INDIAN CULTURAL CENTRE PARAMARIBO

02.10.2009   GARLANDING OF MAHATMA GANDHI STATUE
  Celebrations marking the 140th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi were held in Suriname. The celebrations began with a morning function to garland the statue of Mahatama Gandhi in which Mr. Celcius Waterberg, Health Minister of Government of Suriname, Ambassador KJS Sodhi, Chairman, Cultural Union Suriname, Chairman, SITPO and prominent members of Surinamese society participated. The function included singing of bhajans by Embassy & ICC staff led by Mrs. Madhumita Bose, Vocal Music Teacher of ICC. Some school children also offered flowers at the statue. Local media covered the function.


02.10.2009   INAUGURATION OF SCULPTOR EXHIBITION "FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF MAHATMA" INCLUDING MAKING OF GANDHI STATUE AND PORTRAIT DRAWING OF MAHATMA
In the evening of 2nd October, a three day exhibition of sculptures of eminent Suriname artists namely Mr. Krishnapersad Khedoe and Mr. George, Ramjiawansingh was inaugurated by Mr. Stanley Sidoel, Director (Culture), Government of Suriname and Ambassador KJS Sodhi. The sculptors demonstrated live-making of a Gandhi Statue at the Exhibition venue (which was expected to be completed in two - three weeks and gifted to Ambassador KJS Sodhi). On this occasion the school children drew portrait of Mahatma Gandhi under the supervision of eminent Suriname painter Mr. Ruben Karsters. The exhibition also included photographs on life of Mahatma Gandhi portraying his days of childhood to his freedom struggle in Africa and India. More than 100 photos were exhibited. It is for the first time at ICC Paramaribo, a sculpture of Gandhi Statue has been made by local sculptors. On the background of the statue are the maps of India and Suriname. Above events were organised in

collaboration with a local English school Alphamax Academy. Around 300 people attended the above events. Press clipping attached.

On this occasion a prize distribution ceremony was organised for the winners of Essay Writing on Life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. The essays were written in Dutch, Hindi and English by school children and ICC students. The prizes were distributed by Mr. Stanley Sidoel, Director, Culture and Ambassador KJS Sodhi. A short cultural programme on bhajans of Gandhi were also presented by ICC's Vocal Music students led by Mrs. Madhumita Bose, Vocal Music Teacher, ICC and Mr.Shailendra Madarie,Tabla Teacher,ICC. Hindi Poems on Gandhiji were also read by Hindi students of ICC.


03.10.2009   SEMINAR ON MAHATMA GANDHI "FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF MAHATMA"
A Seminar on the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi was organised at the Indian Cultural Centre, Paramaribo, which was inaugurated by Mr. Hassankhan, Minister of Home Affairs, Government of Suriname. Other speakers on the occasion were Mr. Harold Ramdhani, Chairman GOPIO, Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, Mr. Sean Taylor, Principal, Alphamax Academy, Ambassador KJS Sodhi and Mr. Mauriz Hassankhan, Minister of Home Affairs. The Seminar started with a power-point presentation on Mahatma Gandhi by school children of Alphamax Academy. During the seminar the speakers mentioned the principles of truth, Non-Violence and Satyagraha followed by the Mahatma and their relevance in today's World. Speakers emphasised that the Values of Mahatma Gandhi should be inculcated from childhood.




04.10.2009   INDIAN MOVIE CLUB - BOLLYWOOD MOVIE " SHOLAY "
Under the India Movie Club, screening of Indian Bollywood Movies, this month "Sholay was screened at the local air-conditioned Threatre, Paarl Movies, Suit, J.A. Pengelstraat, Paramaribo. Around 200 people watched the movie. The movie club has now become very popular among Surinamese people and has become a family entertainment

09.10.2009   TALK ON RAMAYANA
A talk on Ramayana was delivered by Hindi Teacher of ICC, Mrs. Sandhya Sharma. Around 40 students and Pandits attended the programme which was accompanied by Vocal Singing of the verses by Vocal Music Teacher of ICC, Mrs. Madhumita Bose. The objective of the talk was to teach how to read the Ramayana correctly, to know its meaning and to learn proper singing of verses.


12.10.2009   GANDHI LECTURE SERIES
Under the ICCR Sponsored "Gandhi Lecture Series" Ambassador (Ret.) P.A. Nazareth delivered a lecture on "Satyagraha and Sarvodaya as keys to good governance and corporate management" at Indian Cultural Centre. The lecture was well appreciated by the local press which included local eminent people and media. The lecture was followed by an question answer - session.



13.10.2009   GANDHI LECTURE SERIES
Another lecture was delivered by Ambassador (Ret.) P.A. Nazareth at the University of Anton De Kom University on the topic "Gandhi: Ideal Leadership Model". The lecture was attended by Professors and students of the University.
The visit of Ambassador (Retd.) Nazareth was covered by the print media and he gave a live talk show on two radio stations viz. Radhika Radio and Ramasha Radio.


16.10.2009   DEEWALI CULTURAL SHOW
The Cultural Union of Suriname (CUS) a conglomerate of several cultural organisations organised a mega cultural show viz. in the open ground opposite the President's Palace. The ICC students of Kathak Dance, Vocal Music and Tabla participated in Cultural Show which was well appreciated by the 7000 - 8000 crowd assembled from all districts of Suriname. A big Diya was lit at the site. Vice - President of Suriname, Ambassador of India, KJS Sodhi, Speaker of Suriname National Assembly and a number of Cabinet Ministers attended the Programme



21.10.2009   FLAVOUR OF UTTAR PRADESH
  An Indian dish "Chicken Biryani" was prepared and demonstrated at the monthly cookery class organised at the Indian Cultural Centre. Around 40 ladies attended and followed the demonstration enthusiastically.



22.10.2009   RAIN - FOREST FESTIVAL
  A local afro - based socio - cultural organization ARTLAB in collaboration with the Department of Education & Culture, Government of Suriname, had organised a Rain - Forest Festival in Paramaribo, to promote awareness, about the Global Warming and to encourage a forestation, recycling of water, including plastic material, discouraging use of  plastic polythene covers and resist deforestation. The week long programme included workshops and cultural programmes. The ICC participated in the inaugural ceremony with an half-an-hour dance, Vocal Music and Percussion programmes. Dance and Vocal Music Songs were based on the theme of saving of environment. The programme was attended by more than 200 people and was well appreciated.



23.10.2009   INAUGURATION OF "KALPANA - MASTERPIECES OF FIGURATIVE INDIAN CONTEMPORARY PAINTINGS
  The Indian Cultural Centre, Embassy of India in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Community Development, Directorate of Culture, Government of Suriname, organised the exhibition of reprints of the paintings of 14 eminent painters of India curetted by Ms. Anjolie Ela Menon. The exhibition was organised at a Government art - school/ gallery and was inaugurated on 23.10.2009 by Director of Culture, Mr. Stanley Sidoel, Ambassador KJS Sodhi, Mr. John Krishnadath, Director of the AHCKO Art Gallery, Mr. Rudy Strijk, District Commissioner, Paramaribo. The exhibition remained open till Wednesday, 28th October 2009. The exhibition was appreciated by the local artists and the media as well.


24.10.2009   HINDI WORKSHOP
  A Hindi workshop was conducted for the voluntary Hindi Teachers of various districts of Suriname by the Hindi Teacher of ICC, Mrs. Sandhya Sharma. Techniques of how to teach grammar was taught to the local Voluntary Teachers. Suggestions for printing the 4th level of text book were also taken from the Teachers. More than 40 teachers of various voluntary Hindi schools situated at various districts in Suriname attended the workshop

30.10.2009   ICC STUDENTS DAY
  To encourage the new students to perform on stage of all the five classes of ICC viz. Hindi Language, Yoga, Vocal Music, Tabla and Kathak dance, the ICC student's day is organised. The idea is also to search for new talent among the ICC students. Moreover students could have an overall view of the activities of ICC. More than 40 ICC students participated in the various programmes of students day and was attended by more than 200 students and their parents.


5, 12, 19, 26.10.2009   YOGA TEACHERS TRAINING
Weekly Yoga Teachers Training course was conducted by Mr. Prahalad Singh Chahar, yoga teacher, ICC, to the senior yoga students of ICC who run their own institutes and teach yoga to local students. In the classes, Vivakkhyati and Prajana were taught to the participants with introduction of Hatha yoga asanas like Pavanmuktasana, Uttanpadasana, Ardha Halasana, Niralamvasana etc. Pranayama practice was also introduced to the participants




4, 11, 18, 25.10.2009   WEEKLY MORNING PRANAYAMA CLASSES
  Early morning Pranayama classes were conducted at Yoga Niketan, a local yoga school for the advance yoga teachers training. This is a part of the 8 (eight) week practical training for the yoga teachers of Suriname.