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| CULTURAL RELATIONS |
| INDIA-THAI
CULTURAL RELATIONS |
| Cultural ties between India and
Thailand date back to several centuries.
References are found in ancient Indian literature
about Thailand as Svarnabhumi or the Golden Land.
In 329 BC, Emperor Ashoka sent Sona and Uttra to
Svarnabhumi to spread the message of Buddhism.
Hinduism has also influenced Thailand as reflected
in architecture in arts, sculpture, dance, drama
and literature. Several socio-cultural habits and
festivals of the Thai and Indian people are
similar. The influence of Pali and Sanskrit on the
Thai language has been considerable and is
particularly noticeable in the terminology
connected with state-craft, science and
technology. The shared link of Buddhism is
reflected in the regular pilgrimages to places of
Buddhist interest India by Thais. |
| There are a number of Thai scholars
and monks who have studied Indian art, culture and
the Sanskrit language. Many of the Indian classics
and works by Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru and Rabindra Nath Tagore have been
translated into Thai. A leading Indologist, Prof.
Karuna Kusalyasaya, has translated a number of
Indian works into Thai. |
| To
strengthen these age-old cultural ties, a Cultural
Agreement between India and Thailand was signed in
April 1977. Cultural exchanges have, been taking
place supported by the Indian and Thai
governments, the Indian-Thai community and lovers
of Indian arts. |
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| Community
Organizations |
| There are a
number of Indian organizations run by different
groups Prominent among these are |
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| Thai Bharat
Cultural Lodge |
| The Thai Bharat
Cultural Lodge (TBCL) is involved in promoting
cultural interaction between India and Thailand.
The GOI (Dept. of Culture) has been giving
cultural grant-in-aid to the TBCL. The TBCL runs
two schools in northern Thailand for Thai
students, it provides awards to meritorious
students in both schools and gives scholarships to
needy students to study in India and in Thai
universities. The TBCL also runs the Satyananda
Puri Memorial Library, which is a reference
library on Indian cultural matters with a large
collection of Indian books. |
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| Indian Women's
Club |
Indian Women's
Club (IWC) has been actively associated with
promoting cultural programmes from India. IWC also
runs an Activity Centre in Bangkok, which runs a
wide range of courses in Indian music, dance,
languages and arts for members of the India-Thai
community. IWC organizes functions on the
occasions of Diwali and Holi, for which artistes
from India are invited. ICCR has been providing
musical instruments to the Activities Centre of
the Indian Women's Club.
A list of other Indian
Associations in Thailand promoting cultural activities
is given below
Sri Guru Singh Sabha,
565
Chakraphet Road,
Phahurat,
Bangkok -
10200
Tel 2211011/2248097-8
Fax
2248095/8091 |
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Hindu Dharam Sabha (Vishnu
Mandir)
50 Soi Wat Don,
Tung Wat
DonYannawa,
Bangkok - 10120
Tel
2113840
Fax
6238454 |
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Arya Samaj,
9 Don Kusol Soi
3,Charoenkrung Rd,
Thung Wat Don, Yannawa,
Bangkok - 10120
Tel 02-2120907
Fax
02-8727850 |
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Hindu Samaj,
136/1-2
Sriphongse Road,
Sao Ching Cha,
Bangkok -
10200
Tel 6211451-2
Fax
2214360 |
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Namdhari Sangat of
Thailand,
127/1 Soi Asoke,
Sukhumvit
Road,
Bangkok - 10110
Tel 2212726
Fax
2253198 |
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Thai Bharat Cultural
Lodge,
150 Soi Rajdamnern
Klang,
TaiRajdamnern Avenue,
Bangkok -
10200
Tel 2240213
Fax
6210790 |
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Sri Maha Mariaman Temple,
2
Pan Road,
Silom
Bangkok - 10500
Tel
2384007
Fax
2669190 |
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Geeta Ashram
Thailand,
2194/47-51 New Road,
Opp. Wat
Phrayakrai Police Station,
Bangkok -
10120
Tel 2911967
Fax
2375225 |
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Gujarati Marwari
Society,
16th Fl,Mahathun Plaza
Bldg,
888/160-5 Ploenchit Road,
Bangkok -
10330
Tel 2560135
Fax 2543181
Mob
01-8290324 |
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Tamil Cultural Association of
Thailand,
Woodlans Inn,
1158/5-8 Charoen
Krung Road,
Soi 32, Bangrak,
Bangkok -
10500
Tel 2356640
Fax
6300775 |
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Siam Sindhi
Association,
1/3-4 Soi
10 Sukhumvit
Road,
Bangkok - 10110
Tel
02-2540720-24
Fax
02-2538555 |
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Thai Malayalee
Samajam,
Chawla & Associates,
16th
Fl.Ocean Tower 2, Sukhumvit 19,
Bangkok -
10110
Tel 02-6616521-30
Fax
02-6616531-2 |
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Maharashtra Mandal,
Room 11A,
Liberty Park
170/22, Sukhumvit Soi
23
Bangkok - 10110
Tel: 02-2616916 |
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Thai Kannada Balaga,
Tel
6828119
Fax 2042013
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South Indian
Association
25/63,Soi 45,
Sukhumvit 105
Road, Phrakanong,
Bangkok - 10260
Tel
7458252 (Res)
Fax
2244909 |
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Bharati Bengali
Association,
24, A1, D.S. Tower
1,
Sukhumvit Soi 33,
Bangkok -
10110
Tel 01-8412146
Fax
6616667 |
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Academic Exchanges
The India Studies Centre at Thammasat University and the Sanskrit Study Centre at Silpakorn University are two Thai learning centers engaged in study of Indian culture and languages. Silpakorn University, Burapha University, Srinakharinwirot University, and Mahachulalongkorn Rajvidhyalay conduct Hindi classes. The Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok and Chiang Mai University have recently introduced Hindi as an elective subject. The Sanskrit Studies Centre in the Silpakorn University teaches Sanskrit at graduate and post-graduate levels. ICCR sponsors an Associate Professor at the Silpakorn University to teach Sanskrit. The Chulalongkorn University has an Institute of Asian Studies where Indian culture and Sanskrit are taught. The Embassy has been supporting these Institutes.
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has been active in promoting cultural contact between Thailand and India.
For more information on
ICCR - http://www.iccrindia.org/
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