A 10-member team of young artists and journalists from India reached Yunnan province to represent the country in the 7th China-South Asia Cooperation Forum. Senior representatives of 16 countries participated in this forum. Delegations from South Asian countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal also attended the meeting held at Heikang Conference Hall in Kunming on June 11.
Under the leadership of musician Arko Mukherjee, the objective of this Indian contingent from Eastern and North-Eastern India was to promote cultural exchange through art and strengthen mutual relations. This team included three dancers. It included Niloy Sengupta, Anusmita Bhattacharya and Bhubaneswar's famous Odissi dancer Sagarika Mohanty. He was also accompanied by poet-singer Phulora Mukhopadhyay, Manipuri singer Thanjamang Kipjen and painter Jugal Sarkar. There were also three journalists with him. It included Ravi Shankar Dutta from TV9 Bharatvarsh, Arkamoy Dutta Majumdar from an English newspaper and Arnab Aich from Bengali daily 'Sambad Pratidin'.
The guests were welcomed at the venue on the banks of Tianchi Lake. Where there was a robot at the entry gate. Who welcomed the guests with handshake. He introduced himself with four simple things. Whenever visitors touched his head, he made eight different sounds. This style of robot created a warm and pleasant atmosphere for the forum.
Cultural scholars and local artists gathered at the inauguration ceremony. Arko Mukherjee and Phulora Mukherjee sang Bengali and regional songs. While Niloy, Anusmita and Sagarika Mohanty presented captivating folk and Odissi dances. The audience, including members of the Yunnan Federation of Literary and Art Circles, was deeply impressed by Niloy's choreography and the dancers' exquisite Odissi technique.
Apart from the conference hall, the delegation visited Dali and the hilly music village 'Aani Mo'. This is a remote village in Yunnan, whose story is very interesting. Aani Mo preserves the musical traditions of 25 communities. Among these, Ching Phu of the Thimpo community plays the black flute, 'Thu Liang', whose heart-touching tunes Ark Mukhopadhyay blends with his folk songs.
Members of the Oha community performed enthusiastic drum dances whose echo was heard throughout the village. From the conference hall of Kunming to the hill stage of Ani Mo, the Indian contingent's performance and cultural exchange made Ani Mo a symbol of shared heritage. The villagers, immersed in the spirit of music and hospitality, welcomed Indian regional songs and dances. Let us tell you that this visit took place with the cooperation of the Consulate General of China in Kolkata. Which showed how cultural diplomacy can change places and people. In Aani Mo, music breathed new life into a village.
