Archive for date: October 30th, 2019

Chandigarh 30 October 2019

Professor Kapil Kapoor in his seminal lecture critically examined the coordinates of the Bharat-Bodh, which are manifest in its plural knowledge-traditions and also explained how the diversity of Bharat- Bodh is integrated into a Unity through a remarkable continuity and recovery of Indic knowledge systems despite several invasions and
onslaughts. He illustrated this phenomenon by relating the dissemination of knowledge in India to the metaphor of “ Bodhi- Tree”. Thé branches of the Bodhi Tree or the Tree of Enlightenment , situated
at Bodhgaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, was taken to
Anuradhapura ( Sri Lanka) by Ashok’s son, Mahendra and daughter ,
Sanghamitra, from Anuradhapura a branch of the same tree was brought
to Sanchi in 2008 by Shri Mahendra Rajpakshe, suggesting the
continuity of Bharat- Bodh or the Awareness of India. Indic knowledge-
systems influenced the entire South- East Asian knowledge- traditions.
For example, China not only borrowed Indian knowledge systems but also
translated the Sanskrit and Pali texts into Chinese and thus preserved
for posterity. This is how the major Indian of Hindu monuments are
still preserved and kept the epics – The Ramayana and the Mahabharata
at the centre of public life. are Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam,
Indonesia, , Bali, Java, and Sumatra, are grounded in the coordinates
of Sanatan (eternal) dharma- centric values and cardinal principles of
life ( purusharthas – righteousness or dharma, artha or wealth, kama (
desire) and moksha ( liberation). Moreover, Bharat/ India as a geo-
cultural and political- social- historical entity is marked by
differences which are eventually integrated into a cultural entity.
Bharat as “ Desh”, became “ Rashtra” only because of its great
knowledge- traditions which flowed and flowered throughout India. In
such fields as astronomy, astrology, mathematics, atomic physics ,
chemistry, medical sciences, surgery and biology etc knowledge- texts
were composed not only in Sanskrit but also in other Indian languages.
God example, the Bhakti saint poets translated the Vedic knowledge
into the languages of the people ( from the Rigveda to the Guru Granth
Saheb). About the “ Soch or Thought / Wisdom” of India, Bharat/ India
offered an alternative of “ advaita or non- dualism” as well as “
polytheism” and “ polyphony” , to the dominant anthropocentric,
monotheistic, oppressive, anti- nature world- view of the west. Like,
the west, we, the Indians, did not destroy or massacre the natives or
aborigines to make a new “ nation”. Our “ Bharat- Bodh” offers a
cyclic notion of time or Kaal- and therefore , history is not a series
of moments arranged in linear progression . That is why , “ history “
is “katha” – a narration of time tied to an ethical aim of life.
Through the concept of “ Rta( truth that manifests in the cosmic order
) thé self, the local, and the global or the cosmic – realities at all
levels are inseparably interlinked. Through the philosophy of karma of
action , a very practical method of action without attachment-
bringing about contentment. Our “Soch” implies unity , not uniformity,
pluralism embedded in its unity. The all embracing vision and practice
of “ dharma “ ( ethical duty) is central to us , and we can never be “
dharma- nirapeksha of secular India this western sense. “ Samyam”(
restraint), “Niyam”( Discipline), and “ “Sadachara”( noble conduct)
lié at the centre of Bharat- Bodh or the Meaning of India.

Professor Chaman Lal Gupta, eminent writer and Vice Chairman , IIAS ,
Shimla was the Guest of Honour on the occasion and he ulnderlined the
idea , giving examples from literature and history, that without a
proper and holistic understanding of Indian culture, the knowledge of
the world ( Vishwa- Bodh) is impossible to be attained. This Vishwa-
Bodh and Bharat- Bodh are interdependent and not exclusive of each
other.

Professor Shankar Ji Jha , the Dean of University Instruction and
officiating Vice Chancellor, in his Presidential Address, summed up
the theme and underlined the increasing importance of the
understanding of Bharat to know who we are and what the world is .

Dr Teerthankar Bhattacharya gave a vote of thanks. Distinguished PU
faculty members and students enriched the session with their
participation.

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Chandigarh October 30, 2019

Prof. Deepak Kapur, Chairperson University Business School(UBS), Panjab University informed that Prof Meena Sharma and Prof. Purva Kansal, of UBS, have been awarded the reputed research  grant of Australia-India Council(AIC), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) 2019-2020 jointly along with a team of Professors from Western Sydney University, Australia,

        The Australia-India Council (AIC) works towards promoting awareness of Australia in India, and of India in Australia, and in a way that encourages further growth in relations between the two countries. The AIC grants projects that establish new, innovative and dynamic linkages; to help overcome an existing identified problem; or to help leverage a major event to build deeper and better relations between the two countries of Australia and India.

        Under this program, the Professors have been granted a project on “Connecting Women Social Entrepreneurs in India and Australia”. The project aims to bringing together Indian and Australian women social entrepreneurs to share and gain new knowledge, explore networking opportunities and to help develop better understanding of each other’s country. The objective will be achieved through cultural workshops and a cross-country visit by the women social entrepreneurs from India to Australia.  The project is designed to upgrade skills of small and medium social enterprise female founders and managers of India who are influential but are under-resourced members of their community for undertaking self-enrichment, cultural exposure and social leadership. The different activities under the project are planned to be undertaken over a period of atleast two weeks.

        The project will contribute to the development of an international relationship between the two communities from Australia and India from which the participants will be drawn. This will help incorporate both a meaningful cultural
exchange, and also help an increased commercial awareness of the respective products generated in each location. Furthermore, the benefits of this event will contribute to the broader Australian effort to create a meaningful and ongoing economic relationship between Australia and India.

        Dr. Meena Sharma is Professor of Finance in University Business School in area of Accounting and Finance. She has more than 28 years of teaching and research experience. She has been a member of working group on “Promotion of Agri-Business and Food Processing Industries in Haryana” constituted by Haryana Kisan Ayog, Government of Haryana and has also worked on UGC research project.

        Dr. Purva Kansal is Professor with University Business School in the area of Marketing Strategic Management. She has more than 18 years of teaching and research experience and has undertaken multiple assignments both nationally and internationally. She is a valued researcher and ardent publisher in her area. 

        The present project is an outcome of the International Conference on Global Issues in Management organised by UBS in February 2019.

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