Safiqur Rahman,Nagaon : Batadrava—the sacred birthplace of Srimanta Sankardeva—came alive with intense intellectual energy as scholars from across India gathered for a National-Level Seminar on “Indian and Western Philosophical Perspectives”, hosted by Batadrava Sri Sri Sankardeva College (Indian and Western Philosophy Seminar).
Organised with the financial support of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), the three-day academic conclave brought together vice-chancellors, professors, researchers, teachers, students, and distinguished guests from universities and colleges across the country, turning the historic land of Sankardeva into a vibrant hub of philosophical dialogue.
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. Namita Kalita, Principal of Batadrava Sri Sri Sankardeva College, warmly greeted the delegates and expressed heartfelt gratitude for their participation. Despite limited infrastructure, she noted, the collective cooperation and enthusiasm of scholars ensured the successful commencement of the seminar.
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. K. K. Geethakumary, Vice-Chancellor of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady (Kerala). Describing the occasion as a “sacred confluence of Shankaracharya and Sankardeva,” Prof. Geethakumary highlighted the depth of Indian philosophy—its spiritual foundation, quest for self-realisation, and pursuit of liberation (moksha)—while contrasting it with Western philosophy’s emphasis on logic, science, and the analysis of the material world.
The inaugural session witnessed the esteemed presence of Yogendra Narayan Dev Mahanta, Satradhikar of Batadrava Salaguri Satra; Amlan Jyoti Dev Goswami, Satradhikar of Naruwa Satra; Lachit Bordoloi, General Secretary of Batadrava Than Management Committee; and Dr. Maitri Sharma, among other eminent personalities.
A major highlight of the programme was the release of the book “Samadhan”, a compilation summarising the core discussions of the seminar, unveiled by Dr. Biman Hazarika, Principal of Dhing College.
The opening ceremony was enriched with Borgeet and Sattriya dance performances, blending scholarship with Assam’s rich cultural heritage. A solemn tribute was paid to iconic artist Zubeen Garg and the founding principal of the college, Bhogeswar Bora, through ceremonial lamp-lighting by retired headmistress Pushpalata Bharali Bora.
The first academic session featured Prof. Lopamudra Choudhury of Jadavpur University and Prof. Arnab Kumar Mukhopadhyay of Presidency University, Kolkata, while the session chaired by eminent philosopher Prof. Sebastian Velassery (Retd., Panjab University) focused on Epistemology. The second session saw scholarly presentations by Prof. Laxmikanta Padhi of North Bengal University and Prof. Dr. Aribam Uttam Sharma of NEHU, Shillong.
Scheduled to continue until January 31, the seminar will witness the presentation of numerous original research papers in Assamese, English, and Hindi, offering diverse perspectives on Indian and Western philosophy.
By harmonising ancient wisdom with contemporary inquiry, the seminar has reaffirmed Batadrava’s legacy—not just as a spiritual cradle, but as a thriving centre of national intellectual discourse.
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