Year of Germany in India

Several events planned at metros

Titled “Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities,” the festivities began with “Infinite Rhythms”—an open-air concert here featuring India’s star percussionist Sivamani and Germany’s premier solo percussionist Christoph Haberer.

Addressing a press meet in this connection, Pieper said the year of Germany in India would be simultaneously held across seven cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata— September 23 and 24  with various concerts and events. Several events have been planned during the rest of the 15 months in these cities.

Speaking at the press meet, German Ambassador in India Thomas Matussek said, “With the year of Germany in India, we want to breathe life into our strategic partnership.

German hi-tech and Indian brains will find solutions to the challenges posed by rapid urbanisation.” Cornelia Pieper termed the festival as the biggest presence Germany has ever staged in India, offering a 360 degree panorama of the country.

Over the next 15 months, the year of Germany in India will showcase the entire spectrum of the Indo-German strategic partnership in the spheres of politics, business, culture, education, science and research.

With a thematic focus on CitySpaces, the 15-month programme series will illustrate implications of rapid urbanisation and challenges posed by the enormous changes the cities of both countries face today.

Issues like mobility, energy, sustainable city development, architecture, cultural spaces, urban art and education will be prominently featured.

The programme will showcase a broad spectrum of Indo-German collaboration in the spheres of politics, business, culture, sports, education, science, technology and research. Most of the projects will be realised in collaboration with Indian partners and reflect different facets of urban life and development.

The centrepiece of the project would be the “Mobile Spaces”, a set of cutting edge multi-purpose pavilions, designed specially for the festival. The pavilions combine state of the art steel and textile technologies from both countries.