Culture’s value to India goes far beyond heritage. It lies in the knowledge culture carries, the communities it sustains, the talent it nurtures, and the economic opportunities it can create. That larger role was the focus of Swarnika Samvaad, a dialogue on India’s creative and cultural economy held at the India International Centre in New Delhi on Saturday.
The first thematic session, “Culture as a Driver of National Development,” was moderated by Sampadananda Mishra, Director of the Centre for Human Sciences at Rishihood University. Panelists included Shyam Saran, former Foreign Secretary; Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA; Abhijit Gokhale of Sanskar Bharati; Anurag Bhadouria; Sachin Chaturvedi, Vice-Chancellor of Nalanda University; and Lily Pandeya, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Culture. The second session focused on how traditions can remain living and evolving while reaching wider audiences. Moderated by actor and Delhi Music Society President Sunit Tandon, it featured Rajeev Sethi, Paresh Maity, and filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri. The third session addressed the practical ecosystem that cultural practitioners and creative enterprises need. Moderated by Ramesh C. Gaur, it featured Mandavi Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya; Jayesh Bhatia of Intellecap; costume designer and curator Sandhya Raman; and Rajan Navani, Chairman and Managing Director of the Jetline Group and JetSynthesys.