The two-day international seminar on “Darśana of Radhakrishnan: Eternal and Temporal” organized by the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla, concluded today with great success. The seminar brought together eminent philosophers, scholars, and researchers from India and abroad to discuss the philosophy of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, his intellectual contributions, and their contemporary global relevance.
During the seminar, participants presented research papers exploring multiple dimensions of Dr. Radhakrishnan’s thought, including his humanism, interpretation of Vedanta, insights on the Bhagavad Gita, contributions to global understanding of Indian knowledge traditions, educational philosophy, and reflections on the future of civilization. The sessions fostered rich dialogue between Indian philosophical traditions and modern global intellectual thought, with active participation from scholars of national and international institutions.
The valedictory session began with a welcome address by Professor Muktikant Mohanty, Fellow, IIAS, followed by a detailed seminar report by Dr. S. Ranganath, Fellow, IIAS and Convener of the seminar, summarizing key discussions and insights. Professor Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director of IIAS, emphasized that Dr. Radhakrishnan’s philosophy uniquely blends the spiritual depth of Indian knowledge traditions with modern intellectual perspectives, underscoring the global relevance of Indian philosophy.
The valedictory lecture was delivered by Professor Paneer Selvam, former Chairperson of the Department of Philosophy, University of Madras, who described Dr. Radhakrishnan’s thought as a bridge between Indian and global intellectual traditions, highlighting its continuing relevance for ethics, spirituality, and cultural dialogue. He was felicitated with a traditional Himachali shawl and cap by Professor Shashi Prabha Kumar, Chairperson, IIAS.
In her presidential address, Professor Shashi Prabha Kumar noted that Dr. Radhakrishnan’s philosophy embodies universal values of spiritual unity, ethical conduct, and cultural coexistence, and stressed that such academic events invigorate Indian philosophical traditions within a global discourse. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Rajeev Kumar Mishra, Librarian and ARO, IIAS, moderated by Dr. Akhilesh Pathak, Sales and Public Relations Officer, IIAS, followed by the singing of Vande Mataram and the National Anthem.
The seminar successfully highlighted the enduring relevance of Dr. Radhakrishnan’s philosophy and strengthened international scholarly engagement with Indian intellectual traditions.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
