Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Co-operation (MGICC)
A Cultural Wing of the High Commission of India, Trinidad & Tobago

Overview:

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Co-operation (MGICC) is a premier institution dedicated to fostering Indo-Trinidadian cultural ties through education, performance, and community engagement. Established in 1997 under the bilateral Cultural Exchange Programme between the Government of India and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, MGICC operates under the administrative oversight of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the High Commission of India, Port of Spain.

Strategically located at Max Richards Drive, Mt. Hope, on a 5-acre parcel of land gifted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, MGICC stands as one of the largest cultural centers built by the Government of India outside of India. The foundation stone was laid jointly in 1999 by late Indian Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and then Trinidadian Prime Minister Dr. Basdeo Pandey, marking a milestone in Indo-Caribbean friendship.

In 2020, MGICC was inaugurated at its present premises, coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 175th anniversary of Indian Arrival in Trinidad and Tobago. On October 2nd, 2020, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled on the grounds, symbolizing peace, resilience, and cross-cultural unity.

Facilities and Programmes:

MGICC is equipped with state-of-the-art cultural infrastructure, including:

• - A spacious auditorium and seminar hall for performances, lectures, and community events
• - A comprehensive reference library focusing on Indian art, culture, philosophy, and history
• - Fully equipped classrooms for music, dance, yoga, language, and wellness education

Regular Classes Offered:

• - Indian Classical Dance – Bharatanatyam and Indian Folk Dance
• - Hindustani Vocal Music
• - Musical Instruments – Tabla, Harmonium, Pakhawaj, Dholak
• - Yoga and Naturopathy
• - Hindi Language

Scholarship Opportunities:

In partnership with ICCR, MGICC facilitates access to prestigious Government of India Scholarships:

• - General ICCR Scholarships – Three annual scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies in fields such as Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, Mass Communication, Music, Dance, etc.
• - AYUSH Scholarships – For studies in traditional Indian medical systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy

Apply via: http://a2ascholarships.iccr.gov.in 

Faculty Highlights:

Dr. Shri Kant Shukla (Tabla & Dholak Teacher) is a *renowned and accomplished professional Tabla artist* of the Lucknow Gharana, specializing in Tabla, Dholak, and Naal. He holds an M.Mus., NET qualification, and a Ph.D. in Tabla, completed under the guidance of Pt. Prof. Mukund Narayan Bhale, a distinguished maestro of the Farrukhabad Gharana. He also received rigorous traditional Gharana training under Khalifa Ustad Ilmas Hussain Khan, a renowned maestro of the Lucknow Tabla Gharana.

Dr. Shukla is a B-High Grade Artist of All India Radio, a recipient of the CCRT National Fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Awardee of Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi. He is also a Member of the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi and the author of Khalifa Ustad Afaq Hussain Khan and His Personality, a book highlighting the rich heritage of the Lucknow Tabla Gharana.

He has performed at prestigious national festivals and cultural events, including Taj Mahotsav, Maihar Mahotsav, MahaKumbh, Ramotsav, Defense Expo, UP Summit, G20 events and many more. He has also served as Guest Faculty at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University, Lucknow, and as an examiner for several reputed music universities in India.

Currently, Dr. Shrikant Shukla serves as *Tabla Teacher-cum-Performer* at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation, High Commission of India, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Smt. Vidushi Deepa Bhat (Bharatanatyam Dance Teacher) is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and teacher with over two decades of experience in performance and training. A disciple of *Guru Vandya Srinath* and *Dr. M. R. Krishnamurthy*, a Kalakshetra alumnus, she is trained in the traditional Pandanallur–Kalakshetra style.

A *Senior Scholarship awardee, B Grade Doordarshan artist, and UGC-NET qualified Performing Arts professional, she has performed extensively across India on prestigious cultural platforms. She is the founder of **Nrithyakuteera, Bengaluru*, through which she has trained hundreds of students in Bharatanatyam and presented several acclaimed choreographic productions.

Since October 2025, she has been serving as an *ICCR-empaneled Bharatanatyam Teacher-cum-Performer at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation (MGICC), Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago*, contributing to the promotion and dissemination of India’s rich classical dance heritage internationally.

Community Engagement:

MGICC regularly hosts cultural events, exhibitions, lectures, and concerts that promote Indian heritage and multicultural collaboration in Trinidad and Tobago. The auditorium and seminar hall are available for rent to support local artists and organizations in their cultural pursuits.

Contact Details:

Address: Max Richards Drive, Off Uriah Butler Highway, Mt. Hope, Trinidad & Tobago

Telephone: +1(868) 235-7610

Email: icc.pospain@mea.gov.in / iccposhcipos@gmail.com / asha.mgiccpos@gmail.com 

Website: https://www.hcipos.gov.in/page/cul-mgicc/ 

Social Media:

: https://www.facebook.com/mgicc.trinidad/ 

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: https://www.instagram.com/mgiccintandt/

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:  https://twitter.com/MGICCTandT

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