BUCHAREST (TIP): The Embassy of India hosted an engaging and interactive session with students of the University of Bucharest at the Embassy premises on 7 January, aimed at fostering greater understanding of India’s contemporary developments and its rich cultural heritage, with particular emphasis on the cultural diversity of India’s states and regions.
Ambassador Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, while interacting with the students, highlighted India’s robust economic growth, reform-driven development trajectory, and expanding opportunities across sectors. He underlined India’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies and discussed the country’s increasing role in the global economic landscape, driven by innovation, digital transformation, manufacturing, and sustainable development. In this context, he also referred to Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) as a flagship initiative, showcasing India’s ambition to emerge as a global financial and services hub through world-class infrastructure, regulatory reforms, and a conducive business ecosystem. The Ambassador also encouraged young scholars to explore academic, cultural, and professional engagement with India.
Students from the University of Bucharest made insightful presentations on India, reflecting a deep appreciation of the country’s civilizational depth and cultural diversity. Special emphasis was laid on Yoga and Indian classical dance as enduring symbols of India’s soft power, holistic philosophy, and living traditions that continue to resonate globally.
A special Yoga session was conducted by Ms. Veronica Mathew, who introduced participants to the fundamentals of Yoga and guided them through select practices. The session offered students a firsthand experience of Yoga’s physical, mental, and spiritual benefits, while underscoring its relevance in today’s fast-paced and stress-filled world.
The cultural engagement continued with a special Indian dance session led by Ms. Mirela Cristea, who familiarized students with India’s rich and diverse dance traditions of different states. Through a lively and interactive format, students were introduced to basic steps and movements, providing them with an immersive experience of India’s vibrant cultural expressions. The session also showcased folk dances from the Indian states of Gujarat and Haryana, reflecting the energetic rhythms of Garba and the lively spirit of Haryanvi dance forms, thereby offering participants a glimpse into the regional diversity and cultural richness of India.
The event served as a meaningful platform for people-to-people engagement, strengthening academic and cultural ties between India and Romania. The Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue, cultural exchange, and greater awareness of India’s cultural diversity of India’s states and regions, economy, and timeless traditions among Romanian youth and academic institutions.
(Based on a Press Release issued by the Embassy of India in Bucharest, Romania)
Dr. Raju has a dream. And I wish that dream is fulfilled during his lifetime. He dreams of a world free from childhood blindness. And he has been devoting his time and investing his earnings into realizing his dream. He often says that if rotary can realize the dream of eradicating polio from the face of the planet, why can’t we fulfil the dream of removing childhood blindness from the face of the planet. You see, if somebody gets a cataract at the age of 60, he may have 20 or 30 years to live, not that much pain for him. But you think of a child of 5 or 10 years, and he goes blind. He has a lifespan of 80 years. He will be a burden on himself, a burden on his family, a burden on the community, and everybody.
