History
The idea of an India International Centre was suggested at the instance of Mr. John D. Rockefeller III, during a conversation between him and the Vice President of India, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, in October-November 1958. Dr. C. D. Deshmukh, then Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), was identified by the Vice-President as the right man who would be able to set up the institution. This faith in Dr. Deshmukh was vindicated as by 24 December 1958 the Centre had been founded and by 19 March 1959 it was registered under the Societies Registration Act (XXI) of 1860. Dr. Deshmukh invited Joseph Allen Stein to be the architect of the Centre's builiding. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India, was so enthused by the idea that he personally took interest in the selection of the beautiful 4.76 acres site on which the present complex stands adjacent to Lodi Gardens. The inspiration for the building, its layout and size, came from the complex of the International House of Japan in Tokyo.
Mr. Rockefeller's suggestion had been that India should have an International House on the model of the one in Tokyo, known as the International House of Japan, in whose founding Mr. Rockefeller himself had played a great part. Dr Deshmukh was convinced, however, that unlike the Japanese institution, which was mainly supported by businessmen and journalists, the Centre in Delhi would have to lean heavily on the universities--it would have to be 'a pooled guest-house of the universities in the metropolis'. Funds were raised from the Rockefeller Foundation, and from 37 Indian universities and in April 1960 Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya turned the first sod. In November 1960, Crown Prince Akihito of Japan laid the cornerstone for the superstructure. The building was completed by 22 January 1962 and inaugurated by Dr S. Radhakrishnan; Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and John D. Rockefeller, III, were also present.
Concept
At the inauguration of the Centre, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru exclaimed: 'It surprises me, now it is here, to realize that we did not have it previously, because the world today is so constituted that there can be no escape from international cooperation, except, well, disaster. This 
International Centre will, of course, not change the nature of the world, but it will help in the process, which is very essential today...'. The Centre has been established as a non-profit and non-political organization and an autonomous non government body. In its charter, IIC declares its purpose as 'society promoting understanding and amity between the different communities of the world by undertaking or supporting the study of their past and present cultures, by disseminating or enhancing knowledge thereof and by providing such other facilities as would lead to their universal application'.
The Centre accordingly has been designed to provide an ideal environment for academic, cultural and intellectual pursuits. Following its charter, international and national conferences are initiated, as well as programmes in music, film, folk and classical cultures, the performing and visual arts and exhibitions. These cultural programmes are offered not only to members of the Centre but to the wider and interested public of the city.
The origins of the Centre are now grounded in history, involving the interaction of men and women with a vision of the future, and India's seminal role in a world of mutual cooperation. Conceived during the era of great institution building in India, this institution has grown over four decades. Its concerns and activities are as relevant today as they were in 1962.
The luminaries who were in the preparatory committee to spell out the objectives of the Centre, set up by Dr S. Radhakrishnan, were Dr C. D. Deshmukh (Chairman), Pt. H. N Kunzru, Professor Humayun Kabir, Dr V.K. R. V. Rao, Shri Raja Ram and Shri Prem Kirpal. 'The emphasis of the Centre will neither be on the study of any single culture nor on the promotion of any particular ideologies, rather, it will be the forum for the exposition of cultural patterns prevailing in different parts of the world by men most competent to make such statements and embodying, in themselves such patterns'. Dr Malcolm S. Adiseshiah then Acting Director General of UNESCO, had also noted that the 'programme of the Centre as well as the basis of its existence, reflect an ideal which is undoubtedly very close to the ideal of UNESCO'.
From its inception, decision making at the Centre has been invested in the authority of the Board of Trustees. The five original Life Trustees of the IIC were Dr C.D. Deshmukh, Pandit H.N. Kunzru, Lala Shri Ram, Nawab Ali Jung Bahadur and Shrimati Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya.
The concept of the India International Centre was well received and a number of distinguished persons and almost all the then existing Universities decided to join as founding members.