BEIJING, July 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From sugar to paper, from cotton
to silk, from tea to Buddhism, China and India enjoy a long history of friendly
exchanges. However, at a recently held round-table seminar called
China-India Dialogue on Civilizations, Ashok Kantha, India's former ambassador to China, said that the cultural exchanges
between the two countries had not yet reached their most idealistic
level. At present, people-to-people exchanges between China and India have evidently been constrained due to
various reasons. To better understand the situation, the Global
Times consulted with Chinese and Indian researchers, who
identified constructive approaches to enhance two-way communication
between the ancient civilizations.
It's intriguing to listen to scholars delve into the cultural
exchanges between China and
India, which encompass history,
religion and everyday lives.
For instance, the word for sugar in Hindi, chini, indicates
that sugar was introduced to India
from China, as many in
India believe, while the Chinese
word for jasmine flower, molihua, finds its roots in an Indian
bloom. In the contemporary landscape, however, such cultural
exchanges between China and
India have slowed down. At
present, direct flights between the two countries have yet to be
resumed and there is a lack of media representation in each other's
countries. For instance, not many Indian movies come to Chinese
cinemas compared to years ago. People-to-people interactions don't
seem as frequent as they once were. What factors have resulted in
this status quo, and how can we enhance cultural exchanges between
these two ancient civilizations so that there are more pros than
cons? These are at the center of discussions at the seminar.
Contemporary challenges in cultural exchanges
Despite deep-rooted historical connections, present-day cultural
exchanges between China and
India have faced
hurdles.
Li Li, vice dean and a senior
research fellow of the Institute of International Relations at
Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that during her recent
exchanges with Indian experts, she learned that only two Chinese
students are studying at Jawaharlal Nehru University, which pales
in comparison with the number of Indian students Chinese
universities had admitted, especially those studying medicine.
Meanwhile, it is conspicuous that there are still no direct flights
between the two countries.
Li noted that "with similar basic national conditions, including
large populations, China and
India can find solutions to common
problems. People-to-people exchanges help the two sides gain a
first-hand understanding of each other's country. It is worth
reflecting on how there are no direct flights."
As former Indian ambassador to
China, Ashok Kantha said it is sad to see that
people-to-people exchanges have faced such difficulties. Both sides
need to accelerate the pace to get problems solved and it is hoped
that this not so idealistic situation is ephemeral, he said.
Solid historical foundation
The story of Chinese and Indian peoples benefiting from cultural
exchanges started centuries ago. The intertwined cultural legacies
between the two countries encompass shared traditions in music and
philosophy.
The spread of Buddhism to the East marked a glorious period of
China-India cultural exchanges. Prominent masters,
such as Chinese monks Xuanzang and Faxian traveled long distances
to India to seek Buddhist
scriptures, while Indian monks such as Kashyapa Matanga and
Bodhidharma traveled thousands of kilometers to spread Buddhism.
Xuanzang's The Great Tang Records on the Western
Regions became a valuable document for studying the history of
India and South Asia.
Kantha shared at the seminar that thanks to Xuanzang who lived
during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), The Great Tang Records on
the Western Regionsbecame a comprehensive record of the culture,
history and legends of the India
subcontinent in the Middle Ages, and even the cities, systems,
clothing, and food, which makes it an encyclopedia of medieval
India.
The book has been a great source of information for Indian
archaeologists to understand their own ancient
civilization.
Without the writings of Chinese monks and scholars, it would have
been impossible to reconstruct the history of medieval India, Kantha said.
Through the ancient Silk Road, Chinese inventions such as paper and
porcelain, and products like tea were introduced to South Asia, while South Asian music, dance,
astronomy, and literature were introduced to China.
China's tai chi and India's yoga, traditional Chinese medicine and
Indian Ayurveda have striking similarities, and the life
philosophies practiced by the peoples of both countries for
thousands of years are deeply similar, which was recognized by
Chinese leaders.
2024 also commemorates the 100th anniversary of Rabindranath
Tagore's first visit to China.
When the beloved Indian poet visited China, he was warmly welcomed by the Chinese
people. Upon setting foot on Chinese soil, Tagore said, "I do not
know why coming to China seems to
me like returning to my native soil. I always feel that
India has been one of China's extremely close relatives, and
China and India have been enjoying a time-honored and
affectionate brotherhood."
Embracing circular exchange
Promoting the concept of circular exchange, scholars including B.
R. Deepak, a professor and sinologist at Jawaharlal Nehru
University, emphasized the need for reciprocal and mutually
beneficial cultural interactions.
Deepak told the Global Times that the concept of circular exchange
proposed by China's renowned
author and historian Ji Xianlin stresses that cultural exchanges
should be a two-way process.
"The concept of circular exchange emphasizes the importance of
equality, mutual respect and common development," said
Deepak.
"It's great we still have approaches for dialogue between our
countries. I really hope that we can eliminate contradictions and
misunderstanding through dialogue," he said.
Qiu echoed Deepak's point of view, citing that Ji's comment that
"cultural exchange between China
and India is a well-deserved model
for the whole world."
Through the circular exchange suggested by Ji, mutual inspiration,
mutual learning and mutual reference can promote the diversity and
prosperity of civilizations and make contributions to building a
peaceful, inclusive and mutually respectful cultural world
order.
Moreover, as emerging economies, the more than 2.8 billion people
of China and India can bring the development of the world
economy to new heights, while people-to-people exchanges can
connect traditional culture with modernity, allowing for exchanges
of experience in the construction of spiritual and material
civilizations, she noted.
Qiu also said it was worth noting that the common stance of the
scholars at the seminar are rooted in the common concepts in
Chinese and Indian cultures, especially the concept of a community
with a shared future for mankind and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, a
Sanskrit phrase that means "the world is one family." These common
stances are also based on similar traditions of thought, and holism
or holistic thinking in China and
India, Qiu pointed out.
The correct option
Looking ahead, the potential for deeper cultural exchanges between
China and India is significant. As both countries
navigate globalization and technological advancements, prioritizing
youth exchanges is seen as hugely beneficial to both, if both sides
cherish friendship across generations and draw upon the wisdom of
Eastern civilization for enhanced cooperation and mutual
progress.
However, as the world is undergoing major changes, countries are
facing options.
Li pointed out that the peoples of China and India "have the option to abandon the
geopolitical mind-set and create a remarkable history in the near
future in cultural exchanges."
Qiu was more concerned about common problems such as climate
change.
"If we follow Western culture, way much more resources will be
wasted, which is far beyond the Earth's capacity. Instead, Eastern
culture has provided us wisdom to overcome these difficulties."
Kantha said that world governance will need Eastern wisdom, and
Chinese and Indian civilizations are important
representatives.
He suggested that instead of limited perspectives at the nation
state level, China and
India need to focus on the
civilization state level and that Eastern civilizations will
contribute to the advancement of mankind.
While past wisdom can enlighten the path forward, future technology
also has a major role to play. However, when it comes to modern
advancements, there are numerous roadblocks in the way.
By the end of the seminar, when the Global Times reporter asked to
add Deepak's WeChat to keep the conversation going, the professor
noted, "I dare not upgrade my mobile phone system, the mobile app
will not work if I do so," he explained.
In June 2020, 59 apps, most of them
Chinese such as TikTok and WeChat, were banned in India. This lack of platforms for
communication has made exchanging ideas difficult for people,
especially young people for whom social media is the main form of
expression and sharing.
As Xu Feihong, ambassador of China
to India, put it at a recent
welcome reception, "Mahatma Gandhi once said, 'The future depends
on what we do in the present.' A Chinese proverb also says, 'With
effort, one can achieve anything.'"
"We should attach great importance to the exchanges between youths,
and advance China-India friendship from generation to
generation," said Xu.
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SOURCE Global Times