Year of India to help Russians to learn better Indian traditions

NEW DELHI, August 31 (Itar-Tass) - The Year of India, now in progress
in Russia, will help Russians to get acquainted better with original
Indian traditions and present-day achievements of the republic.
This opinion was expressed by Indian President Pratibha Patil on the
eve of her first visit to Russia to be held on September 2-6.
She noted in an exclusive interview with Itar-Tass that Indian-Russian
relations, apart from other factors, are based "on a rock-firm foundation
of mutual cultural bonds and warm contacts between ordinary people". "The
two governments maintain these mutual relations through cultural
exchanges," the president said.
She reckons that the Year of India, marked this year in Russia and the
Year of Russia that passed in India in 2008, are important steps in this
direction. "Various events, sponsored within the Year of India, help to
demonstrate rich culture, history, art and traditions of India as well as
strong points and achievements in such spheres as industry, trade, science
and technologies," Patil emphasised.
"I'm sure that the Year of India will be successful in creating
opportunities for deeper cognition of India by our Russian friends,
especially by members of the rising generation, in all aspects: from
cultural heritage and technological discoveries to customs and the
economy."
The 74-year-old leader of the largest state in South Asia called
attention to the fact that India "unites diversity of traditions and
principles". "Each region and community in India have their rich cultural
heritage and unique creative forms," the president noted.
"I believe that the broad range of artistic methods, used in our
country, whether various dance, musical, pictorial, architectural,
literary or culinary styles or schools, are part of the whole what India
is. Therefore, experiencing equal respect and admiring all cultural
things, characteristic of my country, I believe that they supplement one
another and enrich the general range of cultural life and experience of
the entire nation.
"This unique combination of various traditions and multiplicity of
cultures is, in my opinion, one of our greatest assets, since India has
always maintained its unique civilised range of culture and arts thanks
both to preservation of the old and perception of the new, marching
abreast with changing times."
The president expressed hope that Russian people would get a chance
"to see closer the rich treasure-trove of Indian culture and arts" thanks
to various events of the Year of India.
-0-bur/gor