The Minister of State for Culture in India recently engaged in important talks with his equivalent in Mongolia under the Cultural Exchange Programme, discussing several key issues. Among the highlights were discussions around strengthening the strategic partnership established in 2015, and confirmation that the existing Cultural Exchange Program would be continued until 2023.
ICCR Scholarships & Tibetan Buddhism
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is a government-run autonomous organization involved in fostering cultural diplomacy and facilitating cultural exchange with other nations. As part of its mission, it has allocated 10 dedicated scholarships allowing Mongolians to study ‘Tibetan Buddhism’ at specialized institutes of CIBS, Leh and CUTS, Varanasi, starting from 2020-2021. Tibetan Buddhism merges Mahayana Buddhism’s fundamental teachings with Tantric, Shamanic, and material from an ancient Tibetan religion known as Bon.
India’s Support for Mongolia’s Cultural Heritage
India has pledged to assist in the digitization of Buddhist manuscripts in Gandan Monastery and is considering helping Mongolia establish a museum-cum-library. Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture plans to complete the reprinting of approximately 100 sets of the sacred Mongolian Kanjur by 2022 for distribution across Mongolia’s main Buddhism centers.
The Significance of Mongolian Kanjur
Mongolian Kanjur, written in classical Mongolian and translated from Tibetan, is a 108-volume Buddhist canonical text regarded as Mongolia’s most important religious script. The term ‘Kanjur’ translates into ‘Concise Orders’ in Mongolian, particularly referring to Lord Buddha’s words.
Historical Ties and Diplomatic Relations
India and Mongolia share a long history of interactions via Buddhism. India was the first country outside the Soviet bloc to establish diplomatic ties with Mongolia in 1955. This relationship strengthened in 2015 when the Indian Prime Minister paid a historic visit to Mongolia.
International Cooperation and Economic Collaboration
Mongolia has vocalized its support for India’s membership to the United Nations Security Council’s permanent seat. Despite facing opposition from China and Taiwan, India played a pivotal role in securing Mongolia’s membership in key international forums such as the United Nations. Meanwhile, bilateral trade between the two nations amounted to $35.3 million in 2020.
Cultural and Defense Cooperation
The India-Mongolian Cultural Cooperation Agreement of 1961 guides the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) between both countries, encouraging cooperation in various fields such as education, expert exchanges, and conference participation. Joint defense operations are also organized, including the annual week-long joint training called Khaan Quest hosted by Mongolia.
Environmental Concerns and Future Prospects
Both countries participate in environmental initiatives such as the Bishkek Declaration focusing on snow leopards’ preservation. Given Mongolia’s strategic location at the intersection of Central and Northeast Asia, it holds significant potential for India, particularly as an economic zone promoting high-tech development. Preserving and promoting the shared heritage of Indo-Mongolian culture is seen as crucial for future collaborations.