CONTENTS

1. Kozhikode and Gwalior in UNESCO Creative Cities Network

 Kozhikode and Gwalior in UNESCO Creative Cities Network

Context:

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has welcomed 55 new cities into its Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Notably, two Indian cities have joined this network: Kozhikode in Kerala, designated as the ‘City of Literature,’ and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, recognized as the ‘City of Music.’

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Recognition of Kozhikode as City of Literature:
2. Designation of Gwalior as the City of Music:
3. UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

Recognition of Kozhikode as City of Literature:

• Kozhikode is the first Indian city to earn the prestigious title of ‘City of Literature’ from UNESCO.
• The city has a rich history of hosting prominent literary gatherings like the Kerala Literature Festival.
• This recognition underscores Kozhikode’s role as a center for intellectual exchange and literary discourse.
• Kozhikode boasts more than 500 libraries and is home to renowned writers like S. K. Pottekkatt, contributing to Malayalam literature and culture.

Designation of Gwalior as the City of Music:

• Gwalior becomes the second Indian city, after Varanasi in 2015, to be designated as the ‘City of Music’ by UNESCO.
• The city is known as the birthplace of Tansen, a legendary musician and composer in Indian history.
• Gwalior is the cradle of the Gwalior Gharana, the oldest and most influential school of Hindustani classical music.
• The annual Tansen Sangeet Samaroh in Gwalior is one of India’s largest music festivals, attracting enthusiasts and artists from across the country and abroad.

UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

• Established in 2004, the UCCN promotes collaboration among cities recognizing creativity as vital for urban development.
• It aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 11, focusing on Sustainable Cities and Communities.
• The network encompasses seven creative fields: crafts and folk arts, media arts, film, design, gastronomy, literature, and music.
• Indian Cities in the UCCN
• Several Indian cities have been recognized by the UCCN:
  • Jaipur: Crafts and Folk Arts (2015)
  • Varanasi: Creative City of Music (2015)
  • Chennai: Creative City of Music (2017)
  • Mumbai: Film (2019)
  • Hyderabad: Gastronomy (2019)
  • Srinagar: Crafts and Folk Art (2021)
• Kozhikode joins as the ‘City of Literature,’ and Gwalior as the ‘City of Music,’ enriching India’s presence in the UCCN.