‘Culture Cannot Resolve Conflicts, But It Opens A Window For Dialogue’: Gajendra Shekhawat

Last Updated:September 11, 2026, 11:40 PM IST

Gajendra Shekhawat said culture and tourism may not resolve conflicts, but they can open avenues for dialogue and strengthen civilisational ties among BRICS nations.

‘Culture Opens The Door To Dialogue’: Gajendra Shekhawat On BRICS Ties (Photo: Video screengrab)

Culture may not be able to resolve geopolitical conflicts, but it can create an avenue for dialogue between nations, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said during the CNN-News18 BRICS Dialogue. He stressed that India’s approach to BRICS should go beyond discussions on geopolitics, economic growth and strategic partnerships, with greater emphasis on civilisational and cultural connections.

Speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifting Russian President Vladimir Putin a Russian edition of the Thirukkural, Shekhawat said the ancient Tamil text carries a broader message on virtues, good governance, humanity and the relationship between people and nature.

‘Culture Opens A Window For Dialogue’

Shekhawat said BRICS brings together countries with long and distinct civilisational histories, making cultural engagement an important dimension of the grouping’s relationship.

He cautioned against overstating what culture can achieve, particularly when countries are dealing with active conflicts. However, he said cultural relations can provide an opportunity for nations to keep channels of communication open.

“Culture cannot resolve conflicts, but it opens a window for dialogue,” Shekhawat said, underlining India’s belief that disputes ultimately need to be addressed through conversation and engagement.

Tourism As A Bridge Between People

The minister also highlighted tourism as a potential instrument for strengthening ties among BRICS countries. He said culture creates curiosity, connectivity provides the means to travel, and tourism can turn that interaction into lasting relationships.

According to Shekhawat, when travellers, artists and cultural communities from countries with differences interact, it can help reduce mistrust and create a better understanding between societies. Such people-to-people engagement, he said, can eventually contribute to a more conducive environment for governments to address their differences.

He acknowledged that geopolitical tensions and restrictions can make seamless travel difficult, but said these challenges should not stop countries from working towards greater connectivity.

Focus On Deliverables, Not Just Declarations

Shekhawat said India’s BRICS presidency has also sought to ensure that summit discussions translate into concrete outcomes rather than remaining limited to declarations and photographs.

He pointed to the BRICS tourism discussions in Jaipur, where countries agreed on the importance of facilitating the seamless movement of travellers, along with greater exchange of information, experiences and perspectives.

The minister said institutional mechanisms would be important to carry these initiatives forward and ensure that the outcomes of India’s BRICS presidency have a lasting impact.

Repository Of Artists And Cultural Practitioners

Shekhawat also referred to the Bhopal declaration and an Indian proposal for creating a repository of artists, artisans, filmmakers and other professionals from the creative economy across BRICS countries.

The initiative, he said, could facilitate greater interaction and exchange among cultural communities and contribute to stronger ties between the participating nations.

For India, Shekhawat said, the larger objective is to ensure that BRICS evolves beyond a platform for strategic and economic discussions into a space where countries can reconnect through their civilisational histories, cultural traditions and people.

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What is India’s proposal for a creative economy repository under its BRICS presidency?

India proposed creating a repository of artists, artisans, filmmakers, and other professionals from the creative economy across BRICS countries. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that this initiative, linked to the Bhopal declaration, aims to facilitate greater interaction and exchange among cultural communities to build stronger ties.

How does Gajendra Singh Shekhawat view the role of culture in resolving geopolitical conflicts?

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that while culture cannot directly resolve active geopolitical conflicts, it can create an avenue and open a window for dialogue between nations. He emphasized that cultural relations provide an opportunity for countries to keep channels of communication open and reduce mistrust through people-to-people engagement.

What did BRICS nations agree on regarding tourism during the discussions in Jaipur?

During the BRICS tourism discussions in Jaipur, participating countries agreed on the importance of facilitating the seamless movement of travellers. They also agreed to promote a greater exchange of information, experiences, and perspectives to ensure summit discussions translate into concrete outcomes.

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Pragya Bahuguna

Pragya Bahuguna is a digital journalist at News18.com, covering national and international news, including Indian politics and geopolitics, with an interest in environment and climate affairs. She hol…Read More

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