The Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) offered 1,026 scholarships during 1996-97 to foreign students for studies in graduate, post-graduate and doctoral programs as well as for pursuing professional courses such as medicine, engineer-ing, pharmacy and accountancy. The thrust of the scholarship program is towards developing nations, with special focus on neighbors in South Asia. As part of the general welfare of international students, the ICCR organized various activities through-out the year to familiarize international students with the political, economic, social and cultural milieu of India, besides helping them to make friends through shared experiences. These activities included organization of the Annual Meeting of Students' Advisors, holding of summer camps, organization of orientation programs and launching of a newsletter "At Home in India".

The major highlights of the programs organized abroad by the Council during the year included the "Days of Indian Culture" in Russia during September 1996, the "Days of Indian Culture" in Vietnam during October 1996, a major manifes-tation of Indian Culture in Bangladesh during November 1996 and India's participa-tion in the International Children's Art Exhibition in the Republic of Korea and an art exhibition in Athens.

In collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the ICCR organized a SAARC Economic Cooperation Conference of experts from the SAARC countries from 19-21 November 1996. The ICCR provided support to various International Seminars, namely, "The Muse and the Minorities", "Cultural Diversity and Indigenous Knowledge Systems", "Study of Persian Language and Literature in India", "Maharashtra: Society and Culture" and Indian Folklore Conference.

The 1994 Jawaharlal Nehru Award was conferred on Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad for his forthright enunciation of the views of the develop-ing nations and his tireless campaign for a more equitable, humane and just world.

An annotated catalogue of Maulana Azad's personal collection of rare books and manuscripts, housed in the ICCR, was prepared and printed in book form in three volumes for the use of scholars and researchers. The Council organized the 31st Maulana Azad Memorial Lecture. It was delivered by a distinguished diplomat, writer and thinker Shri P N Haksar, on 4 January 1997. The subject of the lecture was "Looking Towards the 21st Century".
 

To strengthen cultural ties and promote greater awareness of India's culture abroad, the Council has established cultural centres in Georgetown (Guyana), Jakarta (Indonesia), Moscow (Russia), Port Louis (Mauritius), Paramaribo (Surinam), Cairo (ARE), Berlin (Germany), London (UK), Johannesburg and Durban (South Africa), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Almaty (Kazakhastan). During the year, a new cultural centre in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago was made operational. The ICCR deputed 15 professors abroad to teach Indology, Indian languages and other related subjects.

The ICCR brought out seven quarterly journals in different languages-"Indian Horizons" and "Africa Quarterly" (English), "Gagananchal" (Hindi), "Papeles de la India" (Spanish), "Rencontre aver I' Inde" (French), "Thaqualat-ul-Hind" (Arabic). A new German quarterly "Indien in der Gegenwart" commenced publication this year. In addition ICCR brought out six more publications entitled "Directory of Cultural Organizations in India" (Revised edition), "India-sus Danzas Clasicas" (India - Her Classical Dances) (Spanish) (v) "El Cacique de la Paquena Colina" -Spanish translation of "The Headman of the Little Hill", "Cuentos de la India", Spanish translation of "Stories from India".