The India Study Centre in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a joint initiative of the Embassy of India in the Kyrgyz Republic and the National Library of Kyrgyzstan, was inaugurated on November 14, 2014. The inauguration ceremony was attended, among others, by the Hon’ble Deputy Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Director of the National Library, senior officials in the local Govt., members of the Diplomatic community and think-tanks, academicians, Friends of India and the members of the Indian overseas community.

The ceremony included welcoming remarks by the Director of the National Library and words of felicitation by the Hon’ble Deputy Minister and the Ambassador, which were followed by video presentations and performance of Indian dances by a local group. The guests subsequently visited the Indian Study Centre and acquainted themselves with the facilities provided in the premises, through the initiatives of the Embassy of India in Bishkek. A photo exhibition was also displayed on the occasion.

The objective to set up the India Study Centre is to give exposure to the visitors of the library of Indian culture, art, traditions and history; facilitate learning of Hindi and English languages, and it is planned to initiate teaching of Indian classical dance, screen popular Indian movies dubbed/with sub-titles, in Russian; and organize lectures by eminent personalities. The Centre will also enable the visitors to familiarize themselves with the achievements of modern India.

The gesture by the National Library in Bishkek to accept the proposal of the Embassy of India to set up the India Study Centre in its premises deserves to be applauded.