The Ambassador of India Visits ELTE
The event was opened by Dr. Máté Ittzés, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Indology, and Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at ELTE. Representing the Alumni Organisation, János Babos, Director of Services, highlighted the background of the Nation's Evenings event series, noting that Eötvös Loránd University offers instruction in more than seventy languages—placing it second in the world in terms of the number of languages taught.
In his address, H.E. Mr. Anshuman Gaur, Ambassador of India to Hungary, gave an overview of the history of Hungarian Indology, tracing its development from the pioneering work of Sándor Kőrösi Csoma and Ervin Baktay to the present day, when Hungarian interest in one of the world’s oldest yet rapidly modernizing cultures is greater than ever before.
The Ambassador underlined that India is currently the world’s fourth-largest economy, undergoing revolutionary progress in digital infrastructure across public services and the economic sector. Building on these achievements, India places growing emphasis on strengthening global partnerships.
According to Ambassador Gaur, Eötvös Loránd University, as a key institution of Central European scientific research and culture, is an excellent partner in advancing these shared goals. ELTE’s academic programmes, he noted, provide high-level preparation for future diplomats, economists, journalists, and thinkers, fostering cooperation between the two countries. In conclusion, the Ambassador reaffirmed his government’s continued commitment to supporting Hungarian partners in the fields of economic and educational collaboration.
The audience was offered a glimpse into Indian culture and traditions through three engaging presentations. First, Dr. Péter Sági, Assistant Professor, shared a photographic travelogue recounting his journeys in India. Then Krisztina Dávid, Lecturer at the Department of Indology, delivered a talk titled System in Chaos: Hungarian–Indian Intercultural Similarities and Differences, reflecting on Indian traffic customs, her personal experiences, and the ways in which they mirror the mindset of Indian society. Dr. Mária Négyesi, retired Associate Professor and former Head of the Department, concluded the lecture series with a presentation on Indian festivals—focusing particularly on Dashera, Durga Puja, and Diwali.
The evening also featured a captivating dance performance by Panni Somi, Indologist and Director of the Sivasakti Kalánanda Dance Theatre. Her performance was accompanied by a narrative commentary by Krisztina Dávid, introducing the audience to the symbolic meanings of gestures and movements in Indian classical dance.
To close the event, participants joined a short yoga session led by staff of the Amrita Sher-Gil Indian Cultural Centre, and had the opportunity to try Indian henna painting, learn the basics of Devanagari script, and sample authentic Indian attire and jewellery.
Nations' evenings: India
Nations' evenings: India
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