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: [email protected]
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