Relationship between idealism, realism discussed at Institute of Advanced Study

The 27th Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Memorial Lecture was held today at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS). The Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Photo Gallery was also inaugurated within the campus. The programme was chaired by Prof Shashi Prabha Kumar, chairperson, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, while the memorial lecture was delivered by Prof Arindam Chakrabarti of Ashoka University.

Prof Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, director, IIAS, highlighted the intellectual legacy of Dr Radhakrishnan and the global relevance of Indian philosophy. He said the memorial lecture series organised at the institute provided an important platform for eminent scholars from India and abroad to engage with contemporary intellectual discourse.

The theme of this year’s lecture was ‘Humanity as the Heart and Honey of All Living Beings: The idealistic realism of Brhadarayaka Upanishad. Prof Chakrabarti presented a philosophical interpretation of the Madhukaa of the Brhadarayaka Upanishad, offering a deep analysis of the relationship between idealism and realism. Referring to the Advaita philosophy of Adi Shankaracharya, the transcendental idealism of Immanuel Kant, and the humanistic thought of Rabindranath Tagore, he explained that the concepts of humanity and coexistence occupy a central place in the Indian philosophical tradition. He also referred to contemporary global challenges such as political tensions, economic inequality and environmental crises, and emphasised that philosophical perspectives grounded in humanity had become increasingly relevant in the present context.

In her presidential address, Prof Shashi, highlighted the intellectual legacy of Dr Radhakrishnan and the continuing relevance of the Indian philosophical tradition. She noted that institutions such as the IIAS serve not only as centres of research and academic activity but also as important platforms for advancing India’s knowledge traditions, human values and intercultural dialogue.

The Tagore photo gallery has been developed as a special exhibition space dedicated to his life, ideas, and creative contributions. It displays rare photographs depicting different stages of Tagore’s life, his interactions with eminent personalities of his time, and his presence at international intellectual and cultural gatherings.