Shimla: India-West thought intersection examined at 2-day IIAS seminar

A two-day national seminar titled “India-West’s Shared Financial Context: Gandhi, Kumaraswamy and Tagore” was recently organised at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), bringing together scholars and academicians to examine the philosophical, financial and cultural intersections between Indian and Western thought.

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Inaugurating the seminar, Prof RK Mishra from the Department of Political Science, Lucknow University, emphasised the need to redefine youth narratives within the India-West discourse. He underscored the importance of India’s folk traditions and youth creativity in shaping a modern cultural dialogue.

Chairing the inaugural session, IIAS president Prof Shashi Prabha Kumar highlighted the importance of reintegrating India’s traditional knowledge systems into contemporary discussions, particularly those involving cross-cultural understanding.

Prof Abhay Kumar Dubey stated that both India and the West are inherently committed to exploring the linguistic and cultural diversity embedded in India’s traditional knowledge, which offers a foundation for deeper mutual understanding.

In the course of the seminar, Dr Neelay Upadhyay presented a research paper examining the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity, sparking thoughtful discussion among attendees.

Presentation by Dr Neeraj Kumar Kumaraswamy explored the enduring relevance of Gandhi and Kumaraswamy’s contributions; Dr Sumel Singh Sidhu delved into the impact of ethnic culture on philosophical frameworks; Dr GB Haris addressed the cultural dimensions of youth identity in a globalising world; and Dr Priyanka Vaidya analysed the evolving concept of subjectivity within Indian and Western contexts.

The seminar concluded with Prof Brijesh Pandey, the seminar convener, expressing heartfelt gratitude to all participants and contributors for their insights and scholarship.