In February, IU kicked off India Remixed, the largest Indian arts and culture festival ever launched in the Midwest, according to a press release from IU Newsroom.
The festival, organized by the IU Bloomington Arts and Humanities Council, offers more than 30 events from exhibits to performances and film screenings, according to the release.
IU Bloomington Provost Lauren Robel said in the release that the festival is meant to celebrate India’s global influence.
“India Remixed invites the Bloomington campus and community to celebrate India's contemporary cultural and humanistic contributions in areas including film, literature, music and comedy,” Robel said in the release.
India Remixed runs from February to April, and includes talks by author Sir Salman Rushdie, artist Bharti Kher and feminist rapper Madame Gandhi.
The IU Bloomington Arts and Humanities Council will work with the IU Cinema, the Grunwald Gallery, Mathers Museum of World Cultures and Herman B Wells Library to organize exhibits and film screenings, including a film series in honor of filmmaker Mira Nair.
The festival follows in the footsteps of last year’s China Remixed, which celebrated China’s cultural and artistic contributions to the world.
Both festivals are part of the IU Bicentennial Strategic Plan’s goal to foster diverse global experiences. The bicentennial plan includes a list of goals for IU for the next 100 years.
Ed Comentale, chair of the IU Bloomington Arts and Humanities Council, said the festival was inspired by the many faculty members and students who come to IU from India.
IU has more than 1,700 Indian students, nearly 5,000 affiliated alumni from India and 150 faculty members of Indian descent, according to the release.
Students from Foundation for Liberal and Management Education University in Maharashtra, India, will visit IU to work with students on projects across disciplines.
“Indian students and Indian faculty are integral to IU's history and success,” Comentale said in the release. “They have opened rich dialogues in law, business and politics, as well as philosophy, literature, religious studies and many other fields in the arts and humanities."
Indian comedian Asif Ali, who is a regular on Comedy Central, will be one of the first festival performances when he comes to the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Feb. 22.
The next day, the Grunwald Gallery will open a sculpture and painting exhibit by artist Bharti Kher.
IU’s Holi festival will take place March 1 and will offer Indian food, music and dancing. The music will include a performance by Brooklyn-based octet Red Baraat. IU student groups, such as Raas Royalty, Hoosher Bhangra and India Student Association will also present at the festival.
"This festival has been a delight to plan,” Comentale said in the release. “IU has many rich and dynamic ties to India and Indian culture.”
Christine Fernando
