International Workshop on Importance of Indian Epistemes in the Anthropocene.
Exploration and Compilation of Select Sanskrit
Texts on Ecology and Bio-Diversity
15 JULY 2023
Organised by
INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGE STUDIES
AND RESEARCH (ILSR), KOLKATA
In Collaboration with
SANSKRIT COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY
Sponsored by
CENTRAL SANSKRIT UNIVERSITY
New Delhi
For fee and other details
please contact
[email protected]
This proposed workshop will explore and identify seminal Sanskrit texts and relevant portions from those texts which have clear and comprehensive bearings on ecological thoughts which will be compiled subsequently and such an anthology of key Sanskit texts on the theme of ecological harmony and overall existential well- being will contribute significantly in the ongoing global research deliberations on the Anthropocene and ecological devastation and the devastating collapse of our existential harmony and habitational bio-diversity.
For the last, almost two decades, Euro-American scientists have been talking about the Anthropocene, which signifies the current time of human domination, resulting in the plundering of the planet Earth with our carbon foot print and consumption greed.
This Age of Human domination or the Anthropocene has been endangering our planetary life and global academic research has been focusing on the need for new planetary epistemes which can save the world and our existence in the Anthropocene.
So far, the focus of the current Anthropocene related research has been largely Eurocentric which ignores the rich cultural and epistemic texts written in Sanskrit for many centuries in India which can offer significant insight on how to live harmoniously with nature and other non-human beings of the planet Earth.
The Indian traditional concept of Earth-Dharma or Earth Democracy as pointed out by scholars like Vandana Shiva and Meera Baindur can contribute significantly in the ‘ongoing academic and scientific discussion of the Anthropocene.
SUB THEMES:
The intended workshops will engage with the following;
« Categories as made in the Nydya-Vaisesika Classifications
« Notion of Prakrti in Samkhya Philosophy
« Implications of the Idea of Prakrti for Sustainability and Bio- diversity studies
« The Idea of Bhu-devata or the Body of God as enunciated in the Sri-Vaisnava Tradition
« The Indian philosophical notion of the Paiicabhdtas or the five elementary spheres Agni and Vayu, or Earth, Water, and Space
« The roles, positions and function of Humans and Non-human Beings
« Jaina Cosmology and the notion of Sacred Geographies and an Ethics of Relating with the Earth
« World Views Behind the idea of Sacred Nature
« Sacred Imaginaries and Myths related to Nature in India
« Notion of Rta and Dharma or Ecological Ethics
« Nature in Sanskrit Epics and other Literary Texts, Stories and Fables
« Identical concept of Gaia and Ecotopia in Sanskrit Texts
« The practice of Aéram and Metaphysical Epistemes on the Ethics of Nature Conservation and Non-Violence in Jaina Thought and ‘Samkhya-Yoga Philosophy
DEADLINE
Interested scholars are asked to submit an abstract (maximum 200 words) with a title and this must be emailed by 25 JUNE, 2023
REGISTRATION FEES
FACULTY MEMBERS: Rs. 1500 only
RESEARCH SCHOLARS AND STUDENTS: Rs. 1000 only
Selected candidates will be informed about selection results by 30 JUNE, 2023
They need to submit the presentation version of the paper (4000 -5000 words) latest by 14 JULY 2023