Seychelles-India Day |05 October 2013

‘A Voyage in Time’ exhibition launches activities

‘A Voyage in Time’, an exhibition that launched activities to mark the first Seychelles-India Day, opened at the International Conference Centre lobby yesterday morning.

Vice-President Danny Faure had the honour to cut the ribbon and this was in the presence of the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange, the Indian high commissioner to Seychelles Thanglura Darlong, key government officials, personnel from the Indian Navy vessels in Port Victoria, Indian businessmen, members of the Indian community here among other guests.

Indian Colonel Mudit Mahayan, the military advisor to the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF), welcomed guests to the event at a podium set in front of a backdrop of an imposing décor of a replica of the India Gate, one of the country’s national monuments, which graces the entrance of the International Conference Centre (ICCS) which had been painstakingly decorated and dressed in an array of orange, white and green balloons and satin cloth ready for the occasion.

Addressing guests before opening the exhibition, Minister St Ange said “this event is of great importance to all of us as I firmly believe that to review history is to create a better future because those who do not do so in the present will have no future”.

He pointed out that a picture is worth 1,000 words. “With this great assemblage of historical events between India and Seychelles and its people, done through photographs and other historical records available, I am certain that the understanding, recognition and respect between each other as two different nations and communities will only grow stronger,” Minister St Ange added.

He said the stories being depicted in this exhibition are the stories of India and Seychelles as well as those of Indians and Seychellois.

“They may not be perfect. They may at times appear flawed. But in them essentially lay the answers to what makes this relationship between India and Seychelles a privileged one,” he pointed out.

Once the ribbons were cut the guests led by Vice-President Faure were able to, as aptly put, make ‘a voyage in time’ from 1770 when five Indian slaves formed part of the first settlement on Ste Anne island.

This was through enlarged photographs and articles carefully put together and displayed for guests to enjoy and reminisce about.

The man behind the exhibition and the team leader, Surya Khanna, gave an overview and concept of the exhibition. He said the photographs and articles have been carefully chosen to show the development of cooperation and evolution of relations between India and Seychelles.

Development of cooperation in various fields namely political – on June 29, 1976 the Indian Navy vessel Nilgiri entered Seychelles waters to be part of our Independence Day activities, the visit by former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October the same year. Other fields where cooperation has flourished over the years are medical, military, economic and social – all characterised by various exchanges between the two countries.

Space has also been accorded to the most famous Indian Seychellois – Kanti Jivan, the work of the Indian Association, the Jeo Jyoti Foundation and some well-known Indian businessmen.

Mr Khanna – a Seychellois Indian and founder of the Jeo Joyti India Foundation here -- has himself been living in Seychelles for more than 30 years.

Speaking about putting up the exhibition he noted that it was no easy task.

“Pictures were collected from different agencies, individuals’ private collections, the National Archives, Seychelles Nation archive and others,” he said.

Noting that the artwork and posters were created by Classic Designs, Mr Khanna pointed out that the amount of work his team carried out in the short period of one-and-a half-month to be able to put such an exhibition together is unbelievable but excellent given the fact that the photographs were not readily available.

Mr Khanna said that within the short time information had to be collected, compiled, artwork and posters had be made and exhibits had to be prepared, displayed and put up.

“Through the exhibition we want to communicate the interrelationship between people – India and Seychelles,” he said, adding that he hopes the public will have a good journey through the relation and friendship of our two nations.

Guests viewing the exhibition