December 9, 1999

The long history of cultural contacts between India and Hungary has diversified into a multi-faceted relationship during the last five decades. This was stated by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Minister for Human Resource Development while inaugurating a symposium on "Hungary, India and the European Union" to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Hungary. He expressed hope that Hungary’s impending entry into the EU would add another dimension-multi-lateral- to the traditionally warm and friendly ties between the two countries. The well-attended Symposium was co-inaugurated by the Hungarian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Janos Herman. The HRD Minister also unveiled a plaque at the birth place of well-known painter Amrita Sher-Gil of Indo Hungarian parentage to commemorate the event.

During his stay, Dr. Joshi also met Prof. Janos Hamori, Minister for National Cultural Heritage, Dr. Janos Martonyi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Zoltan Pokornyi, Minister of Education. HRD Minister also visited Department of Indology in WLTE, the oldest university in Hungary, where, inter alia, he also presented more than 50 books on Sanskrit language and literature. The Minister visited the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and saw their ‘Oriental Collection’ including some Sanskrit manuscripts over two centuries old, as also collections of the well-known Hungarian Indologists of the past, such as Sandor Csoma Korosi.