Bhubaneswar: Inculcating culture, values and ethos in the new generation lies with parents, most of the panellists opined at a plenary session at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here on Friday.
Speaking at ‘Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection, and Belongingness’, panellists said practice of value system is better than formal teaching or preaching.
Union minister for culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who chaired the session, described the diaspora as torch-bearers of India’s rich legacy abroad, particularly in popularising Indian food and festivals. “Our soft power, rooted in yoga, music, cuisine and arts, has generated global appreciation. The presence of Indian cuisine, from food trucks in New York to Michelin-star establishments in London, shows that our culinary heritage has undergone a remarkable transformation. Our hearts swell with pride when we see Diwali posters in Times Square and Diwali paintings on Trafalgar Square,” he said, urging the diaspora’s investment in the tourism sector as a contribution to our shared heritage.
Celebrity chef Ranveer Brar said Indian cuisine has earned its place on the global stage over the past few years not just because of its flavours but because of Indian pride. “Simply naming an Indian restaurant is enough to attract people. Earlier, when I used to set up restaurants abroad, I used words such as ‘Modern Indian Restaurant’. It was possible because people started seeing food and culture together in the last 25 years, particularly in the past decade,” Brar said.
Panellists said one should not be hesitant about their own culture to effectively spread and promote their home cuisine. Mauritius minister for arts and culture, Mahendra Gondeea, who has Indian roots, spoke in Hindi. “India aur hum dil se aur bhaichara se jude hue hai (India and Mauritius are linked by heart and brotherhood),” he said.
Bhubaneswar: Inculcating culture, values, and ethos in the new generation lies with parents, most of the panelists opined at a plenary session titled “Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection, and Belongingness” at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here on Friday. The panelists said practice of value system is better than formal teaching or preaching.
Union minister of culture and tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who chaired the session, described the Indian diaspora as torch-bearers of India’s rich legacy abroad, particularly in popularising Indian food and festivals. “Our soft power, rooted in yoga, music, cuisine, and arts, has generated global appreciation. The presence of Indian food, from food trucks in New York to Michelin-star establishments in London, shows that our culinary heritage has undergone a remarkable transformation. Our hearts swell with pride when we see Diwali posters in Times Square and Diwali paintings on Trafalgar Square,” he said, urging the diaspora’s investment in the tourism sector as a contribution to our shared heritage.
Celebrity chef Ranveer Brar said Indian cuisine has earned its place on the global stage over the past few years not just because of its flavours but because of Indian pride. “Simply naming an Indian restaurant is enough to attract people. Earlier, when I used to set up restaurants abroad, I used hyphenated words such as Modern Indian Restaurant. It was possible because people started seeing food and culture together in the last 25 years, particularly in the past decade,” Brar said.
Panelists said one should not be hesitant about their own culture to effectively spread and promote their home cuisine. Minister of arts and culture, Mauritius, Mahendra Gondeea, who has Indian roots, spoke in Hindi. “India aur hum dil se aur bhaichara se jude hue hai,” he said.