INDIAN CULTURAL CENTRE PARAMARIBO

PRESS MEET FOR THE 136TH YEAR OF INDIAN IMMIGRATION DAY IN SURINAME

A press meet was organised on Wednesday, 3rd June 2009 at the Indian Cultural Centre to brief the media about various programmes/ events being organised by the ICC, Embassy of India on the occasion of the 136th Indian Arrival day in Suriname and to introduce the 4-member Vocal Music Group from India led by Dr.(Mrs.) Kumud Diwan and a painter from India Prof. R.K. Bhatnagar, who was visiting Suriname to participate in the exhibition ' Unity of Colours ' organised along with five other artists of Suriname. The meet was attended by print, radio and television media. The press meet was covered in various newspapers and shown on various TV. channels. Press clippings of event are attached.

PERFORMANCE BY VOCAL MUSIC GROUP OF DR. (MRS.) KUMUD DIWAN FROM INDIA
A vocal music performance was given by the visiting Vocal Music Group from India led by Dr.(Mrs.) Kumud Diwan on Wednesday, 3rd June 2009 at Shanti Bhawan, district Wanica, on the occasion of the 136th Indian Immigration Day. The programme was organised in collaboration with the Cultural Union Suriname, a conglomerate of various cultural and social organisations of People of Indian Origin in Suriname. More than 300 people attended the programme which also included participation of local cultural groups. On the occasion a short presentation of Yoga by the ICC students was also performed. Following are some photographs:

INDIAN VOCAL MUSIC WORKSHOP BY DR. (MRS.) KUMUD DIWAN   

  A vocal music workshop was organised at the ICC, Paramaribo on Wednesday, 3rd June 2009 on Hindustani Music by the visiting Indian vocal music group led by Dr. (Mrs.) Kumud Diwan for the vocal music students of ICC. She rendered some ragas and also sang some bhojpuri folk songs. Mr. Jai Shankar Mishra demonstrated some finer points of playing tabla to the tabla students of ICC. A Sarangi demonstration was also given by the Shri Kamal Ahmad which was well appreciated by the ICC students. An harmonium demonstration by Padmashree Mehmood Dholpuri was a hit with the students and teachers present in the workshop. Following are some photographs: _

SEMINAR ON 136th IMMIGRATION DAY

  A seminar was organised by the Indian Cultural Centre in cooperation with OHM  and Kenniskring, a local social cultural organization on the occasion of the 136th Indian Arrival day. The seminar was chaired by the Minister of Home Affairs, H.E. Shri Maurits Hassankhan. On this occasion Mr. Shyam Binda of AKMOS, Mr. Carlo Jadnanansingh of SORES and Mr. Bhagwan Gangaram Panday gave presentations on the experiences of the People of Indian Origin in Suriname. The Minister also shared his views about the economic social and cultural development of PIOs since their immigration to Suriname. Shri Arun Kumar Sharma, SS and HOC also read the message of Ambassador on this occasion.

INAUGURATION OF A MULTI-ETHNIC EXHIBITION 'UNITY OF COLOURS' BY VICE - PRESIDENT OF SURINAME

On the occasion of the 136th Immigration Day of India, a multi-ethnic exhibition of paintings and sculptors 'Unity of Colours' was inaugurated by the Vice - President of Suriname, H.E. Mr. Ramdien Sardjoe on Thursday, 4th June 2009 at a prestigious exhibition hall 'Lalla Rookh '. The exhibition was organized with the special approval and assistance from the ICCR. Five eminent painters and sculptors from Suriname viz., Mr. Anand Binda, Mr. George Ramjiawansingh, Mr. Krishna Persad Khedoe, Mr. Erwin De Vries and Mr. Soeki Irodikromo participated in the exhibition. In addition one painter sponsored by the ICCR viz. Prof. R.K. Bhatnagar, former secretary, Lalit Kal Akademi put up his paintings in the exhibition. The objective of the exhibition was to show the spirit 'Unity of Colours' among the various communities of Suriname in the development of Suriname. On the inaugural day a multi-ethnic cultural programme was organized followed by the inauguration of the exhibition. The inauguration was also attended by the Home Minister of Suriname. H.E. Mr. Mauritz Hassankhan. Around 250 people attended the inauguration of exhibition which included several eminent people including diplomats. The exhibition was organized in collaboration with the National Foundation of Lalla Rookh and the Cultural Union of Suriname. Following are few photographs:-

TELEVISION PROGRAMME ON THE OCASSION OF THE 136TH INDIAN IMMIGRATION DAY ' MELE SUR MERA TUMHARA '

A television programme was prepared by the Vocal Music Department of the ICC. On the occasion of the 136th Indian Immigration Day. The programme was conceived and directed by Mrs. Madhumita Bose, Vocal Music Teacher, ICC. It consists of four songs [one patriotic song on Suriname, a bhajan, a bhojpuri folk song and a national integration song sung and acted by more than 40(forty) students of ICC under the direction of the music teacher of ICC. The programme was shot at various prominent places of Suriname including ICC and was sponsored by a local PIO and was shown on
different television channels all over Suriname. The programme appreciated by the viewers. Following are some photographs:-

PERFORMANCE ON THE 136TH INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY

The ICCR sponsored 4 - member vocal music group of Dr. (Mrs.) Kumud Diwan performed on the main day celebrations of the 136th Year of Indian Immigration on Friday, 5th June 2009 at the Baba Mai statue, a monument symbolizing arrival of the first ancestors of People of Indian origin as indentured labor from India to Suriname 136 years ago. The vocal Music and Kathak Dance students of ICC also performed on the occasion. The programme included garlanding of the Baba - Mai statue by the President, Vice-President, Ministers of the Republic of Suriname and Ambassador Shri KJS Sodhi. More than 3000 people attended the celebrations. The celebrations included a walk by various Hindustani organizations from various districts of Suriname and culminating at the Baba - Mai statue. People of Indian Origin wore their traditional costumes, and played traditional music and percussion known as Taaza Music. The programme was telecasted live by Government sponsored TV channel STVS. Following are some photographs: _

PROGRAMME AT ' SANGEET KI RAAT ' AT LALLA ROOKH BUILDING, PARAMARIBO
  The Indian Cultural Centre's Kathak Dance, Tabla and Vocal Music students participated in the above said cultural programme on Saturday, 6th June 2009 organised at a prestigious local auditorium, Lalla Rookh, named after the ship which brought the first lot of indentured labours from India to Suriname 136 years ago. This is an annual programme organised by the National Foundation for Indian Immigration, an NGO of People of Indian Origin engaged in conservation and promotion of Hindustani culture. The programme was attended by more than 1000 people and was graced by the presence of Home Minister of Suriname H.E. Mr. Mauritz Hassankhan. The ICC programme was appreciated by the audience. Following are some photographs

WORKSHOPS BY INDIAN PAINTER AT PARAMARIBO & NICKERIE

          Prof. R. K. Bhatnagar sponsored by ICCR to participate in the exhibition "UNITY OF COLOURS" had also given workshop on abstract paintings in Paramaribo at local English school Alphamax Accademy on Thursday 11th June 2009, where in around 30 students took part in the workshop and learnt the style of abstract painting. He also conducted a workshop at Nickerie district of Suriname (250 kms away from Paramaribo) on Wednesday 10th June 2009 where more than 40 students participated and interacted with Prof. Bhatnagar. The workshop and the interaction with the painters in Nickerie was covered by local TV channel (30) Rasonic. He also conducted a series of workshops at local Govt. sponsored art school Nola Hatterman institute. Following are some few photographs

' PAYAL KI JHANKAAR ' AN INDIAN DANCE COMPETITION 2009
  The second round of the Indian Dance Competition ' Payal Ki Jhankaar ' 2009 was organised on Saturday, 13th June 2009 for the top nine contestants who cleared their first round of dance competition at a local auditorium Cultural Centre Suriname(CCS). Nine contestants in each category participated in the competition. The theme for the category - I (11-16 yrs.) and for category - II (17-25 yrs.) was Fusion Dances. Out of the nine contestants, now six have been selected in each category for the grand finale to be held in third week of July 2009 at the only air-conditioned auditorium Theatre Thalia. The judges for the dance competition were Mrs. Manjit Sodhi, wife of Ambassador, Mr. Anand Ramcharan, local Kathak Dance Teacher, Ms. Namita Ajodhia, local Bharatanatyam teacher and Ms. Tanuya Manichand, local Kathak and Fusion Dance Teacher. The programme has been appreciated by the parents and the press. Copy of press clippings is enclosed. A local channel Ramasha TV channel 38 is recording the dance competition and is showing twice a week on the television

DANCE WORKSHOP

  A Kathak dance workshop was conducted by the Kathak Dance teacher, Mrs. Manjusha Sarvesh Joshi at local contemporary dance school, Marlene's Dance School on Saturday, 27th June 2009. Around 30 dance students learnt a Bhojpuri folk dance. The group is expected to perform this item in the finale of Payal Ki Jhankaar Indian Dance Competition to be held on 19th July 2009. Following are some photographs:-

TASTE OF RAJASTHANI FLAVOUR

  A talk on various Rajasthani food items was given by Mrs. Poonam Sharma, wife of Head of Chancery. A demonstration was also given for one of the dishes named Besan Ke Gatte. Around fifty ladies attended the talk-cum-demonstrations which was assisted by Mrs. Saroj Thakur of Chancery. Following are some photographs: _