Culture, Language, Indian, and Connections (CLIC) & International Sweet Festival (ISF): A Movement of Hearts, Heritage, and Harmony
(Prof Shankar Chatterjee)
India is not just a country—it is a living, breathing story of countless languages, traditions, and cultures. But too often, we stay within our circles, missing our differences’ beauty. This is where Culture, Language, and Indian Connections (CLIC) come in. Since 2017, CLIC has been uniting communities, bridging cultures, and proving that diversity is not just something we tolerate—it makes us strong. The great initiative is that from 2025, CLIC will be taking forward the movement nationwide. CLIC organizes every State Formation Day at Telangana Raj Bhavan to ensure that every Indian state’s heritage is honored at the highest level.
From Punjab to Tamil Nadu, Northeast, West Bengal to Maharashtra, and beyond, CLIC has dedicated representatives from each state, leading their teams to showcase their music, dance, traditions, and languages so that no culture is ever forgotten. CLIC is involved with Telangana Raj Bhavan’s “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” program. This program celebrates India’s cultural diversity by showcasing various state-specific cultural programs. The goal is to introduce this program to all Raj Bhavans nationwide, promoting national unity and integration. The International Sweet Festival (ISF) is held every year from 13 to 15 January at the Parade Grounds in Hyderabad. It is free for all.
The objectives are:
1. Women Empowerment: Providing a platform for women from different states to showcase their culinary skills and entrepreneurial spirit.
2. National Integration: Celebrating the diversity of Indian culture and promoting unity among people from different states.
3. Cultural Exchange: Showcasing the rich cultural heritage of India and promoting cross-cultural understanding.
During ISF, different types of traditional sweets prepared by women of various Indian states living in Hyderabad are displayed and sold.
This initiative promotes women’s empowerment, cultural exchange, and national integration. Only housewives can participate; no businesspeople are allowed. Each participant can prepare and sell a maximum of three sweets. Such a festival brings together women from different states living in Hyderabad to prepare and sell traditional sweets from their home states. This initiative promotes women’s empowerment, cultural exchange, and national integration. Only housewives can participate; no businesspeople are allowed. Each participant can prepare and sell a maximum of three sweets. Also, the Kite festival was organised by CLIC with support from the Government of Telangana.
The CLIC Literacy First Committee Meeting held its first formal get-together on April 13, 2025, at Hampshire Plaza Hotel at Lakdi ka Pul Hyderabad under the chairmanship of Burra Venkatesham, IAS Chairman of the Telangana Public Service Commission. Libby Benjamin, General Secretary of CLIC, welcomed the gathering and briefly apprised the objective of instituting the CLICK literary family. Chairman Burra Venkatesham, IAS, explained the organisation’s aims and objectives.
He stated that CLIC is already active in Hyderabad by conducting sweet festivals, arts and music events, etc., with the cooperation and collaboration of people from various states settled in Hyderabad. He also felt that an organisation is sine qua non to form with different writers, performers, and artists to promote national integration. Given this, he suggested that volunteers come forward. Accordingly, an ad hoc committee was formed with Vijay Bhaskar as convener and a few others as members.
The issue will be taken up with the Hon’ble Governor soon. The meeting was conducted on a splendid platform with the active participation of about 50 writers and artists from 13 states.
Thanks to Libby Benjamin for his enthusiasm, dynamism, and expertise in organising such events from time to time.
(Author is a former Professor & Head (CPME), NIRD & PR, Hyderabad, India)
