Cultural Relations

India and Turkiye share a historical cultural overlap. Cultural exchanges have grown in recent years, especially after the revival of CEP in 2017.

• Cultural performances, film shows, exhibitions, seminars, outreach to universities are being organized regularly.
• A Festival of India in Turkey, India by the Bosphorus, was held in March-April 2019 showcasing Indian dance, music, food and fashion in major cities in Turkey.
• Several events were organized for the celebration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Mission organized ‘Glimpses of India Tagore Painting Competition’ for school children of Turkey in four cities in April As part of Tagore Festival, a dance drama by the Kalamandalam dance group and a lecture sponsored by the ICCR was organized in Ankara and Istanbul, along with a photo exhibition and screening of a film on Tagore.
• The Indology Department in Ankara University has been in operation since 1930s.
• Indian Studies have been started studying at several universities in Turkey including METU, Giresum, Kayseri, Malatya, Istanbul and Koc Universities.
• Since 1995, and Indian Professor in Hindi language has been attached on deputation by the ICCR with the Indology Department in Ankara
• Turkey has been sending Turkish language professors to JNU and Jamia Milia University.
• Turkish students are regularly nominated to study Hindi in Central Institute of Hindi (Kendriya Hindi Sansthan), Agra. Slots have been allotted to Turkey under In 2018-19, 16 ITEC scholarship slots have been utilized.