Czech Republic to make Chandigarh the “Prague of India”
Eliska Zigova, the Czech Republic's ambassador to India, mooted this idea to Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwari Lal Purohit on Tuesday, receiving a warm response. Zigova had earlier set up an first visited the city two honorary consulate of the Czech Republic in Chandigarh led by Major Guneet Chaudhary (retd)
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Dr Eliska Zigova, the Czech Republic's ambassador to India (right) along with Major Guneet Chaudhary, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic, for the states of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu (centre) along with Sangeeta Bagga, principal of the Chandigarh College of Architecture which held an exhibition on Czech embassies.If all goes as planned, Chandigarh could soon become a sister city to Prague, often referred to as the jewel of Central Europe. Dr Eliska Zigova, the Czech Republic’s ambassador to India, proposed this idea to Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwari Lal Purohit on Tuesday, receiving a warm response. Zigova, who first visited the city last year to establish an honorary consulate led by Major Guneet Chaudhary (retd), was struck by Chandigarh’s European vibe and its minimalist Bauhaus architecture, which was popular in then-Czechoslovakia in the 1970s. “Even our consulate is built along similar lines,” said Zigova, inviting students of the Chandigarh College of Architecture to take a look. The CCA is currently holding an exhibition of all Czech embassies built in what Zigova calls the simple “Brutalistic” style.
The similarities between the two cities don’t stop there. When Skoda, one of the oldest Czech automobile brands, launched in India, Chandigarh was the first to embrace it, registering record sales. Bata, still a popular brand for school shoes, also has its roots in the Czech Republic, or Czechoslovakia, as it was known before its division in 1992. While Chandigarh may not have quantified its beer consumption, it is certainly fond of this malt drink. Prague is well-known for its beer. “In Czech, we call beer the liquid bread. Be it at brunch, lunch, or dinner, it’s consumed liberally throughout the day,” smiles Zigova. The Czech Republic is the world’s top consumer of beer, with an average annual consumption of 188.5 liters per capita in 2022.
But beyond beer, the 32-year-old country would rather focus on its cutting-edge technology, especially in weapons, tanks, drones, and security apparatus. Zigova highlights how Eldis, a Czech security company, covers 90% of Indian airports with its advanced face recognition and other security systems.
Dr Eliska Zigova, the Czech Republic’s ambassador to India. (Express)
“We are also trying to increase our trade and collaboration in weapons,” says Zigova, noting how they could compensate for Russia’s inability to deliver weapons to India amidst the ongoing war with Ukraine. “We are also looking at collaborations on very sensitive arms know-how in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make-in-India push,” said Zigova.
This has led to Czech companies such as tractor-maker Zetor setting up manufacturing units in India with local collaborators. Other companies like Bonatrans, which manufactures rail components, have also signed joint ventures with Indian companies to modernize the country’s vast rail network. “The braking system of the Delhi Metro is by Bonatrans,” informs the ambassador.
Of late, the landlocked country has also been trying to boost its bilateral engagement in education. “Our universities provide western education at a fraction of the cost charged in developed countries,” says Zigova, emphasizing their interest in encouraging student exchange between the two countries. “It won’t be a one-way affair.”
Tourism between the two nations is also on the rise, with a large number of Indian tourists flocking to Prague. However, Zigova laments that most Czechs associate India primarily with the Taj Mahal. “There is very little idea about the diversity here,” says Zigova.
The soft-spoken envoy is keen to change this perception. “We truly value our relationship with India and want to build on it.” And like a true Czech, she believes, “A best friend is the one who brings out the best in you.” Making Chandigarh a sister city of Prague is one such step in this direction.
‘Russian invasion unacceptable’
The Czech envoy condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as unacceptable to the Czech Republic. “Hitler started like that. The entire European Union is supporting Ukraine and urging Russia to withdraw. That is the only path to peace.” She lamented that Russia had bombed the largest children’s hospital in Kiev earlier this week. “It’s totally unacceptable. We hope India will stand with us in this war.”
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