Home Academic Diplomacy India-Uzbekistan: Academic Cooperation

India-Uzbekistan: Academic Cooperation

After becoming the Prime Minister of India in 2014, Narendra Modi gave utmost priority to widening cooperation with Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries. These efforts were reciprocated by the President of Uzbekistan,  Shavkat     Mirziyoyev,   who    assumed office in 2016. Under the able leadership of the two leaders, bilateral cooperation has seen an upward swing, spanning areas of defence, counter-terrorism, diplomacy, trade, connectivity, energy, education, skill development, science and technology (S&T), space, health, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, textiles, tourism, and culture.

As a matter of fact, intellectual, cultural, and spiritual ‘give and take’ between these two nations dates back centuries. There has been a constant flow of men, materials, and ideas between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, as the two regions were connected by the ‘Uttar Path’ (northern route). Indian merchants, translators, and moneylenders played an important role along the Silk Road. They were present in large numbers in cities like Samarkand and Bukhara. The trade and commercial contacts also facilitated the transmission of ideas and values.

The Central Asian Renaissance of the Islamic Golden Age (8th-11th Century CE) was deeply inspired by Indian mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and philosophy. It is well documented that the three outstanding personalities of Uzbekistan, namely Al Khworezmi, Ibn Sina, and Al Beruni, were influenced by Indian knowledge. Al Beruni, who gave a comprehensive account of India during his time in Kitab-ul-Hind, is considered the pioneer of Indology. During the Soviet period, academic and scientific interactions intensified between India and Uzbekistan, as there were several exchanges between scholars, students, writers, artists, historians, and archaeologists. This was the time when Tashkent started emerging as a centre for studies in Indology and Indian languages.

The 1994 agreement on cultural cooperation covered the fields of education, art, science, youth activities, and publications. Eventually, several such agreements and memorandums were signed by governments.

Uzbekistan has cultivated a great tradition of Indology studies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Tashkent in 2015, mentioned in his speech, “Few countries can match Uzbekistan in nurturing Hindi and Indian culture.” Six educational institutions in Uzbekistan teach the Hindi language until the post-graduate level. Annually, two Uzbek students are selected to pursue a Masters in Hindi at Kendriya Hindi Sansthan (Central Institute of Hindi), Agra, under the fellowship program of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Some institutes also teach Indian languages like Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, and Urdu. Indian language teachers like Azad Shamatov and Sirojiddin Nurmatov have received the Indian government’s awards for their outstanding contribution to promoting Indian languages.

Lal Bahadur Shastri Centre for Indian Culture (LBSCIC) in Tashkent is entrusted with the spread of Indian languages, arts, and culture. It conducts classes for Hindi, Kathak, Tabla, and Yoga, which have high enrolment. The centre also organises competitions, symposiums, public lectures, and conferences to promote knowledge about India and Hindi. LBSCIC offers support to Hindi teachers in Uzbekistan to participate in refresher courses, seminars, and Vishwa Hindi Divas (World Hindi Day) celebrations in India. ‘India Chair’ was established at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent. Besides, Samarkand State University has set up an Indian Study Centre, headed by an Indian professor, and some other institutes have opened an India Room with IT instruments installed in it.

After the independence of Uzbekistan, the two countries formalised bilateral academic ties. In recent years, Uzbekistan has invited foreign universities to impart education on its soil. Recently, Sambhram University and Acharya University have also started their campuses in Uzbekistan, especially in the field of technology. Because of the open-door policy of the Uzbek government, the high ratio of the young population, and limited opportunities for higher education within the country, many Indian institutes are coming forward to grab this golden opportunity to widen their vistas. India is an important ally of Uzbekistan in the field of education and skill development. Uzbekistan has been a partner country in the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme since 1993.

The bilateral academic cooperation has expanded in recent years, especially in S&T. The Jawaharlal Nehru India-Uzbekistan IT Centre was set up at the Tashkent University of Information Technologies in 2006. The 2019 agreement on cooperation in S&T facilitates joint research, visits of scientists, fellowships, and internships for Uzbek students in premiere Indian scientific institutions. Gujarat Forensic Sciences University has signed an MoU, whereby it admits Uzbek students in different courses and trains Uzbek officials in different forensic sciences.

The number of Indian medical students opting for Uzbekistan has seen a steady rise in recent years. Uzbekistan signed an agreement with the Indian government and provided 2000 seats in its medical institutes in 2022. Samarkand State Medical University accommodated around 1000 Indian students from Ukraine. This university has seen an exponential rise in the number of Indian students, from 100–150 in 2021 to 3,000 in 2023. This trend is going to continue for some time as Uzbekistan provides a comfortable environment at an affordable budget.

While there is a great tradition of Hindi and Indology studies in Uzbekistan, one must admit that there are thousands of common words between Uzbek and Indian languages. Jamia Millia Islamia is one of the oldest institutes in India teaching the Uzbek language. Recently, centres for the Uzbek language were opened at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University, which offer certificate courses.

The collaborative efforts in academic pursuits between India and Uzbekistan have demonstrated a harmonious blend of cooperation at both governmental and private levels. The trajectory of these ties has shown consistent growth both vertically and horizontally since 2016.