India International Centre
Coordinates: 28°35′36″N 77°13′20″E / 28.593383°N 77.222257°E The India International Centre (IIC) is a well known non-official organization situated in New Delhi, India. It was founded in 1960, and inaugurated in 1962. It is a unique establishment in that it serves as a meeting place for the various cultural and intellectual offerings the city has to offer, while maintaining its non-official character, non-aligned motivations and remains uncommitted to any particular form of governmental, political, economic or religious affiliation.
Overview
According to its official blurb, the centre is alluded to as 'Triveni', which in Sanskrit means 'a structure of three'. It provides three activity streams:
- The Intellectual Stream, which is supported with the organization of seminars, symposia, meetings, discussions, and a well stocked library that also helps publish papers.
- The Cultural Stream, through events like dance recitals, film screenings, and drama.
- The Social Stream, through its hostel and catering facilities which brings together people in a pleasant setting.
The centre operates on grants from the Rockefeller Foundation, and universities that have become members of the IIC foundation. An early interest taken by a past president of India, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, saw the government of India take an active interest in its activities as well. The India International Centre was designed by Joseph Allen Stein, an American architect who practiced in New Delhi from 1955 to 1995. It is one of several major buildings in the same area designed by Stein, giving the area the unofficial name "Steinabad".