ICCR office at Margao to boost art, culture
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, NOV 23
Art and culture in the state is set to receive a big boost with the Regional Office of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) finally becoming a reality at the Dr Francis Luis Gomes library here on Tuesday.
If the Director General of the Council for Cultural relations Suresh Goel is to be believed, Goa has emerged as an attractive destination for higher education with 109 students enrolling themselves in the educational institutions this year.
“The objective of the Cultural centre is to take India to the world and bring world to India. Our work is the promote Indian culture abroad and to bring over civilizations to the country”, he said in his address, after the centre was inaugurated by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in the presence of PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and Director of Art and Culture Prasad Lolyenkar.
He said the Brazil Jazz group is soon arriving in India to perform in Delhi as per the cultural visits between the two countries, adding that the group would now play in Goa as well.
In his inaugural address, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said local artists and culture will receive a fillip with the setting up of the cultural centre. “I took up the initiative with Dr Karan Singh and convinced him on the need to set up the centre in Goa as the state is the only state in the country to have its own cultural policy”, Kamat said.
He said this is a momentous occasion for the state of Goa especially when the state is celebrating its golden jubilee of liberation from the Portuguese rule.
In his address, the PWD Minister congratulated the Chief Minister for bringing the cultural centre to Goa and underlined the need for the students of the local schools to avail benefit of the Dr Gomes library.
