CAPTION: Indian Cultural Centre director Dr Kamal Kishor Mishra. Photo: SHALENDRA PRASAD.
Suva, Fiji, Thursday, January 10, 2013. The Indian Cultural Centre has celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2012 in Fiji. To commemorate the occasion, it is launching a 452-page book entitled: India- Fiji: Experiences to Remember.
The book is edited by Dr Kamal Kishor Mishra, the Director of Indian Cultural Centre and Professor Satendra Nandan. This volume is being launched this evening by His Excellency Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, President of the Republic of Fiji.
This is also India’s 65th anniversary of Independence and there are 65 articles by the authors in the book, both from Fiji and India, celebrated a unique relationship in the Pacific.
Many articles explore the experiences of scholars, writers and visitors from Fiji to India and their first impressions of the Indian experience. A few articles have been written by authors who have visited Fiji from India and worked here in different capacities.
The volume includes pieces by several well-known personalities like Moti Tikaram, Neil Sharma, Vijendra Kumar, Ishwar Chauhan, Biman Prasad, Nazhat Shameem, Subramani, Joginder Singh
Kanwal, Bernadette Ganilau, Kavita Nandan, Luke Ratuvuki, among others.
The volume covers the experiences of individuals from 1960s to the present scholars who are studying in various universities of India on ICCR scholarships.
In the Foreword, Dr Karan Singh, President Indian Council for Cultural Relations writes, “This volume is part of the long-lived friendship between India and Fiji in words and thoughts. I had the occasion to visit Fiji almost half a century ago in 1970 when I was Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, and Air India used to fly to Fiji once a week. It is a most enchanting island nation with spectacular scenery and a fascinating bifocal culture. I was hoping to visit again but so far have not been able to do so.”
“The book will be distributed widely to all the ministries, embassies, high commissions of India,” said Dr Kamal Kishor Mishra. A second printing of the volume is also being contemplated.
The publication of the book is generously sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
PRESS RELEASE