Some buildings are impressive, very functional, but do not generate a particular feeling. This is not the case for the Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture (IGCIC). It is just in another league. Once one discovers it, one can but fall in love : Set in a lush green layout, architect Satish Gujral?s edifice is full of gorgeous perspectives, it tames the light with its red earth bricks and softens the air with its spaciousness. Depending on whether it is night or day, it reflects India in what it has most characteristically beautiful.

But this is only part of the canvas. There are also the 669-seat auditorium, with its large stage, the huge foyer, which welcomes gatherings, the multipurpose hall, with its 250 seating space, the well-stocked library, with more than 10 000 books and newspapers, that you can read or borrow? At the moment, another well-equipped room is housing an exhibition of Indian books, by the Federation of Indian Publishers, in collaboration with the centre and the Indian High Commission. Open until Saturday, this event has seen the launching yesterday of a series of trilingual children dictionaries and an illustrated book on Indian dance, by Star Publications, in New Delhi.

<B>Music, dance and yoga</B>

On the first floor, four airy and spacious classrooms accomodate some courses run by the centre: karnatic vocal music, tabla and kathak dance are taught either as hobbies or at various certificate levels. As for yoga, the centre offers courses for beginners and confirmed students. Qualified Indian teachers teach the courses, which are well-attended and reveal hidden talents.

?Priyadarshini?, one of the activities brought by the current director of the IGCIC, Natarajan Rajappa, (see also profile in page?), allows local artists to appear in public performances with those distinguished teachers. In memory of late prime minister of India, Indira Gandhi, who was popularly known as ?Priyadarshini?, as stresses Mr. Rajappa, this monthly feature has displayed since 2004 a broad range of events, from a Rabindranath Tagore recital, with Amit Banerjee, from the Indian national school of Drama, to Kuchipudi dance by Dayashree Pentiah, without omitting the contribution of M. Mishra, the IGCIC tabla teacher, among others.

For many, India is synonym of the movie industry, from the humanism of Satyajit Ray to the wonders of Bollywood superproductions. And the IGCIC pays its tribute to that. Mr Rajappa cites ?the recent Guru Dutt film festival, at the auditorium, in collaboration with the Mauritius Film Development Corporation?.

These activities are just ?glimpses? of the invaluable richness of India. The IGCIC forms part of a great Indian network, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). With the sponsorship of the ICCR, the IGCIC welcomes regular visits by performing groups from India under the cultural exchange programme (CEP) and outside CEP framework. One brillant example was the recent concerts of the Balusseri Krishnadas group from Kerala in collaboration with the Ministry of the Arts. And the list of special occasions like these goes on and on. The public can be informed of these events through e-mails by filling a registration form at the centre. So if you missed one opportunity, you can always catch up. Time is never lost in India?

<B>The illuminating voyage</B>

Last Sunday marked the 136 th anniversary of the birth of India?s great soul, Mahatma Gandhi. For this occasion, a Bhajan recital by Shri Tirumale Srinivas, karnatic vocal teacher at the IGCIC, and sangeeta Deerpaul Sharma, of Sanskritik Development Centre, delighted the audience before the arresting film, ?The illuminating voyage : in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi? produced by Alain Gordon-Gentil. Directed with extreme care by the author, this documentary film recalls, at the slow pace of wisdom, the salt march that was the outbreak of Gandhi?s non-violent protest in British-dominated India. It gives remarkable insights into the true meaning of the mahatma?s combat, too often perceived only in its political dimension.