How Britain and India can be an example of how culture can be used to make people closer: British Cultural Secretary

Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar and British Culture, Media and Sports Minister Lisa Nandy on May 2, 2025 on Wave Sidelines Street in Mumbai | May 2, 205. Image source: ANI

Lisa Nandy, the British Minister of Culture, Media and Sports, said India and the UK could be the “example” of the world's use of cultural cooperation to transcend borders and unite people.

India and the UK signed a new bilateral cultural cooperation agreement on Friday (2 May 2025). The agreement is expected to promote creative exports from Britain to India and create more partnerships between British and Indian museums and cultural institutions.

The British Minister of Culture said on Saturday that the agreement was a “signal of intent” and marked the relationship as “the beginning of the next chapter” with further cooperation expected.

Ms. Nandy observed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aim to unite the global people with the important cultural heritage of India, noting that this is intimately consistent with the message of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

In an interview HinduMs. Nandi, who is on a three-day visit to India, said that while cultural cooperation between the two countries is economically important, its greater significance lies in other places. “We feel that when the world feels very different [the] Britain and India may be a true example of how culture is used to bring people closer. ” she said.

“That’s why David Rammy [U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs]Jonathan Reynolds [U.K. Secretary of State for Business and Trade]Rachel Reeves [U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer] She has been to India recently. “She explained. Because India is one of our most important partners, and there is no place that is more important than culture.”

Ms. Nandi stressed the importance of acknowledging India’s influence on modern Britain, which she felt often overlooked compared to the UK’s influence on India. “Even a typical British band, the Beatles are deeply influenced by the sound of Indian music,” she noted. “No, we will not have the energy in the music industry.”

“It is important for our people that we celebrate and explain this for them: how the partnership between India and the UK has helped shape the modern UK,” she continued. “A lot of things have happened organically. What we want to do is make it more systematic and bring our institutions together.”

She acknowledged Mr. Modi's obvious ambitions for the Indian film industry, literature, music and dance.

Ms. Nandy concluded: “India already leads the world in many things, but Mr. Modi’s determination to do more and that really resonates with us as a new UK government.” “Our Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke very clearly about our ambitions for the UK and we know that through cooperation we can take it to the next level.”