Context
India and Kyrgyzstan have signed an agreement in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to open the International Centre for Civilizational Studies “Manas and Mahabharata”. This is a collaborative project that strengthens cultural relations and facilitates the exchange of comparative studies of the two epics.
Background and Context
- The Centre: The Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR) from New Delhi and the Manas National Academy in Kyrgyzstan created this joint academic platform.
- The Epic of Manas: It is an oral historic and traditional epic, popular in the multicultural consciousness of the Kyrgyz people. One of the world’s longest epic poems.
- Mahabharata: One of the ancient Indian epics which teaches philosophy, ethics and culture of India.
Key Highlights of the Initiative
- Bishkek Centre: The institution is situated in Bishkek – the capital of Kyrgyz Republic. It is not only a permanent seat of civilizational research, academic exchanges and cooperation on common literary histories, but also a place for tradition keeping.
- Hindi Translation: During the launch, scholars released the first-ever Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic Manas. The event encourages literary diplomacy, and brings the Central Asian classic to the Indian readers.
- Trilateral Agreements: 7 top universities of Kyrgyzstan, CSFIR and Manas National academy have signed the trilateral agreements.
Significance for India
- Cultural Diplomacy: The partnership is India’s civilizational outreach to Eurasia. It guides them to recognize how traditional values in Asia are still evident in epic poetry and common historical philosophies.
- Soft Power: When Manas and Mahabharata meet, it creates a people to people link. It is based on old ties as in the Silk Route era.
- Academic Exchange: The centre provides research opportunities for young researchers of India and Kyrgyzstan. This expands India’s relationship with the Central Asian countries.
Broader India-Kyrgyzstan Relations
- Strategic Partnership: India and Kyrgyzstan have close and friendly relationship and are strategic partners.
- Global Support: Kyrgyzstan has extended its support for India’s efforts to gain full permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and has been a part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that India is trying to join.
- Defense and Security: Both countries are actively cooperating in the field of defense. They carry out collaborative military drills and they have some shared concerns on terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking.
- Education and Diaspora: Education in Kyrgyzstan is popular with thousands of Indian students going to pursue medical studies. This sets a robust public diplomacy groundwork.
Source: TOI
UPSC Practice Question
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the comparative study of the Epic of Manas and the Mahabharata:
- Both epics belong to the category of living oral traditions, historically recited by specialized bards rather than solely learned from written texts.
- Both epics serve as foundational texts that define their respective cultural and moral ethos, emphasizing the concepts of cosmic duty, righteousness, and heroic sacrifice.
- The India-Kyrgyzstan Joint Centre for Civilizational Studies was established, in part, to research the historical, linguistic, and literary parallels between the two civilizations, including their epic heritage.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A.1 and 2 only
B.2 and 3 only
C.1 and 3 only
D.1, 2, and 3
.png)
