International Seminar on Darśana of Radhakrishnan: Eternal and Temporal Inaugurated at IIAS
Modern Conference Hall also Inaugurated at Siddharth Vihar Guest House
Shimla; 09/03/2026. The inaugural session of the two-day international seminar on “Darśana of Radhakrishnan: Eternal and Temporal” was held today at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla. On this occasion, scholars, researchers, and members of the academic community from India and abroad initiated deliberations on the philosophy of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, his intellectual contributions, and the relevance of his ideas in the contemporary world.
The programme commenced with Vedic chanting, followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp to formally inaugurate the seminar. In his welcome address, Professor Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, highlighted the global relevance of Dr. Radhakrishnan’s personality and philosophical thought. He observed that Radhakrishnan brought the Indian spiritual tradition into dialogue with modern intellectual discourse and articulated a worldview grounded in the spiritual unity of humankind and universal ethical values.
In his introductory remarks, the Convener of the seminar, Dr. S. Ranganath, spoke about the background and objectives of the seminar and emphasized that Dr. Radhakrishnan’s philosophy serves as an important bridge between Indian intellectual traditions and global philosophical thought. He noted that Radhakrishnan’s philosophical reflections not only interpret Indian philosophy but also offer deep insights into human life, ethics, and the future of civilization.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice-Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University, New Delhi, described Dr. Radhakrishnan’s philosophy as a significant medium for presenting India’s knowledge traditions to the wider world. He remarked that Radhakrishnan interpreted Indian philosophy, particularly Vedanta, in a modern context and thereby opened new avenues for dialogue between Eastern and Western intellectual traditions.
On this occasion, the Chairperson of the Institute, Professor ShashiPrabha Kumar, in her presidential address, observed that Dr. Radhakrishnan’s philosophical vision reinforces the ideals of spiritual unity, ethical values, and intercultural dialogue. She further noted that academic seminars of this nature play an important role in transmitting the rich heritage of Indian philosophical traditions to younger scholars while strengthening global academic exchange.
During the programme, a few important publications of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study—Garland of Tribute (compiled by Dr. S. Ranganath), Ayurveda: Holistic Science of Wellbeing for the World, and Dayananda Saraswati and His Legacy (both edited by Professor ShashiPrabha Kumar)—were also formally released. At the end of the session, Dr. Rajeev Mishra, Librarian of the Institute, presented the vote of thanks, and the proceedings of the inaugural session were moderated by Dr. Akhilesh Pathak, Public Relations Officer of the Institute.
The two-day international seminar has brought together several eminent scholars from India and abroad. In the various academic sessions of the seminar, research papers are being presented on themes such as Radhakrishnan’s humanism, his interpretation of Vedanta, his engagement with the Bhagavad Gita, his views on education, and his reflections on the future of civilization. Through these discussions, diverse dimensions of Radhakrishnan’s philosophical thought are being explored in depth.
On the occasion of the inaugural programme, a state-of-the-art, fully automated and technologically equipped conference hall established at the Siddharth Vihar Guest House of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study was also formally inaugurated. Equipped with the latest audio-visual facilities, digital presentation systems, and international-standard conferencing technology, this hall will significantly strengthen the Institute’s academic activities, seminars, lecture series, and global scholarly interactions. This modern facility is expected to facilitate greater exchange of ideas among scholars from India and abroad and is being regarded as an important infrastructural addition for organizing national and international academic events at the Institute.
In the forthcoming sessions of the seminar, scholars from across India and abroad will continue to deliberate on Dr. Radhakrishnan’s philosophy, India’s knowledge traditions, and their significance in contemporary global intellectual discourse.
