India is the only civilization in the world which has withstood centuries of invasions, migrations, emigrations and interactions to sustain its cultural continuity in undiluted form till date. India is a kaleidoscope of cultures. Since the pre-Christian era, many scholars in the form of seers, ambassadors, travellers—religious and adventurists, panegyrists, bards, historians within India and from outside have studied the rich Indian culture. The constituents of Indian culture are both tangible and intangible. Tangible culture is the material culture of India which includes its pre-historic material remains, art and craft, archaeological and architectural heritage. Intangible culture comprises of religion, philosophy, spirituality, rites and rituals, fairs and festivals, performing arts, traditional knowledge system, folklore and folk tales, literature, languages and dialects etc. As part of the colonial legacy, most of the universities in India now teach a fraction of Indian culture through the discipline of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology (AIHCA).
The NEP 2020 underlines strongly the need for developing exclusive study of cultural traditions and heritage that are deeply rooted in the Indian ethos. As a part of these efforts, a study of Hindu culture and traditions becomes essential. There is, therefore, a need for the interpretation of classical texts/ scriptures/scripts/ artefacts, like the great Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, which can help in navigating various aspects of contemporary life like, management, socialization, moral values, concern for environment etc. from the great Indian epics like, Ramayana and Mahabharata. School of Bharat Studies will certainly play a pivotal role in disseminating and enriching the existing knowledge system.
The Hindu Studies programme is specially designed to offer two years Master’s Degree program and four year Ph.D. programme in Hindu Studies with an aim to inculcate an in-depth study of Hindu religion and its principles, cultural practices, the law of dharma, its values, traditions and syncretic philosophies, civilizational ethics and societal morals.
Programmes
- M.A. in Hindu Studies
- Ph.D. in Hindu Studies (to be offered shortly)
Objectives:
The basic objectives of this course are to provide:
- An alternative and indigenous perspective to the western model of education and philosophy prevalent in India since the colonial times.
- A critical understanding and hermeneutic interpretation of the Hindu culture and way of life and its connections with the spiritual and the divine.