Lecture Series: “The Tapestry of India’s essence: Indian Culture, Society, Economy and its intercultural relation”
Ciclo de conferencias: “El tapiz de la esencia india: Cultura, Sociedad y Economía de la India y su relación intercultural”
Organizado por la Casa de la India y VIT-AP University (Vellore Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh, India), en colaboración con Casa Asia y CEA (Centro de Estudios de Asia).
29 febrero. 18 h
Los desafíos de la India para las iniciativas hispanas: cuatro fragmentos
Dr. Rafael González
Español
Durante la última década, India ha ocupado una posición clave en nuestro inestable orden mundial como potencia necesaria para asistir a las grandes decisiones. Leemos todos los días sobre India en los periódicos de asuntos internacionales. Hay una nave espacial científica india cerca del polo sur de la Luna. Y hay continuas inversiones internacionales que fluyen hacia India y de India al resto del mundo. España y los países latinoamericanos forman parte de estas estrategias de capital centradas en la India, movimientos que podrían ser un factor crucial en la remodelación de la economía y la sociedad mundiales en un futuro próximo. En esta introducción se repasarán algunas de las últimas noticias sobre las relaciones entre India y los países hispanos.
20 marzo. 18 h
India’s physical geography and its influence on people and places
Dr. Priyanka Ghosh
English
From the snow-clad Himalayas in the north to the vast Indian Ocean in the south, India’s physical geography is as diverse as its cultural realm. Besides young fold mountains like the Himalayas, India’s physical geography comprises the fertile alluvial plain and one of the world’s oldest plateaus. This lecture first discusses India’s five major physiographic divisions: the Himalayan Mountains, The Great Plain of North India/Indo-Gangetic- Brahmaputra Plain, the Peninsular Plateau, the Coastal Plains, and the Islands. With a background information on India’s physiography, the lecture explores how the physical geography of India shapes people’s lives. For example, because of the altitude and extension of the Himalayas in the north, India receives good rainfall during the southwest monsoon (June to September) which impacts the country’s agricultural production and economy. Himalayan mountains also split jet streams (fast-moving wind in the upper atmosphere) into two branches and plays an essential role in arrival, success, and failures of monsoon. The rivers originating in the Himalayas, such as the Ganges, provide water to 40% of India’s population. In addition, the scenic beauty of the Himalayan mountains has led to the growth and development of India’s tourism industry in several places such as Dalhousie, Dharamshala, Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Nainital, Ranikhet, Almora, and Darjeeling. Similarly, the vast fertile plain of North India supports a very dense population and is one of India’s primary food-producing regions. In sum, drawing examples from different physiographic regions of India, this presentation demonstrates how the physical geography of India impacts its people and places.
17 abril. 18 h
Nations and Borders: Looking into the colonial legacy of India’s Border Disputes
Dr. Tania Chakravarty, Vivekananda College (Affiliated to University of Calcutta)
English
India’s foreign relations since independence has been largely dominated by her border disputes with China and Pakistan. India Pakistan boundary is the result of partition in 1947 under the Radcliffe award. It starts from the marshy Rann of Kutch in Gujarat traverses through the sandy deserts of Rajasthan, fertile plains of Punjab and the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir upto the Karakoram range. In 1957, Kashmir was officially integrated into the Union, but with special provisions made for it in the Constitution’s Article 370. Since then, the two countries have fought four wars. Today, the north-western portion of Kashmir remains under control of the Pakistan army and is marked as Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In 1962, China occupied Aksai Chin, the north-eastern region bordering Ladakh. India and China share 3,488 kilometers border. The long-standing border issues stretches throughout different regions of the Himalayas, namely eastern, middle and western sector (Ministry of Home Affairs). While in the Eastern Sector, China claims the large portions of the state of Arunachal Pradesh (which is now under Indian control), at the western sector China claims Aksai Chin, which it believe is a part of its Ladakh region. At the middle sector, both the states claim their sovereignty on various unmarked spots throughout the borders and have been the spotlight of repeated border violation by both the forces. Though diplomatic tactics have evolved over the course of the past 75 years, India’s relation with her two neighbouring countries is still volatile. This paper delves into the colonial legacy of these border disputes – as many of these disputes were precipitated as a result of treaties, legislations and territorial boundaries drawn by the British Indian government. With this, the paper intends to present a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the history of India’s foreign relations in the South Asian subcontinent.
15 mayo. 18 h
Exploring the Kaleidoscopic: Unveiling the Rich Tapestry of Indian Culture
Dr. Tannistha Dasgupta
English
Culture is a dynamic force that shapes societies, influencing values, behaviors, and worldviews. India and Spain, two vibrant and diverse nations, offer a fascinating lens through which to explore the intricate interplay of individualism and collectivism. This talk delves into the rich tapestry of cultural differences between these two nations, with a specific focus on how individualistic and collectivist values manifest in their respective societies. In India, collectivism runs deep within the social fabric. Families are the cornerstone of Indian life, with strong inter-generational bonds and a collective decision-making approach. The talk will explore how these collective values are reflected in Indian traditions, such as joint families and community celebrations, and their impact on personal identity and societal cohesion. On the other side of the spectrum, Spain exhibits a more individualistic orientation. This talk will highlight the Spanish emphasis on personal autonomy, privacy, and selfexpression, which contrasts with the closely-knit Indian communities. We will examine how these individualistic values have influenced Spanish art, architecture, and interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, the talk will touch upon the challenges and opportunities that arise when these cultural paradigms intersect in our increasingly globalized world. Understanding these cultural differences is crucial for businesses, diplomats, and individuals seeking to engage effectively across borders. Through cultural insights and practical examples, this talk aims to foster a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the human experience as shaped by the interplay of individualism and collectivism in the diverse landscapes of India and Spain.
12 junio. 18 h
Indian Economy: The Dichotomy of Growth & Inequality
Dr. Ashraf Pulikkamath
English
India’s fast-growing economy is predicted to reach high middle-income status by 2047, the centennial of Indian independence. Recently, India has made great strides in eliminating extreme poverty. Since India surpasses China as the world’s most populous nation, the demographic dividend of the economy has to be noted. The upsurge of the young and skilled population will accelerate India’s economic growth in the coming years. However, growth and inequality have historically been complicated in India. Since 1991’s economic liberalisation, India’s economy has expanded to become the fifth-largest and richest in the world. A large, young population, a burgeoning middle class, and a booming technology have contributed to this growth. The 1991 economic policy terminated the Hindu growth rate, and severe poverty, and elevated Foreign Direct Investment, infrastructure, education, and healthcare despite liberalisation’s downsides. At the same time, the gap between the affluent and poor in the Indian economy is rising rapidly. Urban-rural disparities often worsen this economic inequality. Unparallel cultural differences in India exacerbate the social disparities across economic, political, and social domains. For instance, India ranks poorly on several non-economic indices, such as the Human Development Index and the Gender Development Index. Many domains cause this dichotomy, including poor infrastructure, complicated regulations, a large informal sector, unequal access to high-quality education and healthcare, caste system, etc.