Indian art traditions are not merely a heritage of the past, but living traditions – Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi
– Inauguration of a three-day international seminar on ‘Indian Knowledge Traditions and the Contemporary Forms of Classical Arts’ at the IIAS, Shimla.
Shimla:
A three-day international seminar and performance series titled “Abhijātakalākalāpeṣu Bhāratīya-Jñāna-Paramparā (Sadyovṛttāntaḥ): Tracing Roots of Bhāratīya Jñāna Paramparā in Contemporary Practice of Classical Arts” commenced today at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla. The seminar, being organized from May 21 to 23, 2026, aims to explore the interconnections between the Indian Knowledge Tradition, classical arts, and contemporary cultural expressions, while highlighting the profound legacy of Indian aesthetic and philosophical traditions before the younger generation. The inaugural session was held at the Pool Theatre of the Institute and began with a Manglacharan presented by Dr. Shikha Samaiya, followed by an invocation rendered by Dr. Manoj Verma and his team. The formal inauguration was marked by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi, and Vice Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Heritage, Noida, spoke extensively on the interrelationship between lok and shastra traditions and their relevance in contemporary society. He remarked that Indian artistic traditions are not merely relics of the past, but living traditions that continue to provide society with sensitivity, cultural self-awareness, and spiritual insight. He stated that the uniqueness of the Indian Knowledge System lies in its inclusive and multidimensional worldview, wherein art, philosophy, spirituality, and everyday life remain deeply interconnected. He emphasized that the Indian Knowledge Tradition should not remain confined to museums or texts alone, but must be meaningfully linked with the experiences and aspirations of contemporary generations.
In his welcome address, Prof. Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director, IIAS, stated that Indian classical arts are not merely modes of entertainment or performance, but living expressions of Indian thought, philosophy, spirituality, collective consciousness, and cultural memory. He observed that the core spirit of the Indian Knowledge Tradition has historically connected society through the ideas of rasa, beauty, and aesthetic experience. He emphasized that Indian artistic traditions can only be understood through an integrated and interconnected perspective encompassing literature, music, theatre, architecture, sculpture, philosophy, and spirituality. He further remarked that such academic engagements are of special significance in the present time for repositioning the Indian Knowledge System within global intellectual discourse.
Presenting the theme of the seminar, Dr. Uma Anantani, Fellow of the Institute and Convener of the seminar, observed that Indian classical arts are deeply rooted in the guru-shishya parampara, the theory of rasa, dramaturgical traditions, and Indian philosophical thought. She noted that in an age dominated by rapid media expansion and global cultural influences, younger generations are often drifting away from the original essence and deeper philosophical dimensions of Indian classical arts. In such a context, she stressed the urgent need to communicate the aesthetic sensibilities, spiritual dimensions, and cultural values embedded in Indian artistic traditions to contemporary society and future generations.
In her presidential remarks delivered virtually, Prof. Shashiprabha Kumar, Chairperson, IIAS, observed that Indian classical arts embody the cultural soul of Indian society and reflect a unique synthesis of spirituality, aesthetics, and civilizational consciousness. She stressed the importance of adopting an interdisciplinary approach in the study of Indian artistic traditions so that the interconnections between art, literature, history, philosophy, and society may be understood more comprehensively.
The inaugural session was conducted by Prof. Uma C. Vaidya, Tagore Fellow at the Institute. A distinguished scholar of Sanskrit studies, Indian classical literature, and artistic traditions, Prof. Vaidya conducted the proceedings with remarkable dignity and scholarly depth. She underlined that Indian artistic traditions are not merely mediums of expression, but carriers of India’s cultural memory and spiritual consciousness.
The first academic session following the inauguration featured a lecture by Prof. Mahesh Champaklal on “The Contemporary Practice of Producing Sanskrit Plays in the Natyashastric Tradition,” while Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. R. Ganesh delivered an online lecture on “From Rasa to Rasika.” The afternoon sessions included lecture-demonstrations related to classical dance, yoga, music, and performing arts, featuring presentations by Shri Praveen Kumar, Dr. Veena Londhe, Dr. Malati Agneswaran, and other eminent practitioners and scholars.
The forthcoming sessions of the seminar will include lectures and performances by distinguished scholars, artists, and researchers from India and abroad on diverse themes related to Indian dance, music, architecture, literature, Bhakti traditions, Natyashastra, Devadasi traditions, aesthetics, the National Education Policy, and the Indian Knowledge Tradition in the context of Artificial Intelligence.
