Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.96

v2.c10.96

It was in 1918 that Calcutta University first opened a Chinese language course, but it had to be cancelled due to a lack of students. After Tagore’s visit to China in 1924, the traditional cultural relationship between the two countries resumed, and cultural exchanges were launched in India. In 1937, Tagore and Tan Yunshan founded Cheena Bhavan, Visva-Bharati (Chinese Academy, International University). This was the centre and talent base where modern India carried out Chinese language teaching and Chinese studies. However, before independence in 1947, India mainly knew about Chinese literature through English versions or overseas writers’ English works.