National seminar on Sanatana Dharma Shastra held in Assam
By Dalim Phukan
Guwahati, Aug. 18: A one-day national seminar on “Sanatana Dharma Shastra: Universalism, Humanism and Common Values” was held on Monday at the National Institute for Teacher Education at Khetri in Assam’s Kamrup Metro district.
The seminar, attended by professors, scholars, researchers and students, explored the universal, humanistic and ethical dimensions of Sanatana Dharma Shastra. The seminar hall was packed with students and academic participants.
The programme was inaugurated in accordance with Assamese tradition by Dr Kalyan Pandey, Professor and Head of the M.Ed. Department of the institute. Prof. Bhushita Gogoi welcomed the guests and scholars and introduced them to the participants.
The key speakers included Prof. Kalyan Pandey, Dr Sristidhar Biswas, Principal of the institute, Prof. Nitika Ghosh, Dr Vandana Singh and Dr Rajni Bala.
Prof. Pandey, who presented a research paper, explained the concept of Sanatana philosophy and highlighted the universalistic and humanistic values embedded in Sanatana Dharma Shastra. He stressed the importance of cultivating moral values for achieving purity and a meaningful life, while also cautioning against excessive materialism.
Dr Biswas elaborated on the philosophical dimensions of Sanatana Dharma Shastra, while Dr Vandana Singh spoke about its core principles and values. Prof. Nitika Ghosh focused on ancient Indian values and their relevance in addressing what she described as the growing moral challenges confronting society.
Senior journalist of The Assam Tribune Dalim Phukan spoke on ancient Indian values with reference to Indian epics and scriptures. Addressing the students, he cautioned against excessive dependence on technology, saying that overreliance on digital devices could adversely affect creativity and independent thinking.
Six research papers were presented during the seminar, covering various aspects of Sanatana Dharma Shastra, its philosophical foundations and its contemporary relevance.
The seminar concluded with a call for greater academic engagement with India’s ancient philosophical traditions and generated considerable interest among students in exploring the values and ideas associated with Sanatana Dharma Shastra.
