By : Partha Roy
India & Panama are two countries located in two different continents separated by oceans but have cordial bilateral relations for past 60 years since 1962 when India established its Embassy in Panama.
It all started in the 19th century when the Indian diaspora arrived in the Caribbean to take care of the jobs in the sugar and cotton plantations.
Two countries have maintained friendly relations based on mutual respect, shared values and common interests.
India & Panama have cooperated in several areas including trade and investment, culture, education and technology.
The two countries have signed several bilateral agreements to enhance cooperation in several areas of mutual interests.
Cultural exchange and Education are key areas of cooperation between India and Panama.
The two countries have a rich cultural heritage and have been promoting cultural exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and appreciation of each other’s culture.
The exchange of students has been instrumental in strengthening people to people ties between two countries .
In area of technology, India and Panama have been exploring the ways to collaborate and share knowledge.
To celebrate 60 years of Establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Panama, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Kolkata, Embassy of Panama, New Delhi and Indo Hispanic Language Academy, Kolkata organised a lecture titled `Synchronization of the poetry of Rogelio Sinan: an approach to the verses of the maestro’ by Prof. Rodolfo de Gracia Reynaldo from Panama in Kolkata on 21st February 2023 which was also International Mother language Day observed by UNESCO.
Prof. Rodolfo de Gracia Reynaldo is a Master in Hispanic Lexicography & specialist in Panamanian Literature.
Ms. Minakshi Mishra, Zonal Head (East), ICCR, Government. of India delivered the welcome address and Mr. José Antonio Fraiz, Third Secretary, Embassy of Panama in New Delhi delivered the introductory note.
Prof.Rodolfo de Gracia Reynaldo delivered lectures at Viswa Bharati Santiniketan and will be delivering lecture in JNU and will participate in conference in Delhi.
Rogelio Sinán was the pseudonym of Panamanian writer Bernardo Domínguez Alba. He was a Consul of Panama to Calcutta in 1938. He has written short fiction, plays and novel, but is best known for his poems . His work has been termed Avant-garde and he is a winner of the Premio Ricardo Miró.
Six years away from the centenary of the first book of poetry by Rogelio Snan (Onda, 1929) and the sixtieth anniversary of his last collection of poems (Saloma sin salomar, 1969)it was intended to bring the Indian audience closer to this Panamanian poet.
Rogelio Sinán during his stay in Kolkata in late 1930s attended meetings at Santiniketan and in Kolkata where Rabindranath Tagore and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose were present.
