ICCR to organise Festival of Democracy on 15th September

On 15 September 2023, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) will organise Democracy Utsav at Nalanda University, Bihar, showcasing the rich democratic traditions of India.

'Vaishali' festival of democracy will be organised on the occasion of International Democracy Day on 15th September.

• The Festival of Democracy is organised after the exhibition titled 'India: Mother of Democracy' organised by the Union Ministry of Culture at the 'Bharat Mandapam' as part of the side events of the G-20 Summit.
• The exhibition aims to highlight the democratic ethos of India.
• The Vaishali festival of democracy holds significant historical and cultural significance, as it commemorates the birthplace of democracy.

Background:

• The establishment of the International Day of Democracy is attributed to the Universal Proclamation on Democracy, which was adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on September 15, 1997. The Universal Declaration of Democracy was adopted by the Inter-Parliamentary Council, the governing body of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
• The 98th Inter-Parliamentary Conference concluded in Cairo, Egypt on 15 September 1997. With the completion of this five-day conference, the Universal Declaration of Democracy was adopted and in memory of this day, the United Nations decided in 2007 that International Democracy Day would be celebrated on 15 September.

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR):

• Established: April 9, 1950
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Founder: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (First Education Minister of India).

Objective of ICCR:

• To actively participate in the formulation and implementation of policies and programs relating to India's cultural relations with other countries.
• To promote cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries.
• To promote cultural exchange between different countries and citizens.
• ICCR provides a strong foundation to India's foreign policy through cultural diplomacy.

Nalanda University:

• Established: Gupta ruler Kumargupta I in 450 AD.
• Nalanda University was the largest university in the contemporary world.
• Nalanda University is a wonderful example of architecture.
• Presently Nalanda University, newly established in the campus of the ancient Nalanda University located in Nalanda district of Bihar, is an international institution of national importance established by an Act of the Parliament of India, which works under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs.
• In April 2023, the Government of India appointed famous economist Arvind Panagariya as the Chancellor of Nalanda University.
• Newly appointed Chancellor Arvind Panagariya has been the first vice-chairman of NITI Aayog established in 2015.
• Panagariya, awarded the Padma Bhushan, has previously been a professor of economics at Columbia University, United States.