The Centre for Human Sciences, Rishihood University, inaugurated an Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR)-sponsored series of lectures on ‘Sri Aurobindo’s Political and Cultural Philosophy: Nationalism and Swaraj’ at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi, to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo. It was a grand event that also marked ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ in India’s 75th year of Independence.
The occasion was graced by Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi as the Chief Guest; Dr Sachidananda Mishra, member-secretary of the ICPR was the special guest; Dr Makarand Paranjape, professor at JNU and former director, IIAS, was the chief speaker and Dr Sampadananda Mishra, director, Centre for Human Sciences at Rishihood University, was the convener. The message of Dr Ashok Pradhan, director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi, was read out by Professor Shashibala, Dean, Centre for Indology, BVB, New Delhi. RK Mishra, Registrar, BVB, New Delhi, also spoke on the occasion.
The speakers set the context by emphasizing the need for achieving independence of mind and thought as a prerequisite for being truly independent and explained how Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy leads us in that direction.
The first lecture was delivered by Dr Makarand Paranjape, Professor at JNU and former Director, IIAS.
Inauguration of ICPR Sponsored Lecture Series on Sri Aurobindo at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi | Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi at the Inauguration of the ICPR-sponsored 10 Lectures Series |
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Sl No | Lecture Title | Objectives | Outcomes | Facilitator | Date |
1 |
1. To understand the essence of Swarajya in context of Sri Aurobindo’s perspective. 2. To understand the value of the concept of Swarajya during the freedom struggle. 3. To understand the importance of Swarajya in New India. 4. To discuss to what extent Swarajya has been achieved. |
1. Understanding of the concept of Swaraj in personal as well as political spaces. 2. To have mastery over our environemnt and circumstances. 3. Figuring out a way to attain poorna Swarajya so that New India can prosper. |
Dr. Makarand Paranjape : Professor- JNU and Former Director: IIAS, Shimla | 12th August 2022 | |
2 |
Sri Aurobindo’s Thoughts on Education as Foundation for Indian nationalism |
1. To provide a holistic education that is integral, immersive and Interdisciplinary on the lines of Sri Aurobindo’s ‘three principles of education’ 2. Inculcating Self-awareness based on the idea of knowing one’s swabhava and swadharma 3. To Cultivate the value of Nationalism through education 4. To generate interest in Sanskrit by blending the awareness of physical and spiritual worlds |
1. Self-aware nationalists in society walking on the path of Dharma 2. Providing solutions to the crisis of the modern world 3. The reservoir of knowledge in Sanskrit to be applied in every stream of knowledge for a holistic development of the self as well as the surrounding. |
Dr. Priya M Vaidya | 19th October 2022 |
3 |
1. To have an understanding of India’s domestic needs, International issues and India’s cultural and material exchange with the world. 2. To understand India’s identity and importance in the Global context. 3. To understand how to curtail division and preserve unity and brotherhood among citizens in context of Sri Aurobindo’s thoughts. |
1. Inculcation of pride for India among citizens. 2. Increament in India’s potential. 3. To have a society where unity is cherished and fanaticism is discouraged. 4. Growth in India’s potential leading to the growth of the entire world. |
Shri Devdip Ganguli | 30th October 2022 | |
4 |
Sri Aurobindo’s Idea of Nationalism and the Quest for Freedom |
1. To understand what Nationalism means in the Indian (Dharmic) context and how it is different from the European Enlihtenment view of nationalism. 2. To understand what constitutes Indian nationalism amidst linguistic, religious and customary differences. 3. To understand the role of Sanatana Dharma as the basis of Indian nationalism. |
1. Realisation that Nationalism is not equivalent to monoculturalism. 2. Inculcation of the spirit of Nationalism based on Sanatana principles in context of Sri Aurobindo’s thoughts. |
Dr. Ramesh Bijlani | 20th November 2022 |
5 |
Sri Aurobindo- The Prophet of India’s Nationalism |
1. To have a proper understanding of Sri Aurobindo’s thoughts on Indian nationalism. 2. To understand the contributions of Sri Aurobindo with regards to Indian freedom struggle. 3. To understand the significance of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy in context of Indian nationalism. |
1. Understanding of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy of Nationalism 2. Understanding of how Sri Aurobindo is the prophet of India’s nationalism. 3. Creation of a society with a strong nationalistic fervor based on Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy |
Mohit Bansal | 18th December 2022 |
6 |
The Idea of Indianness: A Necessity for Nation Building |
1. To understand the Idea of India in the context of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy. 2. To understand how dharmic concept of a nation is different from the western concept. 3. To understand why dharma should be the backbone for Indian nationalism and nationhood. |
1. Cultivation of nationalistic sentiment based on the concept of dharma. 2. Understanding that the concept of dharma is enough to unify the whole world as one nation irrespective of race, caste, creed, gender, language, ethnicity, etc. |
Dr. Aparna Roy | 26th March 2023 |
7 |
Sri Aurobindo’s Social Philosophy: Imperatives for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam |
1. To examine numerous issues, challenges and problems of societal life – inter-group harmony, the religious divide, caste, gender, the significance of the right kind of education, social reform, etc. 2. To discuss the social philosophy of Sri Aurobindo by describing the characteristics of the various stages of social evolution (symbolic, typal, conventional, individualistic, subjective and spiritual), their progressive nature, and their influences especially on a complex and highly diverse Indian society |
1. The understanding that that the individual and society are two manifestations or expressions of the same Spirit, or of the Divine, 2. Inculcation of the spirit of brotherhood amongst all beings. |
Prof. Michel Danino | 6th June 2023 |
8 |
Sri Aurobindo’s Political Vedantism: A Guide for ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ |
1. To divest politics from its negative connotations. 2. To infuse politics with Vedantic ideas. 3. To reconcile the ethical human conduct in political life with that of the philosophy of Vedantic knowledge as laid down in our Upanishads and Sri Bhagvad Gita. |
1. Politically aware citizens who derive their inspiration from the spirit of Vedanta. 2. Fusion of Dharmic ideals with politics will naturally lead to reduction in crime, illicit money, dominance of muscle power and corruption. |
Prof. Sudhir Kumar | 12th June 2023 |
9 |
Swachhta in Polity: Sri Aurobindo’s Primer for Spiritualising the Political |
1. To understand the need for fair-play in politics in context of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy as well as his own life experiments. 2. To understand Sri Aurobindo’s political philosophy in detail and how it can be used to purify Indian polity. 3. To understand the need for spirituality for cleansing Indian polity and the ways to achieve it. |
1. A political landscape free of crime and corruption. 2. Individuals in political landscape who are spiritually motivated and who work for the betterment of the nation and always put nation before the self. |
Dr. Lakshmi Bandlamudi | 24th July 2023 |
10 |
Sri Aurobindo on Indian Culture : The Bedrock of Atmanirbhar Bharat |
1. To understand India’s true potential. 2. To understand the need for self-sufficiency. 3. To realise how Indian culture acts as a strong base for a self-sufficient society. 4. To takes inspiration from India’s past in order to become Atma-nirbhar. |
1.Realisation for the need to be self-sufficient, both as individuals as well as a society and a nation. 2. Inculcation of strong cultural values in Individuals who will make a strong society. |
Shri M S Chaitra | 24th July 2023 |