PRESS RELEASE:
India — an extremely diverse country, with vast differences in geography, climate, culture, language, and ethnicity across its expanse — prides itself on being the largest democracy on Earth. For two years, Mike and Beverly Swartzlander of Hendersonville lived and worked in Mumbai, India, and since 2009 have returned to that country annually. On Tuesday, January 12, at 6 p.m., at Henderson County Library auditorium, the couple will present a program with photos and discussion of the life they lived and discovered across the vast and varied landscapes of India. Hosted by Hendersonville Sister Cities, the program is open to the public at no charge.
India’s culture and heritage are a rich amalgam of the past and the present. Fascinating religions and ethnography, a vast variety of more than 438 living languages, and monuments that have been present for thousands of years are the things that draw Westerners to its cities and countryside. As it opens up to a globalised world, India still has a depth of history and intensity of culture that awes and fascinates the many who visit there. Yet with its amazing variety of foods and spirituality, India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, one of the fastest developing countries, and is considered to be an emerging superpower.
“India is changing rapidly,” Mike explained. “This fascinating country already impacts us all, and will become even more important to us over the coming years. Beverly and I will give an overview of Indian culture and society along with many practical travel suggestions. Our photos will show how incredibly beautiful the Indian people and landscapes are.”
In 1981 Mike began traveling to India on business. In 2007, the couple moved to Mumbai where Mike started the wholly owned operations in India for a U.S. corporation. Since their return to America in 2009, Mike has continued doing business in India, traveling there annually. Mike and Beverly will host a travel group to India in November 2016.
Hendersonville Sister Cities is a nonprofit organization formed in 2007 to foster and celebrate international cooperation and understanding and local economic growth through education, exploration of other cultures, travel, and social interaction. Almuñécar, Spain, and Verbania, Italy, are Hendersonville’s two sister cities. In February, HSC will co-host with Asheville Sister Cities the annual conference of North Carolina Sister Cities.
Hendersonville Sister Cities regularly hosts educational and cultural programs and international dinners. The organization is a member of Sister Cities International, a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network seeking stronger economic and cultural ties at the municipal level between U.S. and international communities. Sister Cities International encourages U.S. and Indian cities to become Sister Cities.
For more information about Hendersonville Sister Cities, visit the website at www.hendersonvillesistercities.com. For more information about the program on India, contact the Swartzlanders at 828-393-7947. # # #
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