Self-awareness Is Not Merely Knowledge, but Experience – Dr. Bhagesh Vasudev Jha
29th December, New Delhi: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Kala Nidhi Division, organised the Dr Kapila Vatsyayan Memorial Lecture, titled ‘Aatmbodh se Vishvabodh’ (From Self-Realisation to Universal Awareness), on 29 December 2025 at 4:00 pm at the Samvet Auditorium, IGNCA. The memorial lecture was delivered by Dr Bhagyesh Jha, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, Gujarat Sahitya Academy. The session was chaired by Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, President, IGNCA Trust. Dr Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, delivered the welcome address, while Prof. (Dr) Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Dean and Head, Kala Nidhi Division, introduced the programme.
Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, the founding Member Secretary of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), was a distinguished scholar of Indian art, culture, and spiritual thought, and a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan. In her memory, IGNCA annually organises the Dr Kapila Vatsyayan Memorial Lecture. Prior to the lecture, the exhibition ‘Abhivyakti Expressions of the Loom from the Vault of a Visionary’ was inaugurated at the Darshanam I and II Galleries, IGNCA. Drawn from Dr Kapila Vatsyayan’s personal textile collection, the exhibition is curated by Ms Sareekah Agarwaal, a textile archivist and researcher. It highlights textiles as carriers of memory, cultural continuity, and lived experience, and will remain open to visitors until 7th January 2026.
While delivering the Dr Kapila Vatsyayan Memorial Lecture, Dr. Bhagesh Vasudev Jha stated that the contemporary global crisis is essentially an identity crisis, not confined to any one nation but affecting the entire world. Referring to the ideas of Francis Fukuyama, Samuel Huntington, and Shankaracharya, he observed that modern ideologies are time bound, whereas Indian thought is enduring. Citing examples such as the Israel-Hamas war, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and wider global politics, he argued that the root of every conflict lies in questions of identity. He described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Atmanirbhar Bharat as a modern articulation of Indian self awareness. In the age of technology, he cautioned, the greatest danger is mental imbalance, the remedy for which lies not in technology alone but in self awareness.
Referring to the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, he noted that the declarations “Aham Brahmasmi” and “Tat Tvam Asi” are central principles of Indian consciousness, liberating the individual from ego, fear, and jealousy. He emphasised that self awareness is not merely knowledge but lived experience. Shankaracharya’s ‘Sadhana Chatushtaya’ comprising discernment, detachment, the cultivation of virtues, and the aspiration for liberation was described as a systematic process of self realisation. He further explained that ‘moksha’ does not signify salvation but freedom from fear, ego, and attachment. In the Indian worldview, death is not an end but a continuous journey of consciousness, a belief sustained through the Upanishads and living traditions. Emphasising the attitude of the witness, he said that the capacity to observe oneself marks the beginning of self awareness. Referring to the cosmic form described in the Bhagavad Gita, he observed that Indian world awareness dissolves the division between self and other. Describing “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah” as the foundation of the Indian worldview, he asserted that India’s vision is not narrow but universally benevolent. He concluded by stating that the tradition of revering rivers, nature, and the Earth as mother constitutes India’s global vision, and that the journey from self awareness to world awareness is India’s meaningful contribution to addressing contemporary global challenges.
In his welcome address, Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi observed that the memorial lecture, held in the memory of Kapila Vatsyayan, recalled her deep association with IGNCA and her abiding trust in the institution. He shared that after assuming office, and under the guidance of Chairperson Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, a direct dialogue was established with her, fostering mutual trust and a continuing tradition of guidance. He noted that this institutional continuity and respect stand as an important reflection of IGNCA’s cultural ethos.
Referring to the ‘Abhivyakti’ textile exhibition, Dr. Joshi remarked that textiles are not merely material objects but carriers of memory, emotion, and tradition, and that Kapila Vatsyayan’s textile collection brings forth layered narratives and lived experiences. Linking the day’s memorial lecture, centred on self awareness, the search for the self and national consciousness, with Indian philosophical and cultural thought, he expressed confidence that the programme would offer audiences a renewed intellectual experience.
While speaking on the occasion, Prof. (Dr) Ramesh Chandra Gaur observed that the Dr Kapila Vatsyayan Memorial Lecture has been organised regularly as part of an ongoing scholarly tradition. He noted that IGNCA remains committed to preserving the personal collections of scholars and making them accessible to the public. In this context, he referred to the Abhivyakti textile exhibition, accompanied by a catalogue, as an extension of this institutional endeavour.
Emphasising that textiles have been integral to human civilisation, carrying cultural, social, and economic narratives, he remarked that India’s textile traditions constitute a living archive of its civilisational ethos. He further noted that Abhivyakti foregrounds this richness while reflecting Dr Kapila Vatsyayan’s perspective on material culture as a vital lens for understanding India’s pluralistic traditions, and expressed confidence that the memorial lecture and the exhibition would open new directions for research, discourse, and cultural dialogue.
‘Abhivyakti’ is conceived as a tribute, a reflection, and a call to action, celebrating the textile collection of Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan. Throughout her life, the textiles she gathered became part of her identity, carrying memories, values, and emotional connections. This collection stands as an affirmation to her refined sensibility, her deep-rooted engagement with India’s cultural traditions, and her belief in the power of safeguarding heritage. In her physical absence, the collection becomes not only a treasure but also a responsibility, deserving to be seen, remembered, and preserved for posterity, allowing people to connect with a woman who shaped India’s cultural discourse while remaining rooted in tradition and forward-looking. The event was well attended by researchers, scholars, and cultural enthusiasts.
