IIT Kanpur inaugurates ŚIKṢĀ Study Centre for Indian Knowledge System for Holistic Advancement

Kanpur : On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur inaugurated the ŚIKṢĀ Study Centre for Indian Knowledge System (IKS) for Holistic Advancement, to ensure holistic learning from India’s vast and enriching knowledge system. Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur; Prof. Siddhartha Panda, Dean, Students Affairs; Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya, Coordinator of the centre, and invited dignitaries inaugurated the centre with Deep Prajjwalanam (lamp lighting), followed by Vaidika Mantroccaranam and an invocation song.
During the inauguration, the coordinator of the centre, Prof. Arnab Bhattacharya, gave an introduction about the centre, mentioning that the mission is to promote, facilitate, and benefit from IKS-related studies, research, content development, and outreach. Director Prof. Abhay Karandikar launched the website and logo for the centre, which has the Dhyeyavakya “ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखम्” (“Ūrdhvamūlamadhaḥśākham”) taken from Bhagavadgītā. The logo was explained as an illusory reflection of the ultimate reality whose real essence can be known only through selfless knowledge.
Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur said, “Through the ŚIKṢĀ Study Centre for Indian Knowledge System for Holistic Advancement, we aim to integrate the vast knowledge system of India into our academic curriculum and research, and make it accessible to the world. This center will provide a platform for interdisciplinary research and development, and we hope to establish IIT Kanpur as a leading institution for IKS studies globally.”
About 20 faculty members from more than 12 departments are part of the centre. The long-term vision of the centre is to establish IIT Kanpur at the forefront of IKS studies in the world. In his speech, Prof. Karandikar mentioned that the centre’s goal is to start an academic program in IKS and create a significant impact in the field. The centre will conduct research in various domains, including Health & Wellness, Mathematics & Astronomy, Sanskrit & Linguistic studies, Consciousness studies, Archaeo-metallurgy & Materials, Darsanas, Acoustics & Music, and Water management systems.
The event concluded with two technical talks by Prof. M D Srinivas, Chairperson, Centre for Policy Studies, Chennai, and Prof. Rama Jayasundar, Head, Dept of NMR, AIIMS, New Delhi, on general IKS and Ayurveda, respectively. Prof. Srinivas spoke on “Indian Knowledge Traditions: Their Past, Present, and Future” and emphasized the importance of including Indian knowledge traditions in the courses and research conducted in institutions of higher learning. Prof. Jayasundar’s talk was on “Ayurveda: A Healthcare System Perfected over Time,” where she highlighted the differences between Ayurveda and the Western school of medicine and explained how Ayurveda is a holistic system.
With the inauguration of the ŚIKṢĀ Study Centre for Indian Knowledge System for Holistic Advancement, IIT Kanpur takes a significant step towards exploring and promoting Indian knowledge systems, creating a positive impact in the field and the society.