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Dr. Preeti D. Das

Jawaharlal Nehru University

Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies

School of International Studies

Delhi, India

CONTRIBUTION OF INDIAN CULTURAL INDUSTRIES IN STRENGTHENING RUSSIA - INDIA CULTURAL TIES

Abstract. Russians in Indian relationship have acquired privileged status based on mutual trust and cooperation. Russia supported India beginning from India’s independence struggle and during post independence to bring stability and sustainability in the country. Nonetheless, while culture has gained significance in the international politics, defence remains the central pillar of Russia India relationship rather than the socio-cultural bondings and educational, which was the focus during Soviet period. On one hand Russia valued family bondings, cuisine, folk narratives, yoga, films, short stories of India, which was reciprocated by India as Russian short stories, magazines “Soviet Women”, Moscow puzzles, Folk-tales and many literary writing, which incited young minds and helped in brain storming exercise. Current Russian Indian relations got centred around mainly the economic and defence sectors. It does not mean that the cultural relations are not flourishing; the need is only to highlight certain aspects mutually benefiting each other, especially culture of democracy, tolerance and power sharing. The proposed paper tries to explore potentials in cultural sphere as a key to develop cross-cultural relations and cultural industries. The focus of the paper would be on exploring sectors such as tourism, film industries, and also to revisit some of the lost glories of the past.

Key words: Cultural Industries, Cross-cultural relations, Russia, India, Sociocultural bonding.

Deep rooted Russia - India cultural relationships are at a crossroads where the need is to revisit and re-evaluate the relationship between the two countries. Soviet period provided a platform when the relationship flourished even at an individual level covering even small regions of India. Students, belonging to diverse financial strata got access to long term scholarship programmes run by Soviet governmeдатаnt under Indo - Soviet Cultural Relations, which gave them exposure to Russian culture and society. This was not limited to only students and cultural exchange programs but even Soviet academia was quiet strong in Indian studies (Foshko 2011: 74). Major concerns were raised with the change in the socio-political conditions specifically in the field of education and cultural exchange programs. It was cultural and educational ties between these two countries became the “most woefully neglected” (Foshko 2011: 73).

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Despite the fact that Russia remained an important aspect of India’s foreign policy (1:20) cultural and educational relations suffered the most during post collapse period. Significance of creative industries grew in foreign policy in the past few years owing to their transformative force in the world today. The focus was given to approaches and development of methods to harness as drivers of economic development. Therefore, it is crucial to revisit Russia-India relations at this juncture as the two countries shared unique cultural relations. On the occasion of 70th anniversary of Russia-India diplomatic relations ex-President of India Mr. Pranab Mukherjee2 recounted the privileged relationship and emphasised the need to take it to the next level3. There are no dearth of cultural festival being mutually organised, however, Priority of Indian students to study in Russia is far less in comparison to the West or US or Australia. Similarly Russian students prefer China over India for higher studies. The proposed paper is an attempt to explore potentials in cultural sphere as a key to develop crosscultural relations and cultural industries. The focus of the paper would be on touching sectors such as tourism, film industries, and also to revisit some of the lost glories of the past.

Over centuries “India’s culture has evolved through the process of assimilation and amalgamation”, which also gets reflected in its internal and external policies (Muni in Rupesinghe 1996). Similar is the case of Russia, though very rich in terms of cultural heritage, traditional beliefs, cultural diversity, and has evolved through the process of assimilation, the major challenge it is facing is at the cultural front. Therefore, the root cause of majority of disputes, directly or indirectly, remains associated with cultural diversity within a country or between the nations. Whereas at the administrative levels it has been realised that,

“Interethnic harmony is one of Country’s key requisites” (Putin 2012). The current Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi also considers the cultural diversity as the strength of a nation, which was highlighted in his weekly program “Man ki Baat” (Voice of the heart) that, “India is a diverse country. People of different castes, religion, different languages, different cultures are the strength of the country” (2015). On the plurality of culture and ethnicity V. Putin pointed out “Historically Russia has been neither a mono-ethnic state nor a US-style “melting pot” most people are in some way migrant. Russia developed over centuries as a multinational state in which different ethnic groups have had to mingle, interact and connect with each other - in domestic and professional environments, and in society as friends” (Putin 2012). Consequently, cultural diversity, of both the countries, is a result of amalgamation and assimilation of diverse ethnocultural groups through centuries.

1shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/jspui/bitstream/10603/207808/5/5_%20chapter%202.pdf.

2https://tass.ru/kultura/1960644.

3https://interaffairs.ru/news/show/17768 Accessed on 12th November 2018.

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Culture in International Relations

Culture and civilisation has been understood as a result of substantial changes occurred in the essential concepts of “social ideology” (Erasov 1998: 8). The word “culture” slowly entered the intellectual debate of western scholars, especially with the weakening of religious outlook on the world and acquiring much larger interpretation that is represented more as the “environment and result of activities of a person” rather than associated with the religion (Ibid 1998: 9). Broadly speaking the term “culture” is used only as a component of civilisation.

Various debates on culture support and preserve cultural diversity at social and political as well as regional and international levels. As per Yuri

Lotman (1990) “we live because we are different”. He argues that human society has the tendency to differentiate between people. However, anybody by himself alone does not make even a smallest part of ‘Truth’, and we all together make a way towards ‘Truth’. “If … not diversity, we would have died long time back. It is important to learn to appreciate other person” (Kuzmina 2014). Similarly, scholars such as Taylor (1992, 1994), Klymlicka (1997, 2000, 2001) were of the opinion “cultures should be preserved as distinct entities, and if need be, they should be given their own enclaves in order to redress and remedy historical or institutional patterns of domination, oppression and/or symbolic injury involving the disrespect, or mis-recognition, or mis-treatment of some cultures by others” (Chokr 2006: 7)

Consequently, in foreign policy one talks of not only relations between the two nations but also the civilisations, where “internal and external aspects”

(Schmidt 2017: 2) both contribute in the development of foreign policy. The main concern is that it not only the natural cultural traits of an individual but it is monitored creation of an image of a nation’s cultural heritage. As has also been highlighted in the works of Kautilya “The State is conceived not as a monolithic entity but as one with six internal constituents - the king, the ministers, the fortified city, the countryside, the treasury and the army. The power which a state can bring to bear on promoting its own interests vis-a-vis other states depends on how close to ideal the internal constituents are”. Kautilya not only gives a detailed theoretical analysis of all possible political situations but also gives recommendations on ways of meeting them (Rangarajan 1987: 542). Therefore, the creation of an image of a nation globally, especially cultural, at all the social levels, is more “difficult as its crucial resources are outside the control of government” (Nye 2004: 1)

To what extent the culture may help in improving the external relations between the countries? The most important among various reasons cited for the relevance of cultural diplomacy is that it is a two-way communication. “It in-

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volves an attempt to promote values and image of other countries and their people”. Consequently, theoretically it provides a platform for interaction and to an extent helps to generate trust. Through this mutual interaction the participant cultures mutually get enriched and acquire some of the features of the ‘other’ culture whereas cultural politics is characterised by uniqueness of each and every culture (Joppke and Lukes 1999:5). Strategic use of this uniqueness of its soft power in promoting national interest and improving its relationship with neighbouring countries and “establishing itself as a dominant regional and global power” is cultural diplomacy (Pratap 2009: 56). In an opening ceremony in

Saint Petersburg, V. Putin highlighted the significance of rich cultural heritage, musical schools, ballet etc. and considers that culture is capable to overcome aggressive radicalism (Gurev 2017: November).

Russia India cultural cooperation

At any forum of discussions and debates on Russia - India relations have always been referred to as strong, friendly and cordial. Not only the governments of both the countries but many scholars also consider that through out Soviet as well as Russian periods the relationship between Russia and India has been “the most resilient relationship since India’s independence” (Sen 2011: 4).

Nevertheless, it is also being realised by many, that there is a need to revisit this relationship to strengthen it. The slogan used since Soviet period to express Russia - India relationship “Rusi-Hindi Bhai Bhai” is a past now and much has changed since then (Pandey 2017). Foshko Katherine considers the ‘Bhai-Bhai’ relationship as “impractical and mythologizing about the future”. As per her the “Indo-Russian marriage is long past its youthful bloom and must at this point be based on realistic assessment of mutual strengths and opportunities” (2011: 8).

Soviet assistance in the field of economics, science and military areas in the first few years of India’s independence strengthened Sino - India relations. Despite

India’s non-alignment policy the Indo - Soviet Treaty of 1971 highlighted in its

Article IV that Soviet Union respects India’s policy and “reaffirms that this policy is an important factor in the maintenance of universal peace and international security” (Verma 1993: 151). This was the time when Indo-Soviet Cultural Society - ISCUS played a significant role in spreading Soviet culture across India. Nina Popova even goes to the extent to call USSR-India friendship “truly a movement of whole people” (1993: 192). As per her the cooperation between the two countries did promote the national interest of “India on the road of consolidating her political and economic independence, and of achieving social progress” (1993:193). To a great extent her claim can be justified, as this was the time the Soviet government had initiated and supported a number of programs to introduce Indians to Soviet literature, traditions, folk-literature, tales,

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films and overall society in Hindi. ISCUS had approximately 1000 branches across India to promoted cultural activities (1993: 194), which involved teaching of Russian language at a nominal fee or free of cost. Soviet magazines, such as Soviet Land, Soviet women, Stories, folktales etc., were available at very nominal charges even in smallest districts and cities of India exposed Indian children to the then Soviet society. Fellowships used to be given to a large number of Indian students from across India to study in different cities of USSR. This financial assistance helped a large number of Indian students to pursue their career opportunities in the field of medicine, engineering and humanities. All this was in addition to the technical support which the country was getting some of them could be BHEL, Oil and Natural Gas Cooperation (ONGC), Bhilai Steel Plant and the defence sector.

The cultural cooperation was mutual between the two countries. The department of Indology came up in Moscow. Among the most renowned Indologist included Gregory Bongard-Levin, a specialist of ancient Indian civilisation and Academician Yevgeny Chelyshev expert on Indian literature and culture (Foshko 2011: 74). Translation of literary works include a long list of Indian fables, folktales and Holy scripts such as Bhagwat Gita, poetry of Rabindra Nath Tagore, story of Nal Damyanti, Panchatantra and many others. To be precise Bhagwat Gita was first published in 1788 in Russian on the Decree of queen Catherine. Festival of India in Moscow had its own attractions in the Russian mind in 1987 (Jain 1987). This festival further strengthened the bilateral relationship between Russia and India. Rishi Kapoor mentioned in an interview to The Indian Express that Russians loved Raj Kapoor to the extent that they even welcomed him without visa in mid 60s_. Hence, Russians as well as Indians have a great respect for each other’s traditions, culture, and cinema.

Image of India in Russia Today

What is it that went wrong between the two countries during the post collapse period? India supported Russia immediately after the collapse of USSR. A number of groups from finance sector of CIS region also visited India to attend workshops organised by a Foreign Service Institute under Ministry of External Affairs, India_. One of the delegate had remarked - “My first visit to India was 30 years back, when I came to India to give training to delegates on economy and today I am here to learn from them and take lessons on economy”.

The treaties and declarations signed post 1991 point towards the improved strategic cooperation of India-Russia. In a speech by External Affairs Minister on the occasion of 65th Anniversary of Indo-Russian Diplomatic relations pointed out that the declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership signed in

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October 2000 strengthened the India-Russia cooperation “did recognise the reality of the new century” (Bhasin 2013:1600).

Indeed the ties between the two countries had to be reworked under new conditions. Defence and military cooperation, cooperation in the field of technological and medical field did suffer for some time. The impact of Russian economic crisis did have a negative impact on the import and export between the two countries. As pointed out by the Russia India joint study group Moscow – New Delhi both the countries have been close trading partners, however recent trends show a decline in the Bilateral Trade between them.

Historically, India and Russia have been close trading partners. Bilateral Trade in 2005-2006 stood at about USD 2.72 billion, which was 39.5% higher than the USD 1.95 billion in 2004-2005. Currently, bilateral trade with India amounts to only 1.1% in average of overall Russian trade volume. Similarly in case of India, bilateral trade with Russia amounts to only 1.1% of the total volume of foreign trade of India. The details of Indo-Russian bilateral trade during the last few years are as under: (Russia India joint study group 2007:13)

The most neglected area of the mutual cooperation was the cultural and educational sectors. Position of Russian language lecturer (native speaker) in Indian universities was withdrawn. The most active society ISCUS was deactivated, though, Russian cultural center continued its cultural activities in some major cities New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata. Funding earmarked for academic exchange was completely stopped and a number of private agencies appeared to ensure students to get admissions in the universities and institutions of Russian Federation. Many among these private agencies were not authentic and no proper mechanisms were there to identify them.

2012 was year-marked as the 65th year of diplomatic relationship and in the same year “Russia’s only Hindu temple faces threat of demolition_”. Prior to this in 2004 the Moscow City government demolished the original temple as it came on the way of a new apartment building_ in addition to fighting the court case on ban on ‘Bhagwat Gita’ in Tomsk, Siberia. Nonetheless, an “alternative plot of land was provided till it moves to Moscow Vedic Centre”_. Till 2013 the situation remains uncertain_ and the issues were raised at the time of Putin’s visit to India. It was highlighted that if the temple is demolished, the act will be considered as disrespect towards Indian culture. Earlier, in 1988, during perestroika period, ISCON society was the officially recognised religious organisation and the number of its members grew on daily and yearly basis.

The initial outrage broke in 2003 with the remarks of Valentin Lebedev, head of the union of Orthodox Citizens of Russia - “we know that in India,

Christianity is persecuted” (Walsh 2003). His reaction was based on the perception that “According to the teaching of Orthodox Church, Hinduism is consid-

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ered one of the most anti-Christians cults and we do not understand why such an enormous church and cultural center is necessary in Moscow” (Walsh 2003).

The ban on Bhagwat Gita_ in Tomsk region of Siberia was due to ‘extremist’ was taken up the higher authorities and Russia expressed sadness over and said it is ‘inadmissible’ that a holy scripture is taken to the court. Russian Ambassador Kadakin also strongly reacted on this issue. This act was indeed unexpected even from the small extremist group of Tomsk region, as Russian readers were well aware of sacredness of Bhagwat Gita from the Queens time. The remarks by Valentin Lebedev and the Tomsk incident are of great concern.

The decision was taken to reciprocate by constructing Russian Orthodox Church in New Delhi. As per news service IANS first Russian Orthodox Church will be constructed soon. “It said as one of the largest of the Eastern Orthodox congregations, the Russian Orthodox Church launched a parish in Delhi in 2011, but held its services and activities in Russian embassy premises.” Sergei

Kormalito, senior Diplomat at New Delhi, confirmed this information (John 2015).

Russia India relations cannot be driven by some of the extremist’s reactions as with regard to many other cultural and religious activities show positive and strong cultural relations between the two countries. In other cultural fields, Russian interest is fast growing, especially in the field of naturopathy and homeopathy.

State efforts to improve cultural ties

Beginning from 2003 some initiatives were taken by the Russian cultural center to improve cultural ties between the two countries. Days of Russian culture held in 2003 in metropolitan cities of New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Trivandrum. Two years later in 2005 the Days of Indian Culture was organised in Russia. Similarly, film festivals are also being organised frequently in both the countries. Apart from this a number of international conference of Russian and Indian students being organised by joint cooperation with ICCR, ICSSR, Russian center of Science and Culture. Some of the conferences are being conducted through Skype and some jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Government of India with the support of Russian Centre of Science and Culture in New Delhi. According to Fyodor Rozovsky, The head of RRO and director of Russian Centre of Science and Culture, it is expected that the cultural ties will grow further once an agreement on joint recognition of higher education diplomas is signed. Under Indology teaching of Hindi is continuing in the cities like Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan and Vladivostok.

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Creativity and Cultural Industries

Based on the arguments “cultural and creative industries not only drive growth through the creation of values, but have also become key elements of the innovation system of the entire economy” cultural industries contribute in “stimulating the emergence of new ideas” (UNDP 2013: 21). Import export data between Russia - India corroborate that the cause of “privileged relationship” between the two is more cultural than political or economic. As a result it becomes, all the more, crucial to draws attention of investors to strengthen creative cultural industries between Russia and India.

The focus of the paper is not on the classification as the very classification of “cultural industries," which is still evolving. The focus is on some of the key sectors that have potential to enhance cooperation are the core cultural industries such as film, performing arts such as music, dance and theatre; yoga, children’s literature, etc. Some of these sectors significantly contribute in the economy of the country and have potential not merely to boost trade relations but also mutual cooperation and support.

Film industries alone contributed to $8.1 billion (0.5% of country’s GDP) to India’s economy in the year 2013 in comparison to the contribution of Hollywood and other films’ which generated revenues of $77 million in the Indian market (As per reports by Hollywood1 reporter). These figures rose to the estimated at US $19.4 billion, making it 1% of the country’s GDP as per DTTILLP reports in 2017 on Economic contribution of Film and Television Industry in India (Joshi 2018: 4).

As per statistical data of Indian Ministry of tourism Russia does not even figure in the top 10 countries of Indian Tourism Statistics of 2016 (20172:6). Nonetheless, the number of tourists availing e-visas between 2016 & January - June 2017 recorded an increase from 63608 in 2016 (5.9% share of Foreign Tourists) to 49365 in just six months January to June 2017 (6.9% share of FT). Though Russia’s share in comparison to the share of UK, which is 21.1% and US’ - 12.6% share, is only 6.9% between January to June 2017(2017 3: 9).

At present a large number of young Indian students are studying in different institutes, however this number if far less than the number of students in other countries such as US, UK, Australia, New Zealand etc. as per the Indian statistical department.

1https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/film-tv-industries-contributed-81-688247 Ac cessed on 10 January 2019.

2http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/english%20India%20Torurism%20Statics% 200 20917.pdf Accessed on 10 January 2019.

3http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/english%20India%20Torurism%20Statics%

20020917.pdf.

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Country-wise Number of Indian Students Studying in Foreign Universi-

ties1

The similar is the situation of Russian students in India. Majority of Russian students prefer to study in the West and US and China rather than India. Russian students studying in Higher education in India were enrolled for the academic year 2017-2018 were six only2, for under-graduation and postgraduation 26 and in certificate and integrated courses were 38 only. This number is lower than UK - 123; 15; and 76 and US - 70; 1277; and 768 respectively. Hence, there is an immense potential which needs to be explored in order to strengthen the mutual relationship between Russia and India only in the field of education and training programs.

Conclusion

The contribution of Indian cultural industries in the Russian market and vice-versa remains negligible, though there is a huge potential in every aspect of cultural life of the societies. Overall industrial relationship is limited only government sectors only and private sector neither from Russia nor from India have even a remote connectivity. It is indeed a matter of concern that so called “privileged relationship” could not open traditional Russian cuisine centres in Indian cities, except only a few exceptions such as Goa. The cultural activities including Russian Ballet or traditional folk-dance groups are a few organised functions either by the Russian cultural centres in India or educational institutions like Ja-

1https://www.indiastat.com/table/education-data/6370/studies-in abroad/14966/1098951/data. aspx.

2 https://www.indiastat.com/table/education-data/6370/studies-in-abroad/14966/1163636/data. aspx Accessed on 20th Jan 2019.

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waharlal Nehru University or ICSSR. Russians and Indians continue to have mutual respect for each other’s society, culture and literature, nonetheless, it is high time the mutual relationship should generate more awareness about each other.

References and reading List

1.Batora Jozef and Monika Mokre Ed., Culture and External Relations: Europe and Beyond, Ashgate e-Book, England, USA, 2011, https:// books.google.co.in/ books?id=GRcpDAAAQBAJ&pg=PR5&lpg=PR4&ots=VDAh7jSn4s&focus=vie wport&dq=Culture+and+External+Relations+Europe+and+Beyond+By+Jozef+B %C3%A1tora,+Monika+Mokre&hl=ru#v=onepage&q=Culture%20and%20Extern al%20Relations%20Europe%20and%20Beyond%20By%20Jozef%20B%C3%A1t ora%2C%20Monika%20Mokre&f=false Accessed on 22 September 2017.

2.Bhasin Avtar Singh, India’s Foreign Relations - 2012 Documents, Published in cooperation with Public Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Geetika Publishers, 2013.

3.Chakravarty Pinak Ranjan, India’s Foreign Policy in the Neighbourhood*, Indian

Foreign Affairs Journal Vol. 9, No. 2, April–June 2014, 142-157, http://eds.a. ebscohost.com.ezproxy.jnu.ac.in/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=d58d4a98- 39c9-45af-8726-816327f56a81%40sessionmgr4010, Acces-sed on 24th October 2017.

4.Chokr Nader N. A Fundamental Misconception of “Culture”: Pholosophical and Political Implications, in Thorsten Botz-Bornstein and Jurgen Hengel-brock (eds.). Re-Ethnicizing the Minds: Cultural Revivals in Contemporary Thought. Amsterdam, New York: Rodopi, 2006, chapter 22, pp. 401-436. https://www.academia. edu/31751709/A_Fundamental_Misconception_of_Culture_Philosophical_and_Pol itical_Implications Accessed on 14th January 2018.

5.Conflict and Reconstruction in Multiethnic Societies - Proceedings of a RussianAmerican Workshop, published by National Research Council of the National Academics in cooperation with the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2004, http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10879.html.

6.Erasov B.C. Comparative Study of Civilisations (Sravnitelnoe Izuchenie Tsivilizatsii), Moscow, Aspent Press, 1998.

7.Foshko Katherine, Re-energising the India - Russia Relationship; opportunities and challenges for the 21st Century, Russian Studies Fellow, Geoeconomic Studies, Gateway House Research Paper No. - 3, September 2018.

8.Grover Verinder (Ed.), USSR/CIS and India’s Foreign Policy, International Relations and Foreign Policy of India - 7, Deep & Deep Publications, New Delhi, 1993. https://books.google.co.in/books?id=3c9T_DP1caAC&pg= PA194&lpg= PA194&dq=ISCUS+India&source=bl&ots=i-_hvhXbCZ&sig= Fl5SAx2cXE0mR R0lilaNu64-ho&hl=ru&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi505be7tfYAhVTF8AKHcKNC80 Q6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=ISCUS%20India&f=fals.

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