As relations between India and Pakistan continue to thaw, opportunities for contact and dialogue have increased across a variety of areas, including diplomacy, sport and the entertainment world. In one notable development, Indian screen legend Naseeruddin Shah embarked on a week-long visit to the neighbouring country, amid hopes that joint film, theatre and other performing arts productions could become a reality down the road.

WHEN I presented Sachin Tendulkar with an honorary Member of the Order of Australia earlier this month in Mumbai, I was struck by the way he spoke so eloquently and emotionally about the important engagement he had with Australia when he started his Test career.

Indian Ambassador to the United States Nirupama Rao visited Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC) last week and spoke with college administration about the role of BCTC and ways community colleges might be adapted for India.

The famous China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra made its India debut to a thunderous applause from a housefull audience at Mumbai’s Ravindra Natya Mandir on Friday. The performance, as part of the India-China Music Festival 2012, will be repeated at the Siri Fort auditorium in Delhi on November 27.

The capital city is set to host Art Connection 2012, a cultural exchange between artistes of Odisha and Japan, from November 25. The eight-day festival will feature dance performances, workshops and exhibitions on traditional and contemporary art.

Fifty Muslim students from the Social and Political School of University of Muhammadiyah Malang, East Java, visited the Indian Cultural Center in Denpasar on Tuesday as part of their study tour themed “Cultural Diplomacy for Peace”.

India and Sri Lanka have always enjoyed a special relationship not only due to their close geographical proximity but because of their cultural, religious and ethnic affinities and shared history. Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa has aptly described India-Sri Lanka relations as “family”. Of course even such a sibling relationship has had its ups and downs.