Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 3 (Bureau) Recognising the significance of different cultures and being open to one another will help countries promote their own culture, said a group of diplomats at a conversation on ‘The Cultural Experience’ at Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL 2023) here on Friday. Mr Christian Kamill, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden, New Delhi, said many things in an ordinary Indian’s life are closely associated with Swedish innovations as Sweden and India celebrate 75 years of co-operation this year. “Presently, 250 Swedish companies are operating in India.
The Swedish culture in terms of innovations and music has been regulating the everyday life of Indians,” he said. Ms Banashri Bose Harrison, former ambassador of India to Sweden and Latvia, emphasised the role of diplomats in projecting the culture of a country. “Unlike media, when diplomats project a country, it will be close to reality. Culture is a tool to be used carefully, wisely, and imaginatively. When projecting a culture, it should be done completely; it shouldn’t showcase a single piece of negative aspect of the entire culture,” she said, adding: “Technology can be widely used to promote one’s culture and contextualising culture will help one experience culture at its best.” During her tenure as the ambassador of India to Sweden and Latvia, she played a key role in the birth of ‘Namaste Stockholm’, a festival showcasing India’s culture, cuisine, crafts, and yoga to thousands of visitors.
This festival has become an annual event that is eagerly awaited by city dwellers, and it illustrates the power of culture to transcend boundaries and forge enduring links between people. Appreciating the interest shown by Indians in promoting their culture wherever they go, she said the Indian diaspora plays an important role in promoting and sharing Indian culture across the globe. “They form the best unpaid ambassadors of culture,” she observed. Taking note of the growing cultural exchange between India and Sweden, she said the number of students studying in Swedish universities is on the rise. As such, universities can be turned into cultural hubs in the future. Emphasising the importance of leveraging art forms as a major tool for cultural exchange, Mr Kamill said, “In my career as a diplomat, through contemporary and visual arts I have attempted to promote some interesting aspects of Swedish culture, including Sweden’s feminist foreign policy.” One of India’s biggest literary festivals, the MBIFL 2023 is packed with hectic events featuring literary icons from around the world and stalwarts of arts, media, and films to engage in riveting conversations on contemporary topics. The fourth edition of four-day MBIFL opened on Thursday, and it coincides with the centenary of Mathrubhumi, one of India’s leading media houses.