SAARC Culture Ministers Conference: Delhi Declaration Adopted

SAARC Culture Ministers Conference: Delhi Declaration Adopted

The SAARC Culture Ministers Conference just concluded recently and during this important meeting, the Delhi Declaration was adopted. As part of this declaration, Bamiyan, the town in Afghanistan well known on account of the destruction of two ancient Buddha statues there by the Taliban in 2001, has been selected as the SAARC cultural capital for the year starting from April 2015. While Bamiyan is to be the cultural capital for 2015-2016, Dhaka has been selected as the cultural capital for SAARC in the year 2016-2017.

The recent conference had been called to prepare a programme for strengthening cultural ties till 2017. As part of the Delhi Declaration, the year 2016-2017 has also been declared the SAAR Year of Cultural Heritage. The SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) also agreed to come up with proposals for transnational nominations for sites to be included in the World Heritage List and a regional list of sites to be allocated as heritage constructions as well. Project Mausam, the Indian initiative was also given its due recognition by the Delhi resolution as per the agreement to acknowledge the impact as well as contribution of monsoon, maritime routes and other inland relations over a span of centuries. With factors such as trade, migration as well as colonialism having influenced the country and its neighbouring regions, associations such as SAARC go a long way in righting historic imbalances.

To promote the regional literature and national languages of countries in this region, the nations also decided to create translations in English as well as SAARC languages to ensure readers can access them. Digital mapping of historically important sites was another important point in the Delhi Declaration. Apart from this, other areas of cooperation also included promotion of important local and regional traditions, inventorying cultural assets, as well as preserving folklore and legends especially through oral traditions.

Other efforts included providing a common entrance fee for monuments in the SAARC nations to people from the member nations. This would promote strengthening of regional cultural ties. Another important initiative is the Cricket Connects programme to highlight the unique cricketing heritage of South Asia and the passion people in this region have for this game.

India has also proposed cricket exhibitions in neighbouring nations such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have given positive responses for this proposed initiative. The member nations also resolved to create a SAARC Cultural Heritage Committee/SHC which aims to protect and preserve important monuments and vital heritage sites in South Asia. It was als agreed to launch a dedicated SAARC website for cultural causes. Apart from this, festivals for themes unique to SAARC which establish meaningful ties for writers, scholars, performers and artists are also planned.