Culture becomes a binding force; and there is so much cultural unity between India and Brazil. In this context, one should remember the famous ‘Filhos de Gandhy’ or ‘Sons of Gandhi’, which was founded in 1948. Inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, the group pays tributes to African as well as Afro Brazilian revolutionaries who fought to enable and ensure social cohesion.
The street carnival named ‘Bloco Bollywood’, which was started in 2016, gives the native population a peep into the diversified culture of India. It had an audience of just 700 but today numbers go into thousands. It has become the biggest Indian event in entire South America. The Bloco has also given a big boost to Indian restaurants in Sao Paulo and even Indian textile traders have benefitted from it.
Another important aspect of India’s health science and knowledge system that is permeating various quarters of Brazil is Ayurveda. Many Ayurveda practitioners and schools have mushroomed in the country. Cinema plays an integral role in bringing the people of both India and Brazil together. The appreciation for Indian cinema in Brazil does not stop at that. In May 2014, Brazil came out with a unique way of paying tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema, by releasing two postage stamps designed by Indian graphic designers.
The Indian diaspora, numbering approximately 5,000, also plays a constructive role as goodwill ambassadors in enhancing vibrant people-topeople exchanges.
