The Program

When elaborating on Indo-Hamburgian connections, it is only apt to converse with Amita Desai — an honorary Hamburg Ambassador, Founding Director of the Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad for 18 years as well as a representative of the German Research Foundation for about ten years. Amita has had a long and deep connection with Hamburg as she grew up in this port city, eventually completing her M.A. and M.Ed. from the University of Hamburg.

Germany and India share a long-standing connection in the field of education. As early as the mid-nineteenth century, Friedrich Max Müller had begun his lifelong work of promoting Indian Studies and culture in Europe. To this day, his legacy is passed on in the form of the Goethe Institutes in India, named Max Mueller Bhavan in his honour.

Since its inception in 2011, the Hamburg Representation Mumbai office has been bridging the gap between India and Germany by providing on-ground and advisory assistance to various economic, cultural and academic institutions in both regions. As the Representation celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, we take a look at its role and responsibilities.

A powerhouse of the German economy, Hamburg has been a commercial hub in northern Europe for centuries. The city gained economic prosperity due to its strategic location as a maritime port on the river Elbe. It is one of Europe’s richest cities with over 40,000 millionaires and hosts a large number of expatriates from across the globe due to the various job prospects it offers.

A midnight’s child born in 1947, Hoshang Merchant is as young as independent India. Recognised by his many identities - India’s first openly gay man, a poet, a thinker, an activist, an academician - Merchant has carved a name for himself as a rebel with a cause. In this candid chat with Sanika Diwanji, Hoshang Dinshaw Merchant talks about life, poetry, power and politics.

The Hamburg Welcome Center is supposed to be the first point of contact for many foreign residents in Hamburg for issues related to visa, city registration, tax enrolment and so on. And yet, not many are aware of the various other services offered by the Center to foreign workers and their families. In this article, Sanika Diwanji explores the role of the Hamburg Welcome Center along with their lesser known offerings.

Sanika Diwanji in conversation with Stefan Halusa, Director-General of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC), on the various aspects of Indo-German bilateral trade, pandemic and post-pandemic recovery and his time in India since he took up position in September 2020.

Geographically remote and often overlooked, the northeast region of India comprises eight states that offer a world of adventure, pristine nature and a melting pot of culture for those keen on exploring India beyond the Taj Mahal and tigers. In this article, Sanika Diwanji informs about the myriad offerings of northeast India and the ongoing work to raise awareness about sustainable tourism.