Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Fudan and attended the opening ceremony of the Center for Gandhian and Indian Studies on May 16, accompanied by Chinese Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Yin Weimin, Chinese Ambassador to India Le Yucheng and Indian Ambassador to China Ashok K. Kantha. Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong, Fudan Party Secretary Zhu Zhiwen and Fudan President Xu Ningsheng met with Prime Minister Modi in the Golden Hall of Guanghua Tower. After the meeting, Mr. Modi, together with Professor Xu Ningsheng, unveiled the Center for Gandhian and Indian Studies at Fudan. After the Inauguration Ceremony, Mr Modi also delivered a speech on the relationship between China and India.
Earlier on May 15, under the witness of China’s Premier Li Keqiang and Mr. Modi, Professor Xu Ningsheng signed with the representative of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) a memorandum of cooperation with regard to the establishment of the Center at Fudan, which marks the new heights and depths of the university’s cooperation with India.
Professor Feng Xiaoyuan, Vice President of Fudan, hosted the Inauguration Ceremony and introduced Professor Liu Zhen, the Center Director, and other researchers of the Center to the audience. After two Fudan students’ recitation of verses from the Bhagwad Gita, Professor Xu delivered a welcome speech, during which he noted, Indian Studies at Fudan could be traced back to the last century and the current research on the Silk Road and Xuanzang’s pilgrimage to the Western regions was also closely related with India. Professor Xu emphasized that the university would integrate the resources of ICCR and other academic institutions and strive to build a platform for the communication and cooperation of Gandhian and Indian Studies in China.
In his speech after the Inauguration Ceremony, Mr. Modi noted, Gandhian studies in the newly established Center would convey to the world a very important message, that is, the wisdom of Gandhi was still exerting its effect in the current society. He emphasized that both the Chinese and Indian People were eager for knowledge and wisdom. In Indian philosophy, knowledge and wisdom were without boundaries; while in China, people like Xuanzang travelled long distances for truth and religious wisdom. However, he felt the exchange of knowledge and wisdom would be more difficult than the opening up for economic activities and tourism since it would require stronger power of determination. He hoped that China and India, which account for one third of the global population, would make progress through the exchange of knowledge and wisdom and show to the world a new way of life. Mr. Modi’s speech received a standing ovation of the audience, and after his speech he greeted the students and took photos with them.
The Center plans to focus on humanity studies related with India as well as the research on contemporary politics and economy of India. It will organize research activities regarding the languages, religions, cultures and Buddhism of India, the cultural histories of China and India as well as the Indian political and economic system. Also, the Center aims to deepen the study of Gandhi’s political philosophy and its impact on the contemporary world. To promote Indian languages and culture, the Center will also organize annual conferences on Indian studies, launch visiting scholar programs and establish a library on Indian studies.
The academic exchange between Fudan and institutions in India started earlier than the establishment of the Centre. In 2010, Fudan signed an agreement of partnership with the University of Delhi. At the same year, under the witness of Pratibha Patil, the President of Indian then, Fudan launched an outstanding international student scheme for Indian students. Currently, the registered Indian students at Fudan have covered the areas of arts, sciences and medicine.
SOURCE / Fudan University
