From historical linkages to transformative convergences: India-Brazil cultural and educational relations in the 21st century

Abstract

India-Latin America relations has been the victim of a conscious neglect and apathy for the last sixty years, despite the long and fruitful engagements that India had with this region in the historical past. The contemporary separation could be attributed to any reasons-from historical, to geographical as well as political and strategic. Of late, there is an emergent bonhomie between the two sides. The paper deals with the potentials for improving this relations in the near future which are multi-dimensional and multi-faceted. One of the least explored sectors for India's relations with the region has been the engagements in the educational sector. Additionally, India's has not made sufficient efforts to showcase its cultural prowess through the idea of its 'soft power'. The paper also intends to examine the India-Latin America relations from the lenses of India-Brazil relations. It also suggests that being countries of the 'South', they have the capacity and opportunity to draw-in other countries from the 'South' like Serbia, which could act as a bridge between the two sides.