Sushma Swaraj becomes part of ‘A Night of India in Belgium' on Thursday

Brussels, June 22: Creating a bridge between Indians in Brussels with their soil, MEA Sushma Swaraj addressed the Indian Diaspora on Thursday. “India and Belgium share unique linkages of culture that go back hundreds of years,” said Swaraj.

 

As we look back at the last 70 years, we realize that our bilateral relationship represents a successful partnership that is deeply anchored in historical ties that pre-date India’s independence.

Recalling the help done by Indian Soldiers to the region, Swaraj said, “During the First World War, more than 130,000 Indian soldiers fought alongside their Belgian brethren in the battlefields of Belgium and Northern France. Indians and Belgians mourned as one when 9000 Indian soldiers laid down their lives on Belgian soil during the Great War, sealing our friendship with an eternal bond of blood and sacrifice.”

India and Belgium share cultural and linguistic relationship too. “Belgium’s interest in learning and teaching Sanskrit is well documented. The first course in Sanskrit was started in 1841 at the University of Leuven and I am happy to know that Sanskrit continues to whet the academic appetite in Belgian students” added Swaraj.

She further said that Belgians welcomed Yoga into their lives several decades ago and is today a major bridge of culture between Belgium and India. There is no better image of yoga than that of Queen Elisabeth of Belgium performing a ‘Shirsasana’ or headstand at the age of 85 years under the guidance of the doyen of yoga, Late Shri B K. S. Iyengar.

“Today at the European Parliament, India joined Europe in celebrating the International Day of Yoga. I am happy to know that Belgians are taking to Indian music and dance. Recently, I was delighted to see a Belgian artist performing the Indian classical dance form of Odissi to the musical accompaniment on the Sitar by a Belgian musician,” said Sushma Swaraj.

Recalling the 14th India-EU Summit held in October last year in Brussels between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President Donald Tusk, and European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker, she said both sides have achieved considerable progress in many areas of their cooperation.

Swaraj said India looks forward to the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit which is scheduled to be held in October 2018, where Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu will be leading the Indian delegation.

Swaraj arrived in Belgium on Wednesday on the fourth and final leg of her week-long four-nation nation tour of Europe that also saw her visiting Italy, France, and Luxembourg.