The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) in Hyderabad, India, recently hosted a groundbreaking International Conference on Mahabharata Epic across Asia: Ancient Indian Knowledge System Transcending Spatio-Temporal Boundaries. This conference, held from May 29 to 31, 2023, aimed to explore the cultural and literary significance of the Mahabharata across Asia.
The esteemed event, funded by the Indian Council of Social Science and Research (ICSSR) and the EFL University, was organized under the mentorship of Professor E. Suresh Kumar, Honorable Vice Chancellor of the English and Foreign Languages University. The conference was inaugurated by Shri ShankarandJi, and ShehSangthanMantri from BhartiyaShihsanMandal (BSM), who emphasized the importance of determining one’s duty by understanding the purpose of life. Additionally, Shri Avinash Khanna Ji, former Member of Parliament and renowned thinker, highlighted power struggles as a leading cause of humanitarian crises.
In this conference, Dr. Knum Prasad Sharmaalong with seven other participants delivered a keynote address on Foot-Printsof Mahabharata across South-East Asia: A Synchronic and Diachronic Study and set the toneof the conference. This conference foregrounded “unity in diversity” and simultaneouslyacknowledged “diversity within the assumed unity” and emphasized the requirement of morecultural and literary exchanges among all the political entities in this region. Dr. SushilGhimire from Balkumari College, Chitwan Nepal presented a paper titled “Karna’s Dilemma: The Influence of Factors on His Choice of Loyalty,” which explored the intricate decision-making process faced by the character Karna in the Mahabharata. Dr. Ganesh Dhakal from ValmikiShikshaSadan presented “Krishna’s Mohini Avatar: The Ultimate Pathway to Success and Fulfillment,” analyzing the multifaceted aspects of Lord Krishna’s Mohini Avatar and its significance in attaining success and fulfillment. Similarly, Dr. KomalPhuyal, TU Central Department of English, Dr. MadibhadraGautam from the same, and Sudan Dotel Kathmandu University and YograjLamichhanePokhara University also presented their paper on the theme of the Conference.Their presence showcased Nepal’s deep-rooted connection to the study of the Mahabharata.
Dr. Jai Singh, Principal Investigator of the cluster, collaborated to make this conference a phenomenon in South-East Asia, attracting over four hundred scholars from around twenty countries.
The conference facilitated an atmosphere of academic collaboration and cultural understanding, nurturing the study of the Mahabharata. It provided scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts with a platform to exchange ideas and explore the rich heritage of the epic across Asia. With its successful conclusion, the conference renews its commitment to expanding the understanding of ancient Greater Bharat knowledge systems beyond spatiotemporal boundaries.
