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The Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC) at Phoenix is Cultural Centre of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). It is also the Cultural Wing of the High Commission of India in Mauritius. The Centre was established in 1987 in Quatre Bornes and has now been shifted at Phoenix. The IGCIC at Phoenix was inaugurated on March 11, 2000 by Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India and Dr Navin Chandra Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius.
The Centre promotes bilateral cultural linkages and awareness between India and Mauritus by organizing cultural programmes, cultural seminars, workshops and trainings engaging India based Gurus professionals and trainers for Yoga, Hindi, & Sanskrit and in performing Arts such as; Hindustani Classical Vocal Music, Tabla and Kathak dance.
IGCIC has a very well-equipped Library with a wide range of books on Indian art, culture, literature and other subjects with several magazines and books in English, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi. There are books on Indian History, Culture, Music & Dance, Fiction, International Relations, Yoga etc. Reference section in the library also houses collection of dictionaries, encyclopedia and Year Books, CDs and DVDs on Indian Art Films, Documentaries and Classics. Popular Indian Cinema is screened once every month which is free to viewers at IGCIC.
The centre celebrates various programmes such as; Indian National days (i.e. 15 August, Independence Day and 26th January Republic Day), Special days (Gandhi Jayanti, Sardar Patel Jayanti, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Day, Convocation Day of the Centre, Hindi Diwas, Foundation Day etc.) International Yoga Day and Indian festivals such as Mahashivaratri, Milad-un-Nabi, Diwali, Tamil New Year, Maharana Pratap Diwas etc .
The IGCIC associates itself with Mauritius-India Friendship Society, Socio-cultural Organizations, Hindi Speaking Union, Urdu Speaking Union and different Cultural Institutions of the country for programmes, conferences, lectures and literary forums held at its premises.
ICCIC organizes Sahitya Sangoshthi every month inviting an eminent speaker to speak on any relevant subject on ‘sahitya’ (literature) in Hindi.
The Centre acts as a venue for the activities of Indian Women's Association, Indo-Mauritian Cultural organizations, Indian Alumni Association and Sahitya Samvad Goshthi for their monthly events. It has been organizing functions for launch of books in Hindi and other Indian languages by Mauritian authors. The Centre also arranges Kavi-Sammelans where young Mauritian poets recite their poems in Hindi and other Indian languages.
The Centre also has special 'Outreach Programme' where teachers of IGCIC are deputed to visit schools and cultural organizations at various places in Mauritius.
The entire area of the IGCIC is 20000 sq.m with a unique structure reflecting the beauty of the Indian architecture in a lush green layout and has an auditorium of a capacity of 669 seats with a large stage, a large Foyer for gatherings, a multipurpose hall with approx. 250 seating space, a Seminar Room with seating capacity of 100 an Exhibition Room to exhibit Paintings etc.
The IGCIC also One Ayush Cell ( Ayurveda & Homeopathy ) and the complex has arrangements for a residential accommodation for Director and eight Quarters for the Teachers.
Director - Ms. Kadambini Acharya (Second Secretary)
Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC)
High Commission of India, Swami Sivananda Avenue, Phoenix, Mauritius.
Director's Cellphone :- +230 5940 8107 , Director' s Office number :- +230 698 7901,
Indira Gandhi Centre For Indian Culture (Office number) :- +230 697 3437
Email : dirigcic[dot]portlouis[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in,
hoc[dot]portlouis[at]mea[dot]gov[dot]in
