dramatic and theme

based approaches.

June 30, 2014, marked the farewell of two

founder teachers of the ICC, Mrs. Sonika

Srivastava (Yoga) and Ustad Islam Khan (Tabla)

and welcoming of the newly appointed Kathak

dance teacher Mrs. Pranaame Bhagawati. The

event was held at the premises of the High

Commission of India, Male’.

Farewell and welcome of ICC staff

INDIAN

Cultural Center

Vol. 1 Issue 1

July – August – September 2014

Newsletter

Mrs. Sonika Srivastava Ustad Islam Khan Mrs. Pranaame Bhagawati

H.E Rajeev Shahare handing away

farewell gifts to the outgoing ICC Staff.

H.E. Rajeev Shahare congratulated

the ICC teachers for their sincere

commitment and devoted service. He

also commended the efforts made by

them in popularizing the Centre and

its various disciplines among the

Indians and Maldivians.

Locate us!

View more photos

ADDRESSIndian Cultural Centre, 4th & 5th Floor, Ma. Vavathi,

Nikagas Hingun, Male’, Maldives.

FOR REGISTRATION CONTACT:

Ph: 3306612

E-mail: assistanticc@hicomindia.com.mv

TESTIMONIALS

“I’ve always wanted to learn some form of

dance but never had the time & fruitful

opportunity. Learning dance at ICC has been

such a dream come true for me. Our teacher

patiently teaches us even if we are beginners.

Very relaxing & stress relieving.”

Dr. Prachi Arpan Sashankar

Kathak Dance student

"ICC is the venue for cultural exchange of both

countries where bilateral ties will be

strengthen through students and most of them

are Maldivians. Maldivian are fully utilising

the facilities, the staff and the hospitality

provided for Dance, Yoga and Music."

Sudhakar Samudrala

India Club Executive

A therapeutic Yoga session on Arthritis was

organised at ICC on June 21, 2014. Ms. Sonika

Srivastava, Yoga teacher at ICC explained to the

packed audience about arthritis, causes and

demonstrated simple Yoga exercises, which could

be practiced to overcome arthritis. The event was a

big success with more than 70 people attending

and benefiting from this lecture demonstration.

INTERACTIVE SESSION

ON

YOGA

Lalitha Ramachandran It was such wonderful program by

our yoga teacher, Thank you all. We are expecting more like

this in future

Comment:

UPCOMING EVENTS

JULY: • ‘Shared Heritage: Language of India –

Maldives’, lecture by historian Mr. Iyaz

Nasseem

AUGUST: • Independence Day Celebrations

• 3rd Anniversary celebrations of ICC

SEPTEMBER: • Interactive Session on ‘Benefits of

Dance’ by Pranaame Bhagawati

INDIAN

Cultural Center

Vol. 1 Issue 1

July – August – September 2014

Newsletter

“I started practicing Yoga with a very severe

shoulder pain. Gradually it reduced with

regular practice of ‘Cow face pose’ in my Yoga

class. Our Yoga instructor taught me the

correct way of breathing.”

Moomina Naseem

Yoga student

“I started Tabla class 3 years ago. I had no

idea about playing the musical instrument or

what Kaida is. With my Table teacher’s help

I’ve have indulge proficiency in it. All thanks

goes to ICC and my teacher. My experience

have been wonderful & joyous.”

Dev Shuvam Banerji

Tabla student