Nature
World Association of Vedic Studies (WAVES) is a multidisciplinary academic society. It is a forum for all scholarly activities and views on any area of Vedic Studies variously called as Indian Studies, South Asian Studies or Indology. WAVES is not confined to study related to Vedas alone or to India alone. It encompasses all that applies to traditions commonly called Vedic, past, present and future, any where in the world.
WAVES is a non-religious society with no ideology. It is open for membership and for participation to all persons irrespective of their color, creed, ethnicity, country of origin or any other kind of persuasion.
It is universally acknowledged that Vedas are among the oldest existing records of human thoughts. Vedic traditions have continued without interruption for many millennium of years and remain a living and formative source of Hindu culture and tradition. Today Vedic traditions are not confined to Indian subcontinent but have spread virtually to all parts of the globe, through persons of Indian origin and through scholars and admirers of these traditions. For several centuries Vedic people in India made significant contributions in various academic fields ñ science, literature, culture, technology, etc. The historical records of the Greeks, the Romans, and the Islamic authors as well as the accounts of the early European explorers confirm that India was one of the wealthiest and most technologically advanced nations of the world. She attracted people from different parts of the world - some for search of knowledge others for goods and trade.
For most of the world these contributions are often unknown, unrecognized, and sometimes rather distorted. There is a need, particularly among scholars to work for the proper understanding and appreciation of such religious, cultural and other contributions. In fact there are various notions and views current about Vedic traditions, Vedic people and their contributions. Moreover, the debates about these various notions are not confined to the academic sphere, but also have other serious repercussions. There is thus great need for a forum in which varying, often diametrically opposed notions and views can be discussed and deliberated in an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance.
WAVES is an organization of academics, and of those interested in academics, in all different areas of Indian/Vedic studies ñ past, present and future.
It has a Board of Directors, for corporate responsibilities, a broad based Governing Council for it activities, and several Standing Committees in specific areas.