India–Mongolia Cultural Conference Marks 70 Years of Diplomatic Ties at IGNCA

India and Mongolia's deep civilizational and spiritual relationship took centre stage today with the inauguration of a two-day international conference titled "Cultural Interflow between India and Mongolia" at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi.

Organized by IGNCA's Department of Brihattar Bharat and Area Studies under the Ministry of Culture, the conference commemorates 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations, while also highlighting centuries-old cultural and religious bonds.

The event was inaugurated at the Samvet Auditorium, bringing together scholars, diplomats and cultural leaders from across the world.

Exhibition on Mongolian Culture Open to Public Until 25 February

A special exhibition featuring visual representations of Mongolian cultural heritage was also inaugurated on the occasion.

The exhibition is open to the public at IGNCA's Darshanam Gallery until 25 February, offering visitors a rare glimpse into Mongolia's artistic and cultural traditions.

Global Scholarly Participation and 75 Research Papers

The conference brings together 31 scholars from India, Mongolia, the United States, France and other countries.

Over the two-day programme, participants will present 75 research papers, exploring the wide-ranging historical and cultural interconnections between the two civilizations.

Key themes include:

• Archaeological and historical linkages

• Buddhist religious traditions

• Sanskrit manuscripts preserved in Mongolia

• Literary and philosophical exchanges

• Artistic and material heritage connections

Culture Minister Highlights Shared Spiritual Traditions

Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Chief Guest, described the conference as a reflection of the shared spiritual and cultural foundations binding India and Mongolia.

He noted that exchanges between the two countries extend beyond Buddhism into fields such as:

• Astronomy and calendrical sciences

• Medicine

• Literature and philosophy

Referring to the Mongolian Kangyur, he called it a vital record of linguistic and philosophical scholarship.

He emphasized that its preservation and digitization strengthen cultural diplomacy and civilizational dialogue.

The Minister recalled the Prime Minister's description of India as Mongolia's "spiritual neighbour" during his 2015 visit, underscoring the enduring depth of the relationship.

Ministry of Culture: Partnership Rooted in Civilizational Kinship

Shri Vivek Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, said India and Mongolia are building a partnership grounded in shared cultural memory and heritage.

He highlighted cooperation across strategic and cultural sectors, including:

• The oil refinery project

• Defence collaboration

• Education exchanges

• Manuscript preservation initiatives

He also noted efforts under Project Mausam and Project Brihattar Bharat to document and preserve shared intangible heritage for potential multinational UNESCO recognition.

Mongolian Ambassador Calls India a Key Spiritual Neighbour

Ambassador Ganbold Dambajav reaffirmed India's significance as Mongolia's spiritual neighbour and a key regional partner.

He highlighted Buddhism as a central shared value and pointed to the importance of preserving and translating classical Buddhist texts, including:

• Kangyur

• Tengyur

He expressed appreciation for India's support in the dissemination of these texts and noted the expanding partnership between the two nations.

Strengthening Civilizational Dialogue Through Scholarship

The conference serves as an important platform for examining India–Mongolia ties through history, spirituality and cultural exchange, reinforcing people-to-people connections and strengthening cultural diplomacy.

As India and Mongolia celebrate 70 years of formal diplomatic relations, the gathering highlights that their relationship is rooted not only in modern partnership, but in centuries of shared heritage and spiritual kinship.