Town-Twinning between Stuttgart and Mumbai
Enlarge image
(© Matthias Zepper)
Town-Twinning between Mumbai and Stuttgart exists since 1968 and experiences great commitment in the cultural, social, political and economical fields ever since. The activities of the two cities focus mainly on education, tourism and film.
There are plenty of activities in the educational sector, for e.g. one of them is fostered by the Ferdinand-Porsche-Gymnasium for example that maintains a partnership with an Indian school. Vocational schools in Stuttgart also cultivate their relationship with educational institutions in India. The intention of these relations is to familiarize students with the culture of their respective host country through various exchange programs.
Universities, sciences insitutions and students of both partner countries show great commitment as well. Classic examples that can be cited are the exchange between the Rachana Sansad´s Academy of Architecture in Mumbai and the Department of Urban Planning of the city of Stuttgart, as well as the co-operation between the Insitute of Inorganic Chemistry and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
In addition, numerous cooperation projects in waste management and urban developement exist at the community level.
In the health sector, cooperation agreements were concluded between several hospitals in Mumbai and in Stuttgart in the last years regarding exchange of specialists and nursing staff.
Enlarge image
(© Mathias Zepper)
Since 2004 projects of encounter such as „ Stuttgart meets Mumbai“ are taking place regularly. Since 2002 Mumbai and Stuttgart maintain their annual town-twinning meeting. As a part of this event, discussions at political levels are conducted, cooperations are initiated and intensified and friendships are deepened.
A cultural highlight is the Indian film festival „ Bollywood and Beyond“ hosted annually by Stuttgart since 2004. This, almost week-long festival, showcases Indian movies, documentaries and short-films. It is of great importance for many indian directors, producers and actors, who come together for this occasion regularly as it is the biggest film festival in Europe.
Since 2007 the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of India has been organizing an Indian week in Stuttgart annually in July. This eventful week features, for example, the Indo-German Business forum, discussions concerning India-related issues, an Indian food-festival, a bazaar with Indian arts and crafts, exhibitions, workshops and much more.
Every year in spring and autumn the „Theater am Faden Stuttgart“ organizes the „India-Series“ inviting dancers, singers and musicians from india who bring the flair of Mumbai and Kolkatta to Heslach with their traditional Indian music and classical Indian dance forms.
Beyond these well-established events there have been, and still are, numerous individual projects, for example, cultural festivals, concerts, dance and theatre performances, exibitions and art projects and readings. In 2006, both towns exchanged their town writer scholars.
