As part of engaging with a larger social and cultural context and building a community of seekers and scholars in Indian Knowledge Traditions, Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth (CVV) has been organising its flagship international conference titled, New Frontiers in Sanskrit and Indic Knowledge (NFSI). After the success of NFSI in 2017 and 2018, the theme of NFSI2019 is decided as ‘Human Development and Indian Knowledge Traditions’. NFSI2019 will be held from 16-18 December, 2019 at the Chinmaya Eswar Gurukula campus of CVV located in Veliyanad, Ernakulam, Kerala. Several eminent speakers will present their views on education, health and consciousness as part of their discussions on human development and the relevance of Indian knowledge traditions in contemporary times. 

Leading up to the conference, a free webinar on ‘Why study the Indic Worldview in Higher Education in India’ was conducted on October 9, 2019. This webinar was a conversation between Dr. Shilpa Pandit, NFSI Coordinator, Associate Professor of Psychology, CVV, and Dr. Gauri Mahulikar, Convenor of NFSI,  Dean of Faculties, CVV. Discussion started with a brief idea of NFSI and the creative impulse behind it. The connection between language, cognition and the worldview embedded within Sanskrit, the language of the Indic worldview, was discussed.

The role of values and ethics embedded in the Indic worldview and its significance in higher education was discussed. The systematic nature of Sanskrit language and the philosophies embedded within were also highlighted. The importance of learning and appreciating Sanskrit in appreciating the Indic worldview was also emphasised.

Finally, the expected learning outcomes from NFSI19 were outlined in terms of a greater connect with scholars, co-creating a platform for exchange of ideas, framing new research questions, and contributing towards a better future for our collective well-being. 

The next webinar is on 15th November, 2019 at 5:30 pm and will specifically focus on Child Development. All are welcome to the Webinar in November and to NFSI19 in December.