BRICS Culture Working Group begins in Bhopal, focusing on heritage

Bhopal, Aug 5 (IANS) The BRICS Culture Working Group meeting began in Bhopal on Wednesday with delegates from member countries holding discussions on strengthening cultural cooperation, preserving shared heritage and promoting the creative economy, according to a statement issued by the Madhya Pradesh government.

The four-day event, being held at the Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Centre from August 5 to 8, precedes the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting and aims to advance cooperation among member nations through mutual respect, consensus and shared priorities.

Delegations from India, Brazil, China, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Iran, Russia and Ethiopia attended the inaugural session in person. At the same time, Egypt participated in the meeting through a hybrid mode.

According to the state government, the first day’s deliberations focused on India’s priorities under the BRICS “Culture Track”, including the creative economy, cultural and creative industries, preservation of cultural heritage and culture-led sustainable development.

Addressing the inaugural session, Union Culture Secretary and Chair of the BRICS Culture Working Group Vivek Agrawal said the discussions reflected a shared belief that culture was not merely a legacy of the past but a driving force for innovation, resilience, inclusive growth and stronger people-to-people ties.

Alongside the official discussions, three thematic exhibitions, Project Mausam, Brihattar Bharat (Greater India) and Gyan Bharatam, were opened to showcase India’s maritime heritage, knowledge traditions and long-standing cultural links with other parts of the world.

The Project Mausam exhibition highlights the shared maritime heritage of countries connected through the Indian Ocean over more than two millennia. It also showcases India’s efforts to revive these historical links through research, conservation and international cooperation, besides presenting the concept of a multinational UNESCO World Heritage nomination for interconnected maritime heritage sites.

The Brihattar Bharat exhibition presents India’s historical, cultural, spiritual, and intellectual links with countries across Asia and beyond through inscriptions, manuscripts, monuments, and artistic traditions. According to the organisers, the exhibition emphasises cultural dialogue, knowledge exchange, and shared human values.

The Gyan Bharatam exhibition showcases India’s manuscript heritage and the ongoing national initiative to preserve and digitally document ancient manuscripts scientifically. More than 1.19 crore manuscripts have been documented under the initiative, with modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, being used for their preservation.

In the evening, BRICS delegates visited the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, where they explored India’s folk and tribal traditions through open-air museum galleries, traditional architecture and cultural exhibits.

The delegates also witnessed Kathak performances, folk songs by artists from Nagaland and a cultural presentation depicting India’s geographical and cultural diversity.

A specially designed Madhya Pradesh pavilion also drew the attention of delegates by showcasing the state’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, wildlife, tribal and folk art, handicrafts, tourism destinations and local products.

The exhibitions will be open to the public on August 7 and 9.

–IANS

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