Promoting local talent to cut costs

With the government facing austerity measures, the Indian embassy in Kathmandu has become more creative in engaging with the local population, without resorting to the import of Indian cultural troupes that incur high costs.

The Indian embassy in Nepal has been investing in promoting more homegrown talent - authors, journalists, singers and filmmakers - which ultimately leads to a higher level of engagement with the young population.

The Ministry of External Affairs has had to tighten its belt considerably, which has put pressure on the Indian Centre for Cultural Relations to bring down the number of cultural groups sent abroad.

Since January 2013, the Indian mission has been experimenting with four series of public events, organised at the library of B P  Koirala Nepal-India Foundation.

“All these four programmes are aimed at promoting Nepalese art, literature, music and films as well as to engage the younger generation of Nepal to share their ideas, experiences and stories,” an official said.

According to sources, all events had got wide coverage in the media and have become important dates in the local literary world which were attended by Nepali celebrities.

This is an entirely new direction for public diplomacy as advocated by Indian embassies, who have usually have only used cultural events to showcase Indian culture.