The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Moka, Mauritius have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishment of Council’s Long-Term Chair of Sanskrit & Indian Philosophy at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. High Commissioner of India in Mauritius , Shri M. Ganapathi and Director of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Prof. V.D. Koonjal signed the MoU on July 3, 2010 in the presence of External Affairs Minister of India and Mauritian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade.

Under the terms of agreement, ICCR, in consultation with the Institute, shall appoint a suitable Indian academician to hold the Chair for a period of one year. During this period, the Visiting Professor would contribute to the academic life of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute by engaging in teaching, research and mentoring. The Chair would commence from September 1, 2010. The MoU would remain valid for two years from 2010.

The establishment of this Chair is expected to be an important step in furthering ICCR’s larger mandate of fostering and strengthening educational and cultural bonds and towards enhancing academic knowledge and awareness about India, through exchange of academicians.