27th Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Memorial Lecture to be held at IIAS on 6 March
Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Photo Gallery to be inaugurated
The Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla, will host the 27th Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Memorial Lecture on 6 March 2026. On this occasion, the Institute will also inaugurate the newly established “Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Photo Gallery” within the campus.
The lecture is being organized as part of the commemorative activities marking 60 years of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study. The programme will be chaired by Professor Shashi Prabha Kumar, Chairperson, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, while the memorial lecture will be delivered by Professor Arindam Chakrabarti, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Ashoka University, Sonipat. Professor Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director, IIAS, Shimla, will deliver the welcome address and introduce the chief guest.
The theme of this year’s memorial lecture is:
“Humanity as the Heart and Honey of All Living Beings: The Idealistic Realism of Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad.”
The lecture will explore the philosophical interpretation of the Madhukāṇḍa of the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upanishad, drawing upon the Advaita idealism of Adi Shankara, the transcendental idealism of Immanuel Kant, and the humanistic philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore. It seeks to examine the relationship between idealism and realism while reflecting on contemporary global challenges such as political instability, economic inequality, and ecological crises, emphasizing the continuing relevance of humanistic philosophical traditions.
The programme will be held on Friday, 6 March 2026, from 10:15 AM onwards at the Library Hall of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla.
On the same occasion, the Institute will also inaugurate the newly curated “Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Photo Gallery.” The gallery has been developed as a thematic visual space dedicated to the life, thought, and creative legacy of Rabindranath Tagore.
The gallery presents carefully curated photographs depicting Tagore at different stages of his life, his interactions with eminent personalities and intellectual contemporaries, and his participation in international gatherings and cultural exchanges. These visual narratives highlight Tagore’s global intellectual engagement and his role as a cultural ambassador of India.
One section of the gallery is devoted to Tagore’s literary, artistic, and theatrical contributions, showcasing aspects of his poetry, plays, artistic expressions, and creative works that shaped modern Indian literature and culture. Another section focuses on the educational and cultural activities at Shantiniketan and Sriniketan, illustrating Tagore’s pioneering educational vision that integrated learning with art, music, nature, and community life.
The newly established gallery is expected to serve as an important cultural and intellectual attraction for visitors, scholars, and students, offering deeper insights into the life and ideas of one of India’s most influential literary and philosophical figures.
It may be noted that the Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Memorial Lecture is one of the Institute’s prestigious annual lecture series, featuring eminent scholars who reflect on significant philosophical and humanistic themes relevant to contemporary society.
