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September 2019

THE GANDHI CENTRE

THE HAGUE

Parkstraat 99 (First floor), 2514 JH, DEN HAAG

The Gandhi Centre was set up on 2nd October, 2011 with primary objective of establishing,

reviving and strengthening the cultural relations between India and Netherlands. The ICCR

has set up such 35 Indian cultural centers in different parts of the world.

The objective of the Gandhi Centre is to promote awareness of India's composite

cultural heritage in The Netherlands. The activities of the cultural centre include

showcasing various art forms of India such as dance, drama, music, films and free classes

for the public and organising lectures, talks, panel discussions and seminars on subjects

related to India. The Gandhi cultural centre functions under the Embassy of India and is

established by the ICCR.

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Programme Schedule

You are cordially invited for the following:

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Vocal Concert by Ankita Deole Damle

The Gandhi Centre, Embassy of India, The Hague cordially invites you to a Vocal Concert by

Ankita Deole Damle.

Ankita, a disciple of Smt. Padma Talwalkar, represents a generation of young artists dedicated

to Indian classical music. At the age of 10, Ankita began her journey into the depths of classical

music under the able guidance of Smt. Madhuri Joshi. Ankita has had the immense fortune of being

under the tutelage of Smt. Padma Talwalkar for the past nine years. Padma tai’s ‘Talim’ has helped

Ankita to acquire a new perspective towards classical music. She has pursued Masters of Arts in

German Language from the University of Pune. She is currently teaching German at the University

of Pune along with some renowned institutes in Pune.

Her awards & achievements include: - ‘National Senior Scholarship’ by Ministry of Culture,

India for the advanced training in Hindustani Vocal classical Music, 2011-2013 ‘National

Scholarship’ by Center for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi for the study of Hindustani

Vocal Classical Music, 1999-2008.Winner of ‘Raag Ek Rang Anek’, a classical based music

competition on Sahyadri TV (a regional TV channel), in year 2003.As a child artist 23 Cassettes have

been released by various recording companies.

Date : Saturday, 21st September 2019

Time : 17 00 – 18 00 hrs

Venue: Auditorium

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Book Release of Shri Hriday Narayan Dikshit

The Gandhi Centre, Embassy of India, The Hague cordially invites you to a Book Release of Shri.

Hriday Narayan Dikshit titled “The Way India Thinks”.

Sri Hridaya Narayan Dikshit is the foremost exponent of Vedic Literature and Indian Culture

in Modern India. A thinker, columnist, Social Worker and above all a leader of masses Sri Dikshit

returned to the Vidhan Sabha of Uttar Pradesh five times. He has also been a Member of Legislative

Council of Uttar Pradesh. Sri Dikshit has written about 30 books and his 5000 articles have been

published in various national and international newspapers. Sri Dikshit has been honoured with

“Ganesh Shanker Vidyarthi Samman” by Madhya Pradesh Government. He has also been bestowed

“Bhanu Pratap Shukla Patrakarita Samman” by Rashtra Dharm. Recently, he has also been bestowed

with Dr. Hedgewar Pragya Samman at Kolkata. Some of his prominent books include “Rigveda Aur

Dr. Ram Vilas Sharma”, “Bhartiya Sanskriti Ki Bhumika”, “Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Darshan”,

“Bhagwat Geeta”, “Madhu Abhilasha” and recently published book on Gandhian Philosophy “Hind

Swaraj Ka Punarpath”.

Sri Dikshit is a prolific writer with clear vision. His views on various socio-political aspects

have broken new grounds. He is contributing immensely to the cause of Ancient Indian Culture. The

most important feature of his writing is that he has presented a progressive view about Indianness.

Present Book is an example of the same. He has distinguished Indian Way of Thinking with that of

Western Style of thought and has proved that Bharat can progress only with our own way of

deliberation.

Date : Monday, 23rd September 2019

Time : 17 00 – 18 30 hrs

Venue: Auditorium

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Meet & Greet - Roar Trip Crew from Kerala to Cannes

The Gandhi Centre, Embassy of India, The Hague cordially invites you to a Meet & Greet - Roar

Trip Crew from Kerala to Cannes.

Gautom Menon and Paul George set off on their Roar Trip from Kerala to Cannes on July 27

to raise money for tiger conservation. The duo’s drive halfway across the world seeks to boost

awareness of tiger conservation in southern India, raising vital funds along the way. The Roar Trip

is an epic journey from Kerala to Cannes, across 25,000km, through 25 countries, in 65 days.

Flagged off from the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in Kerala on July 27, Gautom Menon and

Paul George will drive through India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan,

Russia, Estonia and other European countries, to complete their trip in Cannes, France. An initiative

by the Wild Tiger Foundation, a non-profit founded by Indian travel retail entrepreneur Gautom

Menon, the Roar Trip aims to bring global attention to the endangered Tiger. Onboard an Indian

vehicle, a striped Tata Hexa SUV, the two wildlife enthusiasts will drive through Asia and Europe,

making pit stops at wildlife reserves, Indian embassies and prominent locations. Over this 25-country

Roar Trip, the crew will connect with fellow conservationists, the media and local people to promote

awareness through roadshows and instant pop-ups.

Date : Tuesday, 24th September 2019

Time : 17 00 – 18 00 hrs

Venue: Auditorium

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An overview of events held in

August 2019

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Ghazal Concert

3rd August 2019

The Gandhi Centre

organized a Bansuri Concert by

Mehndi Hasan and Tabla by Salim

Hasan and Guitar by Shekhar Shiv

Prasad. Mehndi Hasan mesmerized

the audience with his soulful

singing. A very popular artist and a

well-established singer he

smilingly sang to the requests of the

audience.

Prof. Nirmala Sharma, Director

(TGC) felicitated the artists.

Sitar Concert

10th August 2019

The Gandhi Centre Organized a

Sitar Concert by Sidhartha Siliceo and

tabla by Heiko Dijker. Sidhartha

Siliceo played the Sitar splendidly and

effortlessly. A disciple of Shri Ravi

Shankar, his performance had shades of

his Guru and played to classical ragas.

He was well supported by Heiko Dijker

on the Tabla. It was more of a

Jugalbandhi towards the end. The

audience were spell bound.

Prof. Nirmala Sharma, Director

(TGC) felicitated the artists.

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Meet & Greet the Peace Rally Team 2019

10th August 2019

The Gandhi Centre organized a

Meet & Greet Session with the Peace

Rally Team from India on a mission of

spreading the message of Peace

starting their journey from the Gandhi

Ashram in Gujarat travelling through

European countries and concluding in

Ambedkar house, London.

A team of 37 members

travelling 17,000kms in 10 Hyundai

Tucson Suvs 15 Countries and 105

Cities in 45 Days were welcomed

heartily and felicitated by Director

Prof.Nirmala Sharma at the Gandhi

Centre. The team were taken for a visit

to the Peace palace by the volunteers

of the Gandhi Centre that day.

The team members comprised

of few retired government officers,

Businessmen, Architect, CA, women

and teenage children. The Key team

member Brij Mohan Sood gave a brief

summary of their travel and their

experiences. He felt grateful that their

Rally team were felicitated aptly at the

Gandhi Centre. It was followed by an

interesting Q & A session from the

audience.

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Violin Concert & Kathak Performance

17th August 2019

The Gandhi Centre organized a

Violin Concert by Pranav Swaroop and

Kathak Performance by Swati Sinha.

The young violinist gave an

exhilarating performance playing to the

classical and popular ragas and

bhajans. Swati Sinha gave an

astounding performance and danced

flawlessly to classical kathak songs and

beats.

Prof. Nirmala Sharma, Director

(TGC) felicitated the artists.

Janmashtami Celebrations

23th August 2019

The Gandhi Centre organized

Janmashtami celebrations with

Hindustani Vocal concert by Sudhnya

Khadhilkar, tabla by Kirtan Manna and

Carnatic concert by Vishnupriya

Rangarajan and Mridangam by

Abhinand Pulusuri. Both the singers

uplifted the festive mood with their

melodious renditions on Krishna.

Kirtan Manna a young disciple of

Heiko Dijker, the tabla teacher of TGC,

rendered a stupendous performance.

Abhinand Pulusuri, also played the

Mrindangam well.

Prof. Nirmala Sharma, Director

(TGC) felicitated the artists.

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Sarod & Vocal Concert

31th August 2019

The Gandhi Centre organized

Sarod & Tabla Concert by Troilee

Dutta & Heiko Dijker. Troilee Dutta

gave an enterprising breezy sarod

performance. She performed to the

classical ragas and played Vaishnava

Jan tho bhajan a favourite Bhajan of

Gandhi which kept the audience

enthralled. It was followed by a Vocal

& Tabla concert by Rajendra

Khandalgoankar and Avinash Patil.

Rajendra Khandalgaonkar sang

classical ragas, thumris and bhajans to

the delight of the audience. Avinash

Patil well aided the singer and did a

solo tabla performance for a little while

which well brought out his unique style

of tabla playing. The two concerts had

full house audience.

Prof. Nirmala Sharma,

Director (TGC) felicitated the

artists.

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Regular Classes

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The Gandhi Centre organizes regular classes in:

• Yoga

• Hindi Language

• Tabla (Indian percussion instrument)

These classes are open to each and every one at no cost. The classes are designed to cater to all age

groups as well as from beginners to advanced.

Yoga Classes Yoga is a science and art of healthy living with origins in ancient India. It is a stress

management therapy and its practice increase immunity and contributes to overall physical and

mental being.

The Yoga Teacher, Mr. Amit Khanna is a Yoga Therapist with 9 years of experience in Yoga.

He is also a Physiotherapist. He deals with various medical conditions and life style disorders and

suggests exercises to deal with them.

Yoga Class at The Gandhi Centre

Hindi Language Classes Hindi is the national language of India with origins in the ancient Indian language Sanskrit. It

is widely used in both India and Suriname.

Dr. Kanta Rani is an enthusiastic teacher in Hindi language. She has a Masters in Hindi, PhD

in education and over 25 years of teaching experience. She has spent several years in teaching Hindi

to non-Hindi speakers. She has also taught in ICC Suriname and her publications include three

textbooks and one Hindi conversation book.

Hindi Students writing Level 3 exam at The Gandhi Centre

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Tabla Classes

Internationally acclaimed Tabla teacher Mr. Heiko Dijker of Dutch origin has been trained

under Ustad Faiyaz Khan, the famous Tabla player of India. Along with his public performances,

he also teaches in Universities. He teaches Tabla at the Gandhi Centre. The students love him because

of his personal attention to every student.

Tabla Class at the Gandhi Centre

For more details of the classes, kindly visit:

http://indianembassy.nl/eoi.php?id=Gandhi

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Library

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The Gandhi Centre library has a rich collection of books on Foreign affairs, Politics, Philosophy,

History, Religion, Art, Culture, Dance, Monuments, Autobiographies, Personalities, Yoga, Hindi,

Fiction and others. There is a reading room and book issue facilities.

E-Mail: gandhicentre.thehague@mea.gov.in; culture.thehague@mea.gov.in

Reception Phone: +31 703229576

Dr. N Kanta Rani (Hindi Teacher): +31 684011857

Mr. Heiko Dijker (Tabla Teacher): +31 622801775

Mr. Amit Khanna (Yoga Teacher): +31 640106426