Permanent Mission of India
Geneva
A Presentation on Cultural Ethos of Indian Arts and Crafts
15 May 2023
The Permanent Mission of India to the UN and other International Organizations, Geneva organized “A Celebration of Indian Arts and Crafts”, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, in collaboration with Cercle International Fondation pour Geneve, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and Invest India. The celebration was held at the new Chancery premises of the Mission on Monday, 15 May 2023. 34 objects of Arts and Crafts from various States and UTs of India were on display, courtesy DPIIT and Invest India. The purpose was to celebrate the diversity of Arts and Crafts of India and highlight the cultural ethos of Indian arts and crafts and their promotion by the Government.
2. The Mission had invited to the celebration the members of Cercle International Foundation pour Geneve as well as the diplomatic community of Geneva. Welcoming over 200 participants, Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, Permanent Representative (PR), emphasized that it was a momentous occasion as the celebration was the first event at the new Chancery building, which had been completed in less than 3 years’ time despite the setbacks due to Covid-19 pandemic. Appreciating the extensive overwhelming presence of the international community at the celebration, PR hoped that the presentations on cultural ethos of Indian arts and crafts and the exquisite ODOP products on display would help them understand the unity in cultural diversity of India, as reflected in Arts and Crafts of India.
3. Recalling her many visits to India, H.E. Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director General, United Nations Office at Geneva, who was the Guest of Honour, noted her appreciation of Indian arts and crafts and their immense diversity and her interest in buying them. Ms. Florence Notter-Doughny, President, Cercle International fondation pour geneve, spoke warmly about India and Indian culture and her admiration for Indian arts and crafts. She conveyed happiness at partnering with the Indian Mission in organizing this and other celebrations in the past.
4. There was a comprehensive presentation on cultural ethos of Indian arts and crafts by Mrs. Sushma Pandey, Spouse of PR. In her presentation, Mrs. Sushma Pandey dwelt over the evolution of Indian arts and crafts, beginning 5000 years ago, with primary focus on highlighting the diversity of Indian art and craft traditions, including wood craft, stone craft, pottery, painting, metal craft, paper craft, fabric craft etc, their decline during colonial period and then their revival post-independence. She outlined the initiatives of the Government leading up to the recent much-acclaimed flagship ODOP Programme of the Government of India based on PM’s call for “Vocal For Local”. The presentation evoked immense interest and appreciation of the audience about the cultural ethos of Indian arts and crafts and the ODOP.
5. There was also a presentation on GOI’s initiatives, including 25-year roadmap for Amrit Kaal, India@100, by Ms. Supriya Devsthali, Director, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). She highlighted the ease of making investment in India, providing details of the National Single Window System, a one stop digital platform for investors. She emphasised that the primary beneficiaries of the growth of arts and crafts industry were women. The representative of Invest India, in her presentation on ODOP initiative, outlined the process of selecting, branding and promoting one product from each district of the country enabling holistic socio-economic development of various districts of India.
6. The celebration commenced with cultural performances by students from Indian diaspora. The celebration was successful in generating immense interest and appreciation among members of the international community about Indian arts and crafts and the ODOP Mission, including their export potential.
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