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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.’

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.