India has invited its neighbors Pakistan and Bangladesh along with other countries to participate in a seminar titled 'Undivided India'. This seminar is being organized to mark 150 years of India Meteorological Department. Indian media NDTV said that such an initiative has been taken by the government to forget the differences and celebrate the joint history of the Indian subcontinent. However, it is not yet known when this seminar will be held.
Invitations have been sent to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Apart from the subcontinent, officials from various countries in the Middle East, Central and Southwest Asia have also been invited.
Indian news agency PTI reported that Pakistan has confirmed their participation. However, Bangladesh has not yet confirmed their participation in this event.
Analysts say considering the recent situation of the two countries, if Dhaka participates in this event, it will be a historic moment. “We want officials from all the countries that were part of undivided India when the India Meteorological Department (IMD) was established to be a part of this celebration,” said a top Meteorological Department official.
Various ministries of the Government of India are trying to make this event memorable. The country's finance ministry has decided to release a commemorative coin of Rs 150 on the occasion of this special seminar. On the other hand, the Home Ministry has sanctioned a special tableau (painting/picture) on Republic Day to mark 150 years of the Meteorological Department.
India Meteorological Department was established on 15 January 1875. Earlier, the British East India Company established the first weather observatory. Under them the Calcutta Meteorological Observatory started its operations in 1785, Madras Meteorological Observatory in 1796 and Mumbai Meteorological Observatory in 1826. At the beginning of the 19th century, many more meteorological observatories were established in the Indian subcontinent.
A cyclone in Calcutta in 1864, two floods in 1866 and 1871 caused famine in Bengal. It was then that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) was established in 1875. At that time, the IMD used to send weather information and warnings of the subcontinent through telegrams.
