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Sanskrit is India's pride and it is well known that different branches of knowledge have been developed through the medium of the language. The need for understanding this ancient provenance in the light of modern values is strongly felt. Recent studies and experimental investigations have shown the deep scientific basis of Sanskrit texts. Sanskrit, as is well known, is a repository of religious and spiritual knowledge. The Seminar will encourage papers on this ancient provenance in the light of modern needs and concerns. The Department of Sanskrit Studies, the School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad will jointly organize a National Seminar between 11-13 February 2008 on the theme of Sanskrit in the Modern Context at Hyderabad.
There is a mine of information on various sciences like medicine, mathematics, metallurgy, botany and so on. Ayurveda and other Indian systems are now well regarded in the West. Botanical knowledge in the Vrikshayurveda texts needs probing. Varahamihira’s Brihatsamhita can be studied for scientific theories ranging from seismic studies to ecology, calculation of planetary movements to preparing perfumes.
Grammar and cognitive science are areas in which Sanskrit has contributed immensely. Panini’s Ashtadhyayi is a seminal text and it is well recognized that Computer Science has derived much from it.Modern concerns with the linguistic turn in philosophy; our premium on reasoning and logic, the renewed interest in epistemological questions can be explored with the Sanskrit philosophical texts as a point of reference.In Economics, we have Kautilya’s masterpiece on management and administration and political and economic organization.
There is a felt need for a kind of ecumenism and cooperation between different religious traditions and the Sanskrit texts can be a point of reference for such an activity. The Aestheticians in Sanskrit have their obvious resonances in a post modern context. Their pronouncement on a range of creative issues needs analysis in the light of contemporary concerns. The Indian Epic tradition and its modern relevance is yet another area. An important area for investigation is the way Sanskrit and the Indian Bhashas relate to one another. The growth of Prakrit, Apabramshas, both Paisachi and Shauraseni needs to be documented. Indian music and its Sanskrit context can be the subject of a paper or two.
The above write up is only indicative and hardly exhaustive. Abstracts in .pdf format only, on any aspect of ‘Sanskrit in the modern context’ may be sent to smc.hcu@gmail.com before November 15, 2007. The selected Paper readers will be informed by 25th November 2007. Fully written papers (reading time 20 minutes, discussion 10 minutes) should reach us by 1 January 2008.
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