I have great pleasure in handing over to you the first announcement
of the forthcoming seminar to be held under the auspices of the Institute for
Oriental Study, Thane on Saturday 27th December 2003 at Thane.
We have been conducting seminars since 1982 on different facets
of Indian Culture and this will be the 28th seminar since then.
The topic selected for the seminar to be held in 2003 is Panini,
Bharata, Kautilya, Vatsyayana and Indian Civilization.

Paini's Ashtadhyayi, Bharata's Natyashastra, Kautilya's
Arthashastra and Vatsyayana's Kamasutra are major seminal works of Indian
Civilization. They practically cover most of the creative abilities of Man such
as Speech and Language, Arts-fine, performing or liberal, Administration of
the State and Human Desire.

These Seminal Works cover a period of about 700 years ranging
from 500 BC to 200 AD. None of these works are religious but their
philosophy is deeply rooted in the traditional religious and spiritual beliefs
and Philosophy of India. These works inform us of the rich Cultural and Social
life Indians enjoyed in the past. Indians witnessed many wars during this
period but these conflicts could hardly destabilize or influence the spread or
existence of these cultural facets of the Civilization. It hardly mattered who
ruled the people or in which God they believed. Indian cultural unity baffles
many. No wonder that some of the purest performing arts of Ancient India
are seen alive in Kerala the southern most state of India.

Panini's Ashtadhyayi is about 2500 years old but hardly anything
new or innovative is added since then at least in the Sanskrit grammar. Another
Panini is to be born yet. Ashtadhyayi is composed in sutra style, which is
unique to Indian literature. Panini is the last grammarian of his class.
Shakatayana, Sphotayana, Kasakrutsna, Apishali and Paushkara are
predecessors of Panini mentioned by Panini himself in his Ashtadhyayi.
Unfortunately their writings are not available today. Jambavatiparinaya is
another composition of Panini about which very little is known and it is not
available today. Cultural study of Panini's Ashtadhyayi has given us new
insight in the history of Indian culture and society. There are many new
scientific disciplines available now from Neurology to Archaeology, which
help us to study the evolution of language and grammar. Many of these tools
were not available to the linguist till the last quarter of 20th century. A fresh
study of Panini's Ashtadhyayi on this background will be rewarding.
Kautilya's Arthashastra is also about 2300 years old. Though the
name of the text is Arthashastra it has very little to do with economics. The
text mainly deals with State Administration. This also seems to be the last
authoritative composition on the subject and not the first. Barhaspatya,
Barhaspatya, Ausanasa, Manava, Parasara, Ambhiya, Kaunapadanta,
Bahudantiputra, Visalaksha, Vatavyadhi, Bharadvaja and Pisuna are some
predecessors of Kautilya mentioned by him in his Arthashastra. Their works
are not available today. Kautilya has handled the subject with great skill, logic
and rationalism. Looking to the present political scenario all over the world,
Kautilya's advice on subject becomes more relevant today than in the past. A
fresh study of the subject will be of great help.

Bharata's Natyashastra is at least 2000 years old. The text mainly
deals with dance and drama in totality including the construction of the theatre.
This is also the last authoritative text on the subject. Bharata also has
mentioned many predecessors whose works are not available today. The study
of the text will easily reveal the rich cultural heights Indian Civilization has
reached at least 2000 years ago.

Vatsyayana's Kamasutra is also about 1700 years old. Like the earlier
three works this is also the last authoritative work on the subject. This is a
scientific treatise on sex and love. This is the first work on erotics in the world.
Vatsyayana has treated sex as an art apart from natural human instinct. The
last adhikarana of Kamasutra is Aupanisadika, which mainly deals with special
appliances and methods of use of aphrodisiacs, heightening of enjoyment
etc. Information is purely based on medical science and should be included in
the traditional medicine's database for Patents.

Panini's or Vatsyayana's contribution to human knowledge is basic
and unique and it can never be old. It is relevant to every century and thus
always would remain modern.

All these works have influenced Indian way of life immensely. This
influence needs appraisal every decade based on newer scientific revelations.
I am sure scholars would take this opportunity and throw light on many dark
corners of the subject.
With warm regards

 

(Vijay V Bedekar)

 

General Information.

Registration fee for the seminar is Rs. 300/-, which will help us to meet
the expenses of the seminar. We earnestly request all our sympathisers and
lovers of knowledge to register themselves as delegates for the Seminar.
All Cheques should be drawn in favour of ‘Institute for Oriental Study,
Thane’. Outstation delegates desirous of having accommodation at Thane,
should inform us two weeks in advance of the date of Seminar.

Last Date of receiving Abstract : 31st August, 2003
Last Date of receiving Papers : 30th November 2003
Registration: Rs 300/-

All Abstracts should be accompanied with Registration fee.
All drafts should be drawn in favour of Institute for Oriental Study, Thane.
(a) Papers for the Seminar should strictly adhere to the subject of the Seminar.
(b) Kindly specify the specific topic you have chosen for your presentation.
(c) Restrict yourself to the topic avoiding all generalisations.
(d) Refer to the primary sources from Sanskrit and Prakrit.
(e) Send your paper neatly typed on one side of paper.
(f) Use diacritical marks appropriately.
(g) Along with the Roman Script rendition supply the Devanagari Version.
(i) The abstract should be epitomised version of the whole paper comprising of
300 words atleast. Avoid generalities. The abstract should reach us not later
than 31st August 2003.
(j) Organising seminars has become a very expensive affair bound
by limitation of time. To gain maximum dividend out of this exercise the scholar
should examine critically the available Sanskrit literature and the paper should
be an original contribution rather than a repetition of facts already known.
The paper may be short or elaborate but it should reach us not later than
30th November 2003.

If you need any more information write to us without any hesitation.
Your co-operation is the only means reaching towards the success
of the forthcoming Seminar.

There will be two awards of Rs. 1000/- each for the
Outstanding Research paper presented at the seminar.
1. Prof. Shankar Yadav Ponkshe Education Trust Prize.
2. Shri A.V. Damle Prize.