Originally on the India New England News, March 23, 2006.
Conference to showcase India's world influence
Center for Indic Studies hosting first major event -- Christine Walsh DARTMOUTH, Mass. — The Center for Indic Studies at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is preparing for its first major event: an international conference about India's contributions to and influences on the world.
The World Association for Vedic Studies conference will bring together local and international scholars who are experts in areas like social sciences, literature, yoga and alternative medicines.
Organizers say the three-day affair — the first such conference to be held in New England — is an opportunity for the Indian community and others to learn about the subcontinent's culture, history and traditions.
T.K. Roy, coordinator of the Center for Indic Studies, said the conference will spread Indian ideas of non-violence, truth, and soul-searching.
"We have a cultural heritage that believes in all those things, and it is to bring out those things for the betterment of the world," he said. "That way, whatever rich heritage we have, let's share that with the rest of the world and let them all benefit."
The conference will be held from July 12 to 14 at the UMass Dartmouth. The Center for Indic Studies opened last fall.
This is the fourth in a series of international conferences held every other year by the World Association for Vedic Studies. The previous three conferences were held in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New Jersey.
Scholars from world-renowned institutions will present lectures on a variety of subjects, including the science of yoga, the origin of Indian languages, the meaning of religion, the influence of the Hindu way of life, modern neuroscience and consciousness studies.
Roy said India has not always been recognized in history for its great contributions in areas like physics and mathematics.
"The contact with India for the West was through the Middle East, so many of the things that India contributed first went to the Middle East to countries like Egypt and eventually came west," he said. "So they attributed them to coming from the Middle East, and actually they came from India."
Organizers are expecting up to 250 people — some traveling from China, Australia and Africa — to be at the conference. Roy is appealing to local residents of Indian origin to attend.
"They can be exposed to some of the valuable things that we are doing here," Roy said. "That is the idea that we are not only doing something on the international scale, but also to benefit the community here."
On the Saturday night, the center will present a cultural program of music and dance that is free and open to the public.
The $145 registration fee for the conference includes three breakfasts, three lunches and two Indian dinners. People can also opt to pay $50 for one day at the conference, including meals. Admission to the Friday evening banquet is separate and costs $25.
For information, contact :
- T.K. Roy at 508-999-8497, or
- Suku Sengupta at 508-999-8470, or
- visit www.umassd.edu/indic/waves.
Last Updated On: 3/29/06
