At the instance of the Embassy of India, Manila, Prof. Nagasura Madale, Anthropologist and Consultant on Special Projects, Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City, was invited by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi, to participate in an international conference on ‘Cultural and Historical Links between India and South East Asia’, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 11 October to 15 October, 2010. Prof. Madale has expertise in ancient Mindanao texts including the ‘Maharadiya Lawana’ which is considered a variant of the Indian epic ‘Ramayana’. ICCR is bearing the entire hospitality for Prof. Madale’s participation in this conference.

2.  This international conference is being attended by scholars from India and other ASEAN countries to discuss different aspects of India’s historical links with South East Asian countries, including the Philippines, and which continue to be vibrant through the centuries. These aspects encompass religious linkages and cultural linkages in art, architecture, textiles, languages, literature and education. The scholars are deliberating upon the status of current historical studies on this theme both in India and South East Asia as well as common efforts to strengthen the historical and cultural links. An interesting subject for the assembled scholars is the revival of the Nalanda University, an ancient University at Nalanda [India] flourishing from the 5th to the 12th century AD, which was a renowned centre of learning for scholars from all over Asia; this University is being revived as a special project supported by the Leaders of the East Asia Summit countries, i.e. ASEAN, India, China, Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

3.  The National Academy of Letters, New Delhi has invited the celebrated author and poetess, Prof. Merlie Alunan, on the Anand Kumaraswamy Fellowship to visit India for interaction and poetry reading with eminent Indian writers and visits to important literary institutions during September-October, 2010, for nearly five weeks. The hospitality for her visit is being provided by the Indian National Academy of Letters.