India International Centre
Encyclopedia
The India International Centre (IIC) is a well known non-official organization situated in New Delhi
, India
. It was founded in 1958, and inaugurated in 1968. It is a unique establishment in that it serves as a meeting place for the various cultural and intellectual offerings the city has to offer, while maintaining its non-official character, non-aligned motivations and remains uncommitted to any particular form of governmental, political, economic or religious affiliation.
means Convergence. It provides three activity streams:
The centre operates on grants from the Rockefeller Foundation
, and universities that have become members of the IIC foundation.
An early interest taken by a past president of India
, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, saw the government of India take an active interest in its activities as well. The India International Centre was designed by Joseph Allen Stein
, an American architect who practiced in New Delhi from 1955 to 1995. It is one of several major buildings in the same area designed by Stein, giving the area the unofficial name "Steinabad".
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It was founded in 1958, and inaugurated in 1968. It is a unique establishment in that it serves as a meeting place for the various cultural and intellectual offerings the city has to offer, while maintaining its non-official character, non-aligned motivations and remains uncommitted to any particular form of governmental, political, economic or religious affiliation.
Overview
According to its official blurb, the centre is alluded to as 'Triveni', which in SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
means Convergence. It provides three activity streams:
- The Intellectual Stream, which is supported with the organization of seminars, symposia, meetings, discussions, and a well stocked library that also helps publish papers.
- The Cultural Stream, through events like dance recitals, film screenings, and drama.
- The Social Stream, through its hostel and catering facilities which brings together people in a pleasant setting.
The centre operates on grants from the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, and universities that have become members of the IIC foundation.
An early interest taken by a past president of India
President of India
The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, saw the government of India take an active interest in its activities as well. The India International Centre was designed by Joseph Allen Stein
Joseph Allen Stein
Joseph Stein, was an American architect. An a major figure in the establishment of a regional modern architecture in the San Francisco Bay area in the 1940s and 1950s during the early days of the environmental design movement, he is noted for designing several important buildings in India, most...
, an American architect who practiced in New Delhi from 1955 to 1995. It is one of several major buildings in the same area designed by Stein, giving the area the unofficial name "Steinabad".