The educational
assistance
through study
scholarships
for Malawians
to study in
India has also
enhanced the
cultural relations
between the two
countries.
26 • INDIA-MALAWI • 2019
Siddeshwara, H.E. Prof. Arthur Peter
Mutharika, President of Malawi did not only
meet the Minister but also fi tted the Indian
traditional wear.
The Government of India through the Indian
Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has been
sponsoring performers in dance and music since
2014 to promote cultural exchanges between
India and Malawi. To date, the Rajasthani dance
troupe, a fusion music team, and Bharatanatyam
Troupe have all been sponsored by the ICCR
to perform in Malawi’s cities of Lilongwe and
Blantyre.
The educational assistance through study
scholarships for Malawians to study in India
has also enhanced the cultural relations
between the two countries. Malawians who
have utilised these scholarships and training
programmes since 2007, including Indian
Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC),
ICCR, CV Raman fellowships, and Indian
Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), have had
direct encounters with people or objects of
the Indian culture. Likewise, Indians living
in Malawi for business and other investments
have been having similar interactions with the
Malawian culture.
Cultural relations are mutual transnational
interactions among cultures, directly through
physical encounters with people or objects of
another culture and indirectly through cross-
national infl uence in music, art, and fashion.
It also encompasses such things as emigration
and immigration, tourism, study awards,
educational exchange and assistance, and
philanthropic activities.
Each country has its own values, beliefs and
traditions as defi ned by the people who live in
that particular country. Understanding of another
country’s culture is what enables countries to
establish and maintain transnational relations.
The historical background between India
and Malawi – who were both under the British
colony – infl uenced and have arguably been
driving the cultural relations between the
two countries. The cultural relations between
India and Malawi, to a greater extent, have
helped to improve the understanding, enabled
development of deeper relationships, and
enhanced the mutual exchanges between
Malawi and India.
The recent events and engagements have
shown it all; the cultural relations between India
and Malawi are strong and continue to grow.
* The author is a Junior Research Fellow
at the Centre for Social Research, Chancellor
College.