ICPR NEWSLETTER final - Indian Council of Philosophical Research

ICPRNewsletterApril 2007 - March 2008ICPR CELEBRATESSilver JubileeIndian Council of Philosophical ResearchDarshan Bhawan36 Tughlakabad Institutional AreaNew Delhi - 110062

From Member-Secretary's Deskndian Council of Philosophical Research(ICPR) has completed 25 years of itsImeaningful academic presence in the countryand all through the years, it has striven to create anacademically eventful history for philosophy andits allied disciplines in India. With the chiefobjective of promoting excellence, creativity andoriginality in philosophical research, ICPR hasmultiplied its activities and programs in all theseyears. It has taken a collective agenda of actionforward to purposively step into the future tosustain the nation's glorious philosophical traditionspanning over three millennia.The Silver Jubilee also signaled the new period oftaking over the ICPR administration by ProfessorK. Ramakrishna Rao, well known philosopher andpsychologist who joined as the Chairman of theICPR in June 2006. With the visionary and activeleadership of our present Chairman, ICPR hopes togo from strength to strength and do its best to liveup to the purpose for which it was designed andstarted. In order to mark the completion of twentyfiveyears of service of ICPR in promotingphilosophical research in this country, a specialfunction was organized on March 26-27, 2007 at theIndian Medical Association Auditorium, NewDelhi. The Silver Jubilee event was also an occasionto honor the past Chairmen of the ICPR whoprovided the leadership and nourished the ICPRduring the last twenty-five years. Professor D.P.Chattopadhyaya, Professor R. Balasubramanian,Professor Mrinal Miri and Dr. Kireet Joshi wereable to attend the function where they werefelicitated by the Hon'ble Minister for HumanResource Development, Shri Arjun Singh. Also, tocommemorate the Silver Jubilee the ICPRinstituted the ICPR Silver Jubilee Life-TimeAchievement Award to be given annually to a livingphilosopher in recognition of his/her distinguishedcontribution to philosophy. It carries an award ofRs.1,00,000/- in cash and a citation. The functionalso recognized the services of the ICPR staff whohave served the ICPR during the last twenty-fiveyears by presenting mementos to them.We are happy to revive the publication of theNewsletter which for some reason had ceased from theyear 2003. In reviving the Newsletter, it is our hopenot only to use it as our interface with the public butalso as a medium of communication among thephilosophical community in the country andabroad. This issue of the Newsletter covers the periodof the Council's activities from March 2007 toMarch 2008. With these words, I leave this Newsletterin the caring hands of all those who are interested inphilosophy in India in general and in Indianphilosophy in particular.Godabarisha Mishra

ICPR is Nation's Think-tankHon'ble HRD Minister Shri Arjun Singh Ji addressing at the Silver Jubilee Celebrationam happy to be here this evening and joinyou in celebrating the Silver Jubilee of theIndian Council of Philosophical Research. IThe ICPR owes its existence to the initiative ofShrimati Indira Gandhi. Indiraji was a patron oflearning and scholarship having grown up underthe guidance of Pandit Nehru, the greatestvisionary of Modern India.Philosophy has become today an underrated andesoteric discipline. There is a misconceivednotion that philosophy deals with theotherworldly matters and has nothing to offer toour day-to-day mundane existence. Nothingcould be farther from truth. Not only does thisdiscipline provide the moorings to the existenceof any society, it also results in the manifestationof its underpinnings. Unlike in the West,philosophy in India is known for its practicalityand life-applications, contrary to popularmisconceptions that it is other-worldly,renunciatory and pessimistic.In a conversation with Adlai Stevenson, PanditJawaharlal Nehru observed: “There is nodifficulty in choosing between the right andwrong if the question appears in that sense. It doesnot always appear clearly that way. Betweenwhite and black, there are many shades of gray.”The nation needs institutions that provide theintellectual climate that nurtures discriminatingwisdom for identifying the different shades oftruth and error. It is considerations such as thesethat led to the creation of the Indian Council ofPhilosophical Research, which could function asa think-tank of the nation. This also makes theICPR a unique institution with no knownparallel in the world.Professor Rao invited me a few months ago toinaugurate a discussion on a working paper heprepared for launching a major multidisciplinaryresearch project on National Identity andIntegration. Regrettably, I was unable toparticipate in it. However, I followed withinterest the deliberations of the Working Group,which included several distinguished persons.The notion of the nation state stands threatenedin the face of manifest multicultural settings inmany countries. In our country itself, people facethe threat of being divided by caste, religion,region and language, all clouding the nationalidentity. How may we secure the beautiful1

mosaic of multiculturalism and at the same timepreserve the distinctive identities of our peoplethat would add to the grandeur and greatness ofthe nation? I quote Panditji again: “Thoughoutwardly there was diversity and infinite varietyamong our people, everywhere there was thattremendous impress of oneness, which had heldall of us together for ages past, whatever politicalfate of misfortune had befallen us.”India retained its spiritual and cultural unity overmillennia despite its being a multicultural societybecause of its common core spirituality and thebinding values of love, altruism, truth and nonviolence.It is imperative that these values beespoused and put into action at the national levelas well. What we need is the inclusive communitywith distinctive Indian identity and the necessaryvalues to foster and promote them.Today, the country is on an accelerated economicgrowth path. This growth must necessarily beinclusive, encompassing the entire spectrum ofour society with no exclusions. The need forinclusiveness mandates us to provide the entirecitizenry with equity of access to opportunitiesthat would become available with growth anddevelopment.I understand that the ICPR has prepared aproposal for establishing the Indian Institute ofPhilosophy with a virtual campus and floatingfaculty. It is an innovative concept in highereducation, an interesting blend betweentraditional campus-bound universities and thedistance mode of learning. I also note that youhave plans for establishing regional centers toencourage and strengthen philosophy regionwise.We all know that there is a wealth ofphilosophical wisdom in our regional languagesthat needs to be identified, evaluated, translatedand distributed across the country and beyond.I am delighted that the ICPR instituted an awardto commemorate its Silver Jubilee year torecognize distinguished lifetime achievements ofIndian philosophers. I congratulate ProfessorSatchidananda Murty, distinguished scholar,teacher and an outstanding philosopher in postindependentIndia for being the first to receivethe well-deserved award.Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said in a speech inChandigarh on 27th February 1959: “Let sciencegrow, as it must and will. Let the arts andhumanities grow also. Behind it all let there bethat dynamism, that vibrant message, thatcreativeness without which life for the individualbecomes drab and dull.” In bringing the ICPRinto existence twenty-five years ago, Indirajitranslated the vision of Panditji into reality.I have followed with interest the work at theICPR over the years. I congratulate the scholarsand the staff of the ICPR for the good work done.Let us not rest on past laurels but move forwardwith vigor, vibrancy, dynamism, and creativityto justify the goal of becoming India's think-tankand the nation's wisdom source.Chairman delivering his speech duringSilver Jubilee FunctionChairman felicitating HRD Minister duringSilver Jubilee Function2

Chairman's Vision of the ICPRProfessor K. Ramakrishna Rao, Chairman ICPR, addressing at the Silver Jubilee Celebrationon'ble Union Minister for HumanResource Development, Shri ArjunHSingh ji, Past Chairmen of the ICPRProfessor D.P. Chattopadhyaya, ProfessorR.Balasubramanian, Professor Mrinal Miri and Dr.Kireet Joshi, Members of the ICPR Council,Governing Body and the Research ProjectCommittee, Fellows of the ICPR, DistinguishedInvitees, Members of Media, Ladies andGentlemen.As the Chairman of the Indian Council ofPhilosophical Research, it is my pleasant privilegeto welcome all of you to this very special functionto celebrate the completion of 25 years of service bythe ICPR to the nation in general and itsphilosophical community in particular. I am toldthat the ICPR was conceived and incorporated asearly as in March 1977; but it was just an unbornidea growing in the womb of the Government ofIndia for a number of years. Its actual birth tookplace in 1981, thanks to the foresight and wisdom ofthat great patron of learning Smt. Indira Gandhi. Iwas privileged to have discussed many things fromparapsychology to politics with Indiraji, butinterestingly ICPR was not one of them.If we humans have nine months of pre-natalexistence and then are expected to live to behundred, the ICPR, with more than four years ofpre-birth developmental history, can be easilyexpected to live for full five centuries. Therefore,25 years in its life may be considered to be no morethan early childhood.Since its inception, the ICPR has strived to serve thephilosophical community in the country with thesublime goal of promoting philosophicalexcellence. As I see it, the ICPR is not and will notbe the personal estate of one or more persons orgroups but a consummate trust of the entirephilosophical community in the country. Over theyears ICPR endeavored to promote study andresearch in philosophy by (a) providing financialassistance to a large number of students and scholarsto carry out philosophical research, (b) aiding in theconduct of national, regional and internationalconferences, seminars and workshops to discussand exchange philosophical thoughts and (c)publishing over 100 scholarly books.We had so far five accomplished Chairmen whotook care of the ICPR in its infancy. Soon after itsbirth, Professor D.P.Chattopadhyaya was chosenby Smt. Indira Gandhi to care for the ICPR as itsChairman and Dr. Kireet Joshi joined him as theMember-Secretary. Together they nurtured theICPR for the next ten years. Keeping their longassociation with the growing institution inperspective, if they were occasionally seen as3

eing over-indulgent, I think, it is entirely understandable.I asked Professor Chattopadhyaya about (a) whathe considers to be the important special things thatICPR accomplished, apart from its routineactivities, during his tenure as the Chairman and (b)what in his view are the challenges ahead. Herecalled two things as standing out prominently inhis mind. First is the launching of the Project ofHistory of Indian Science, Philosophy and Cultureunder his editorship. The Project envisages thepublication of 100 volumes. The majority of themare already published or on their way to be out.The Project has since moved out of the ICPR and isnow administered by the Centre for Studies inCivilization headed by Professor Chattopadhyayahimself. The second is the publication of theJournal of ICPR, with him as the Founding Editor.The ICPR continues to publish the Journal withProfessor Daya Krishna as the editor. ProfessorChattopadhyaya considers that the biggestchallenge before the ICPR is to encourageinterdisciplinary research relevant to theintellectual needs of the country, a suggestion withwhich I completely concur.I asked the other Chairmen who are around thesame questions. Professor R. Balasubramanianrecalls a series of important publications that theICPR was able to bring out during his time. Theseinclude (i) four volumes on Nyaya philosophy, (ii)four volumes comprising of presidential addressesgiven at the annual meetings of the IndianPhilosophical Congress, and (3) nine volumes in the“Builders of Indian Philosophy” series. He alsorecalls numerous “Meet the Philosopher” nationalseminars that honoured a number of philosophersand provided an opportunity to young scholars tointeract with them. Professor Balasubramanianwould like the ICPR to concentrate on promotingand publishing research in Indian philosophy.Professor Mrinal Miri was the Chairman during1994-1997. During Professor Miri's time a largenumber publications were brought out by theCouncil. Professor Miri thinks that ICPR shouldfocus on promoting philosophical research withoutdiluting its resources in areas that are not intrinsicto it. Professor V. Venkatachalam who is no moreserved during 1997-2000.Dr. Kireet Joshi has a long list of activities duringhis tenure beginning with the new millennium.Among the new initiatives taken during this periodare (1) Project on Consciousness and (b) Project ofPhilosophy of “Value-Oriented Education”. Healso recalls the valuable essay competitions andyoung scholars' seminars and the celebration ofInternational Philosophy Day in many universitiesin the country with financial assistance of theICPR. Professor Joshi's vision of ICPR is to see itdevelop “as an extremely important instrument forthe growth of the Indian renaissance”. He wouldlike to see interdisciplinary research encouragedbecause “the very essential nature of philosophy isinter-disciplinary”. I entirely agree with this view.Having heard all the good things my predecessorshave done, you might be rightly wondering what Iam planning to do and hope to achieve in the yearsahead.First and foremost, I would like to assure theprevious Chairmen of the ICPR that we wouldcontinue all the good things they have initiated andare found to work well. But then we also have fewother plans to build ICPR further and helptransform it to function truly as the nation's thinktank, an intellectual resource centre of the country.We are counting on the help and support ofour Hon'ble Minister Shri Arjun Singh ji who isrelentlessly striving to not only promote excellencein higher education, but also make it accessible to allsections of our society, excluding none, byproviding special inputs for the socially andeconomically disadvantaged groups and minoritycommunities. He recognizes, I am glad to note,there should be (a) not only equality of access tohigher education to all Indians, but also, moreimportantly, (b) all those who enter our centres ofhigher learning should come out as equals in whatthey have learned and what they may be expected toaccomplish on graduation. When they enter, allstudents may not be equal in prior preparation; but,when they leave, all sections of students, whetherSCs, STs or OBCs or others belonging to4

disadvantaged minorities should come out asequals, well prepared to serve the nation. In otherwords, remedial education is equally important tomake the policy of reservations work well.The first on our agenda of action is the establishmentof the Indian Institute of Philosophy. Unlikethe IITs and IIMs the IIP would have a virtualcampus and floating faculty. It would be a new andunique experiment in higher education incorporatingthe best in traditional campus learning andthe distance mode. What do I mean by virtualcampus and floating faculty?The virtual campus, unlike the traditional campusbasedinstitutions, would not have permanentclassrooms built in concrete and constantlyconfined to one place. Rather it involves continuouslychanging networks using the state of the artIT infrastructure and communication facilitiescreatively connecting faculty and students in closeintellectual bonds. The projected IIP with itsfloating faculty would not have permanent teachingstaff but professors temporarily hired and in somecases on a part time basis to serve specific functionsof monitoring and mentoring a select batch ofbrilliant students, ushering in a new generation ofphilosophers.Second, we propose to establish regional centres ofICPR. These may be specially created or the ICPRmay adopt some existing establishments and putsubstantial inputs into them. The purpose of theseregional centres is not merely to expand theactivities of the ICPR region-wise, but, moreimportantly, to exploit the regional philosophicalwealth and wisdom to promote philosophicalexcellence. We all know that each language has itsown treasure of philosophical works. These needto be identified translated, and brought to theattention of scholars around the world.Third, as part of our endeavor to act as nation'sthink tank and intellectual resource, the ICPR hasproposed a mega interdisciplinary project entitled“National Initiative for Integration and InclusiveCommunity”. A working group consisting ofsome high profile academics, bureaucrats and NGOleaders discussed a working paper and prepared afive year plan of research which is now under theactive consideration of the Planning Commissionfor funding.This project is warmly greeted by several scholars,researchers and policy makers with whom Ihappened to discuss it. Most seem to share theanxiety that the country is going through anidentity crisis. The oneness and unity that boundpeople together during the freedom struggle, whichJawaharlal Nehru notes in his Discovery of India,appear to be missing now. What is it to be anIndian? In what does our Indianness consist? Whatis our national identity? How can we have aninclusive community and promote common good,overcoming the age old constraints that excludeseveral sections of population from participating inand sharing the benefits of political freedom andeconomic development?It is increasingly felt that the Indian society isgetting divided fragmented and polarized withgrowing alienation between groups and thatregional, caste, religious and other narrow identitiesare gaining salience over national identity. If thistendency is allowed to continue, it is feared, therewould be not only role confusion at various levelsbut grave and dangerous social unrest anddysfunction, threatening the very foundation ofour democracy. The proposed project envisages indepthinterdisciplinary research on various aspectsof the problem of national identity with the goal ofidentifying problems and suggesting solutions forbringing about an inclusive community andpromoting common good we all seek.Fourth, we at the ICPR recognize not only theimportance of interdisciplinary research but alsothe need for inter-institutional synergy. Therefore,we are actively pursuing to undertake collaborativeand cooperative activities with sister institutions.For example, ICPR is working with the IndianInstitute of Advanced Study to organize in July thisyear a national seminar on the “Dialectics ofIdentity and Alienation.” We have similarproposals for organising national seminars on thefollowing topics: “Class Struggle and CommonGood: The Evolution of Communism from Marxto Mao and Beyond”, “Indian Psychology: Theories5

and Models, Classical Philosophies of Mind andCognitive Science and Celestial Love : Bhakti inIndian Traditions”.As may be noted, all the above are in many waysinter-related activities that are intended to focuson the relevance of applied philosophyand interdisciplinary research for nationaldevelopment.The ICPR will continue to vigorously promotephilosophical excellence in the country. A part ofthis process is to recognize excellence. Towardsthis end, we have instituted an Award to beannually given to a living Indian philosopherrecognizing his/her life time contributions tophilosophy. I am delighted that you, the Hon'bleMinister Sir, will be presenting the first such awardtoday.Time does not permit me to speak on several otheritems in ICPR's agenda of action. I recognize thatwe can achieve what we hope for, only with yourcontinued interest, guidance and help. Withoutthem, many of our earnest proposals would simplyremain sweet dreams without substance; and theICPR would continue to serve marginally,distributing small sums of money to support thisscholar and that fellow, this conference and thatseminar. That would be far from accomplishingthe high objectives and lofty goals associated withthe establishment of the ICPR. However, I amconfident and I have every reason to think that wecan count on the Hon'ble Minister's blessings andguiding support to see these projects through.Also, I want to acknowledge on this occasion, thecooperation and support we received from theofficials of the Department of Human ResourceDevelopment from the Secretary to the SectionOfficer.The ICPR is fortunate to have a very learned,cooperative and competent group of scholars as themembers of its Council, Governing Body andResearch Project Committee. I have receivedcontinuous support from all the members. In factmy confidence in attempting to move fast on somany fronts all too soon after taking charge as theChairman is built largely on the perception of thevalue and strength of their cooperative guidanceand supportive participation in the activities of theICPR.We are also fortunate to have hard working andcommitted staff who are sparing no efforts to sharemy dreams and move the ICPR forward inpromoting philosophical excellence in the country.I wish to record my appreciation and thanks on thisoccasion to all our hard working staff and mycolleagues in the Council, Governing Body and theResearch Project Committee.Permit me, Hon'ble Shri Arjun Singh Ji, to thankyou for the confidence you have bestowed on me byentrusting me with the responsibility to lead theICPR. I will do my very best to live up to yourexpectations.HRD Minister lighting the lampProfessor Y.V. Satyanarayana receiving the Silver JubileeAward on behalf of Professor K. Satchidananda Murty6

New Additions to ICPR's Human ResourceProfessor G. Mishra joins as the Member-SecretaryProfessor Godabarisha Mishra from University ofMadras, Chennai joined as Member Secretary of theCouncil on 7th September 2007. Professor Mishrareceived his Ph.D. from the University of Madras in1986 and his doctoral thesis was on “Philosophy ofUpanishads : An Analytical Exposition”. Earlier,he served as an Editor of the Journal of OrientalResearch at Kuppuswami Shastri ResearchInstitute, Chennai. He has been a visiting faculty ofOxford University, UK and Mahatma GandhiInstitute, Mauritius. He has written four booksand several articles on various aspects ofphilosophy in national and international journalsand attended many seminars and conferences inIndia and abroad.Dr. S.K. Yadav and Dr. B. Barik join ICPR FamilyDr. S.K. Yadav joined ICPR as Director(Administration and Finance) on 23rd January2008. Before joining ICPR, Dr. Yadav served asAssistant Commissioner of Muncipal Corporationof Delhi. He also worked in NPC, New Delhi,JNU, DTC and the Indian Air Force in diffrentcapacities. Besides Ph.D. in Hindi, he possessesMaster Degrees in Personal Management andIndustrial Relation and in Sanskrit.Dr. Bansidhar Barik joined as Programme Officerof ICPR on 1st January 2008. He got his Ph.D. fromJawaharlal Nehru Unversity, New Delhi on "AnExamination concerning dualism in Rene Descartesand Deconstruction of Jacque Derrida". Beforejoining ICPR, Dr. Barik worked as a Lecturer atDIT, Dehradun for three years and worked as aSenior Fellow in different organisations and alsowas a General Fellow of ICPR. He has authored abook titled, Rationalism and Post-Modernism.7

The ICPR proposed a Major Research Project onNational Integration funded by the PlanningCommission during the 11th Plan period. TheProject is meant to be a national initiative toexplore the nuances of national integration andinclusive community and to understand the forcesundermining them. The main objective of theproject is to provide intellectual and fact basedinsights into the issues, the problems as well as theprospects, for promoting national consensus for theinclusive community.The Council began the main activity of this projectby being a nodal agency and initiated groupdiscussions of experts in relevant and related areasand organized two workshops. A group consistingof high profile academicians, bureaucrats and NGOleaders met at the Darshan Bhawan and discussed atlength for a major research project for promotingintegration and inclusiveness in the Indian Societyand for preventing growing cleavages and avoidablepolarizations precipitated by narrow identitiesexploited by politics of divisiveness.National Workshop on NationalIntegrationAs a follow up of the fruitful discussions at the firstworkshop, the Council had organized a NationalWorkshop on the "Dialectics of the Inclusivenessand Exclusion: Exploring the Elements ofIn addition to the regular seminars proposed byscholars and supported by ICPR, the Council wasproactively involved itself in conducting threenational level seminars on its own.ICPR ActivitiesNational Integration and Indian IdentitySeminars organized by the CouncilExclusiveness and Ingredients of Inclusiveness andIntegration in Indian Society". The workshop wasorganized in collaboration with Indian Institute ofAdvanced Study, Shimla from 14-16 September2007 which yielded fruitful results. The outcomeof the deliberations will be published by theCouncil shortly so that the ideas could reach awider audience and stimulate nationwidediscussion. Intense discussions took place on issueslike (a) what it is to be an Indian? (b) in what doesthe Indian identity consist? (c) how do we promotenational integration and discourage the politics ofdivisiveness fed on narrow identities of caste,religion, region, language and other subordinateidentities?Shri Sitaram Yechuri, Hon'ble Member ofParliament inaugurated the Seminar and ProfessorBhalchandra Mungekar presided over theInaugural Session. The distinguished participantsincluded Shri B.N. Yugandhar, Shri K.Padmanabhan, Professor Rajendra Prasad,Professor K.S. Chalam, Dr. Sudhir Kakar, ShriAbid Hussain, Smt. Trilok Karki Hussain,Professor Ashok Vohra and Professor C.V.Raghavulu. Professor K. Ramakrishna Raointroduced the theme of the seminar in theInaugural Session and Professor G. Mishraproposed the Vote of Thanks.Seminar on BhaktiA National Seminar on “Celestial Love: Bhakti inthe Indian Tradition” was organized by the ICPR incollaboration with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams(TTD) at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh fromDecember 5-7, 2007. There were 300 scholars fromacross the length and breadth of this country, with aInauguration of the Bhakti Seminar at Tirupati8

few from abroad who gathered in Tirupati todiscuss different aspects of Bhakti. Papers on themeslike philosophical foundations of Bhakti,ramifications of Bhakti to the individual and society,understanding the various Bhakti movements fromdifferent regions, Bhakti as a purushartha werepresented and discussed. Also a special session onAnnamacharya (this year being the SixthCentenary year of Annamacharya) was organizedas a part of the session.Professor Nirbhai Singh speaking at the Seminar on BhaktiProfessor K. Ramakrishna Rao gave the Inauguraladdress. Professor G. Mishra welcomed the augustgathering. Professor Anand Paranjape of SimonFraser University, Canada gave the keynoteaddress. Other distinguished participants includedDr. Srivatsa Goswami, Professor H.K. Satapathi,Professor K. Prahlada Char, Professor V. KutumbaSastri, Professor K. S. Radhakrishnan, ProfessorHrudananda Roy, Professor S.M.S. Chari, andProfessor C. Ramaiah. The Valedictory Session waspresided over by Shri Bhuman Karunakara Reddy,Chairman, TTD and Shri K.V. Ramanachari,Executive Officer, TTD delivered the Valedictoryaddress. Professor G. Vedaparayana was the localcoordinator of this seminar.Seminar on Indian PsychologyAnother National Seminar on “Indian Psychology:Theories and Models” was organized by the ICPRin collaboration with SVYASA Yoga University inBangalore from December 26-28, 2007. Nearly 300participants who were there during this eventdiscussed the relevance of classical Indianphilosophy to current psychological theory,practice and research. The moral of this exercise isthat Indian scientists may not simply labor in the“catch up” game and merely replicate and imitateWestern studies but engage in innovative newavenues of research leading to original contributionsstimulated by Indian theories and models.Professor Anand Paranjape, Professor JanakPandey, Dr. Sudhir Kakar, Professor Nagendra, Dr.Nagaratna, Professor Kiran Kumar, Dr. MathiasCornellisen were a few of the large number ofparticipants at the seminar.Seminar on Indian Philosophies of MindA major ICPR interdisciplinary seminar under thedirectorship of Professor Janak Pandey on “IndianPhilosophies of Mind and Cognitive Science” washeld at Allahabad University from February 29 toMarch 2, 2008. The seminar was jointly organizedby ICPR and the Centre of Behavioral andCognitive Science of Allahabad University. Theobjective of organizing this major interdisciplinaryseminar was to focus on the relevance of classicalIndian thought to current science as there has been agrowing interest among philosophers and cognitivescientists to use the wealth of indigenousphilosophical traditions to study mind andconsciousness. The deliberations at the seminarwere an enriching experience initiating animportant dialogue between cognitive scientistsand philosophers in the country. It was also ameaningful exposure for the philosophers to knowmore about new dimensions of scientificinvestigations that have important philosophicalimplications. The seminars attempted to bridge theProfessor P.K. Mukhopadhyaya, ProfessorK. Ramakrishna Rao and Professor G. Mishra on dais9

gap between the Indian philosophies of mind andthe contemporary cognitive science. The InauguralSession of the seminar was presided over byProfessor P.K. Mukhopadhyaya. Professor K.Ramakrishna Rao, Chief Guest of the Seminarpresented a thematic paper on Cognitive Scienceand Classical Indian Philosophies of Mind. Thepaper focused on the Indian philosophicalapproaches to cognitive science. The ValedictorySession of the seminar was chaired by ProfessorNirupa Rani, Vice-Chancellor, Adi Kavi NannayaUniversity, The Chief Guest Professor R.G.Harshe, Vice-Chancellor, University of Allahabadextensively quoted Professor Rao's paper andhighly appreciated this initiative of workingtogether by the ICPR and the CBCS, AU. Thisseminar facilitated exchange of ideas betweencognitive scientists and Indian philosophers.However, there was an all over consensus that thisinteraction and dialogue should be carried outthrough collaborative projects. ProfessorRamakrishna Rao proposed and invited scholars towork together to come up with proposals. Heapprised the scholars that the Department ofScience and Technology, Government of India hascurrently recognized cognitive science as the fourthpillar of knowledge and has a new "cognitivescience initiative" to fund research. He furtheradvised the scholars to take advantage of thisopportunity which is also very supportive forIndian approaches to cognitive science.Three major publications will emerge out of theproceedings of these seminars.Professor Daya Krishna RememberedPresentation of bouquet toVice-Chancellor Dr. N.K. JainThe Council organized a National Seminar inmemory of late Professor Daya Krishna for hisinvaluable contribution to philosophy in India ingeneral and Indian philosophy in particular. It washeld at Rajasthan University, Jaipur under thedirectorship of Professor Mrinal Miri duringMarch 25-27, 2008. The title of the Seminar was“Daya Krishna: A Life Work in Philosophy”. TheSeminar was aimed at addressing Daya Krishna'scontribution to an authentic and constructivelycritical understanding of classical Indian philosophicalthought, by taking a comprehensive viewof Dayaji's criticism of arguments, theories andProfessor G. Mishra addressing the participantsview points in the history of Indian thoughtscattered in the substantial body of his writings.Professor R. Balasubramanian, ex-Chairman, ICPRpresented the Inaugural Address and recalled hisassociation with late Professor Daya Krishna.Professor Mrinal Miri welcomed the gathering andProfessor G. Mishra proposed a vote of thanks.Scholarly papers were presented by ProfessorSrinivasa Rao, Professor G. Mishra, ProfessorSujata Miri, Professor Raghuram Raju, Dr. ShailMayaram, Professor R.S. Bhatnagar, ProfessorYashdev Shalya and many others who participatedin the seminar.10

Life-time Achievement AwardsProfessor K. Satchidananda MurtyThe Research Project Committee of the Councilvoiced the need to institute a National Award fordistinguished work in Philosophy in India, namely,“ICPR Silver Jubilee Award for Distinguished LifeTime Achievement in Philosophy” to be awardedto a living Indian Philosopher and which does notrequire any project to be carried out by therecipient of that award. Considering that the yearwas the Silver Jubilee Year of the ICPR, the awardwas called the ICPR Silver Jubilee Award. Theaward amounts to Rs 1.00 lakh cash. The first suchaward was conferred upon Professor K.Satchidananda Murty.Professor Daya KrishnaShri Arjun Singh, Honorable Minister for HRDwas gracious enough to participate in the meetingand present the award.The Life Time Award for this year (2007-2008) wasawarded to Professor Daya Krishna by aCommittee which resolved unanimously torecommend him for the award of Rs1.00 lakh. SinceProfessor Daya Krishna was no more, the cashaward was decided to be given to an Institution inIndia preferably Rajasthan University which iswilling to provide a matching grant to institute afellowship to be awarded to a philosophy studentannually.ICPR FellowshipsNational FellowshipsThe Council awarded National fellowships to twoeminent scholars, Professor R. Balasubramanian,our former Chairman of the ICPR and ProfessorP.K. Mukhopadhyaya, retired Professor fromJadavpur University to work on their projectsentitled “The Vedantic inquiry after Ramarayakavi” and“Philosophy and Human Progress” respectively.Professor R. BalasubramanianProfessor P.K. Mukhopadhyaya11

Other FellowshipsSenior FellowshipsSenior Fellowships were awarded to ProfessorsBijayananda Kar and Professor Ganesh Prasad Dasfor working on their projects entitled “LokayataDarsana: A Reconstruction and Appraisal” and“Wittgenstein and Samkara on Religion and ethics:A Critico-constructive Study” respectively.Fifteen General Fellows and, forty six JuniorResearch Fellows were awarded for the year 2007-2008 to work on different projects as given below.General FellowshipsThe ICPR awarded General Fellowships during theyear 2007-2008 to the following Fellows:Dr. Moyeed Ul ZafarReason and Rationality in Hadith Literature: A critical studyDr. Pius V.T.Critical Hermeneutics and the Purview of a possible interculturalcommunicationDr. Deepak KumarBharatiya chintan mein manav ki niyati: Ek SanskritikadhyayanDr. Manoj Kumar SinghTantrik bhasha ka sameekshanatmak adhyayanDr. Autar Lal MeenaThe Doctrine of Social Justice in Indian PhilosophyDr. Sharad Kumar Mishra,Analytical Study of concepts of Atmatattva in IndianPhilosophy: In special context of AtmatattvavivekDr. Seema Bagdwal,Samakaleen paridrishya mein Vivekananda ke darshan kiprasangikataDr. Sanjay Kumar TiwariKhandana Khanda Khadya ke parampaksha ka anthashtriyavishleshanDr. Manoj Kumar TiwariManushya Ke Swaroop Evam Uski Niyati: Yogvasisth Kevisisth sandharb mein ek anushilanDr. MadhviBhagwat vedanta sutra evam gita bhashaon ke tulnaDr. Lal Babu Prasad YadavMahatma Gandhi aur Ravindranath Tagore ke samajikRajnaitik aur dharmik vicharaon ka tulnatmak adhyayanMr. Chennamsetty Yagna SudhakarThe nature of consciousness Buddhist: Alaya-vijnana andphenomenologyDr. Vinita PandeyBrihadaranyak Upanishad mein pratipadit darshanik vicharaur bauddh math: Ek tulanantmak adhyayanDr. Charu AwasthiChetnaka Upanishadiya swaroop evam adhunik gyan: Eksameekshatmak adhyayanMr. A. ArivazhaganDoctrine of Pancakosa on the problem of enworlded subjectivity:Advaitic and continental philosophical perspectivesJunior Research FellowshipsThe following scholars were awarded JuniorResearch Fellowships for the year 2007 - 2008Ms Saba ParveenA critical study with special reference to Michael Foucault andJacques DerridaMs Arati ModakAdhunik Sabhyata ka sankat evam manav ki bhumika- ekdarshanik vivechanaMr. Chakrapani TripathiA critical study of Kantian epistemologySmt Kavita BhattGherand sanhita ka darshanik adhyayan: Shatkarma kevishesh sandarbh meMs Chandra Rekha SoniKierkegaard's and J. P. Sartre's vision of man: A philosophicalStudyMs Lighitha PEnhancing the boundaries of knowledge: Towards a syntheticmodel of explanation and understanding types ofknowledgeMs Rajani AdusumilliTheory and practice of yoga in Upanishad: A study with specialreference to pranayama12

Mr. Desh RajA Philosophical study of the concept of mindMr. Ramesh ChandJain darshan aur baudh darshan mein gyan mimamsa: Ektulanatmak adhyayanMr. Unnava Sada Siva RaoThe basic doctrines of the Buddha and of Patanjali: Acomparative studyMs Poonam SinghAdhunik pariprekshay mein paramparik bhartiya naitikmulyon ki samichinatmak vishleshnatmak adhyayanMr. Arjuna Charan BeheraGlobalization and cultural changeMr. VidyasagarDharmshastriya evam nitishashtriya parampara mein dharmaevam niti ka bhedMs Manjulata JenaThe Ecological view of some tribal sects of Orissa: Aphilosophical studyMs Sneh Lata SinghSartre evam Kierkegaard Ke darshan mein manviya mulyon katulnatmak adhyayanMs Purni ThapaGlobalization and welfare economy: A study from the perspectiveof human rightsMs Shrineta PandeyYukti deepika mein pratipadit sankhya darshanikanusheelanMs Megha SharmaPhilosophy of Professional EthicsMs Asmita TiwariSwami Vivekananda aur Aurobindo ki drishti mein manushayka swarup evam uski niyatiMr. G. SrinivasanThe problem of evil: A comparative study in Saiva Siddhantaand ChristianityMr. G. William RobertThe concept of liberation in the philosophy of samkhya yoga asmeansMs Sangeeta SinghSankhay darshan mein purush evam jain darshan mein jeevtatva: Ek tulnatmak adhyayanShri Gauranga DasSvadharma sadharana dharma and apad-dharma:A critical StudyMr. Sushabhan Deb BarmanCommunication and language : A critical studyMr. Mukul BalaPhilosophical foundation of women's empowermentM. Tigripalli Bosu BabuThe Social Philosophy of K. Satchidananda MurtyMs Joly RoyEthics in AdministrationMr. Rajiv RanjanA study of the environmental philosophy in vedicLiteratureSh. Gouranga Charana BeheraBusiness and environment: The ethical interfaceMs Supriya SharmaAneeshvarvadi bhartiya darshan mein dharm kee avdharna:Ek vishleshnatmak adhyayanMr. Om Prakash MehtaBhartiya darshan mein paryavarniya chintan ki sanatanparampara ka rachanatmak sarvekshaMr. Rajendra PrasadAadhunik Bharatiya darshan mein Dr. Bhagwandas ka dharmVichar Ek Sameekshatmak PareekshanMs Dipti VermaBharatiya Mahilaon ke uttam mein Gandhi darshan ka yogdanChattisgarh ke vishesh sandharbh meinMr. Rewant Ram SaienSamajik evam rastraparaka sad gunaon ke visesh sandarbhmein purano ka darsanika avalokanMr. Umesh SarafAaadya Shankaracharya Ka Aashukavitva SaanskritikDrishti Evam darshnik Bhimbon ka adhyayanMs Nitu KumariParyavaraniya nitishastra ka vishleshanatmakaadhyayan13

Mr. Arjun Prasad BarnwalA critical study of ecological thinking in BuddhismMr. Achhe Lal YadavConcept of Humanism of Pandit Dinadayal Upadhyaya incontemporary contextMs Rupjyoti DuttaA Philosophy of Karma: Vivekananda and Tilak- Acomparative studyMr. Padmadhar ChoudhuryFreedom, determinism and moral agentMs Gitanjalee BoraPragmatism: A study with reference to contemporary socioculturalissuesMs. Priyanka SarmahThe concept of suffering in atheistic schools of Indian philosophyShri Arun Kumar SinghSpirituality and scientific temper: A philosophical studyShri Sree Prakash TiwariManusmriti evam Yagyavalkya smriti mein varnit naitiksiddhanton ka tulanatmak adhyayanMs Prerika AgarwalShaiv tantron ke vyakhyakara aacharya kshemaraja: ekadhyayanMs Uma DaveSant Shri Asaramji Bapu's Philosophy: A comparative study.AnnouncementsICPR Fellowships For 2009-2010Indian Council of Philosophical Research invitesapplications for the award of Senior Fellowship,General Fellowship, Junior Fellowship, Short-Duration Project and Residential Fellowship fromeligible scholars for the year 2009-2010.Details of the Fellowships and the Applicationform can be obtained by sending a request letteralong with a demand draft of Rs. 50/- (Rupees fiftyonly) in favour of ICPR, New Delhi payable atNew Delhi to the Director (Academic) or by cashpayment of Rs. 50/- from the address mentionedabove within one month from the date ofpublication of this advertisement. Applicationcompleted in all respects accompanied by necessarydocuments should reach to the Director(Academic) on the above address within twomonths from the date of publication ofadvertisement. Application form can also be downloaded from website www.icpr.in. Such anapplication will be accepted only if a demand draftof the required amount is enclosed. The Councilreserves the right to consider the name of anyperson for the award of a fellowship even thoughhe/she may not have applied for the same.Reservation for S.C./S.T., O.B.C. and PhysicallyHandicapped candidates will be considered as perinstructions of Govt. of India.A Workshop onNyaya, Mimamsa andAdvaita VedantaA 15-day Textual Workshop on Nyaya,Mimamsa and Advaita Vedanta isscheduled to be held at the ChinmayaInternational Foundation, Kochi, Keralafrom 15th to 29th December 2008.For online registration please visitwww.chinfo.org. For participation andother details contact:Dr. K.H. SubramanianChinmaya International FoundationAdi Sankara Nilayam, Veliyanad P.O.Ernakulam District, Kerala-682219Ph. No.: 0484-2747104, 2747307Fax : 0484-2749729E-mail : director@chinfo.org14

Other ICPR Sponsored Seminarsand ConferencesThe following are some of the seminars, workshopsand conferences for which the ICPR providedfinancial assistance: The “82nd Session of the IndianPhilosophical Congress” was held at S.V.University, Tirupati from October 26-29, 2007.Professor B. Sambasiva Prasad was the localSecretary. The Congress was inaugurated bythe Vice-Chancellor Professor S. JayaramaReddy. The General Presidential address wasdelivered by Professor Kireet Joshi, Vice-Chairman, IPC. Around 200 papers werepresented in the Congress under differentsections. A National Seminar on “The idea of religious'other' in living Religions of the World” washeld on 30th November 2007 at Muzaffarpurunder directorship of Professor R.P. Srivastava,Former Head, Department of Philosophy,Bihar University, Muzaffarpur Bihar who atpresent is a member of the Council. The focusof the seminar was about the role of religion insociety. A National Seminar on “PhilosophicalApproaches to Language-Perspectives fromClassical Indian and Modern WesternThought” was organized by PhilosophyDepartment, Lucknow University from 10 - 12December 2007, under the directorship ofProfessor Nirupama Srivastava. On thisoccasion Professor Nirmalangshu Mukherjeefrom Delhi University presented the key-noteaddress and spoke on “Internal Significance ofSentences and Melodies”. He explained theminimal notion of meaning and suggested thatwe can enrich theory of meaning at logical levelby exploring the internal significance ofmeaning. Scholars from both Indian andWestern traditions presented their illuminatingand enlightening philosophical views aboutlanguage and reality and thus made the eventmemorable. Concurrently the three day National Seminarwas organized by the Department of Sanskrit,15Maris Stella College, Vijayawada under thedirectorship of Dr. D. Rama Krishna during 10-12 December, 2007 on “Yogic Methods ofEnquiry”. Participating in this seminarProfessor V. Kutumba Sastry said that there is aProf. Kutumba Sastry addressing the participants atMaris Stella College, Vijayawadacause and effect relationship and there aremethods of inquiry which have been inexistence ever since the times of Rigveda andIndian mind was able to probe into the cause ofconsciousness. Science and philosophy areinterrelated and complementary. ProfessorV.N. Jha in his keynote address emphasizedthat justice can also be based on Dharmasastras.Hence, those should be made available toeveryone. He also maintained that interdisciplinaryapproach is the only approachthrough which traditional knowledge can bemade available to us. A National Seminar on “Religion and itsImpact on National Reconstruction” washeld at Department of Philosophy, MagadhUniversity, Bodh Gaya, under the Directorshipof Professor (Mrs.) Kusum Kumari fromDecember 10-13, 2007. Professor ShubhadaJoshi emphasized the need for secularism.Professor Kusum Kumari in her keynoteaddress opined that religion starts its journeywith civilization. Religion consists primarily inmoulding character and so the diverse evilsthreatening the fabric of our nation can be curedonly by character building.

National Seminar on Religion and its Impacton National Reconstruction A National Seminar on “Nature ofMetaphysics” was held on 14th & 15thDecember, 2007, under the auspices of Centreof Advanced Study in Philosophy, UtkalUniveristy, Bhubaneswar. Ninety eightteachers of philosophy from differentuniversities, colleges of Orissa and outside thestate, participated in the seminar along with thefaculty, students of the department of the CAS.Professor A.K. Mohanty, Coordinator of theCentre of Advanced Study in Philosophy andDirector of the seminar outlined the objectivesand focal theme of the seminar. Professor R.C.Pradhan, Former Member-Secretary, ICPRdelivered the keynote address. ProfessorGodabarisha Mishra, Member-Secretary, ICPRpresented a paper entitled “Metaphysics ofConsciousness” among many others.19, 2007 under the directorship of Dr. LilavatiKrishnan. The eminent speakers whoparticipated in this Symposium were ProfessorSrinivasa Rao, Professor S.K. Kiran Kumar,Professor Matthias Cornelissen and Dr. SuneetVarma. The six presentations coveredhistorical, philosophical, theoretical, methodologicaland applied aspects of IndianPsychology, and touched upon severalcontentious issues raised by these aspects. Theydealt with themes such as the roots of IndianPsychology in Classical Indian Philosophicalschools, the contributions made by scholarsdisenchanted with Western scientific psychology,the various meanings attached to the label'Indian Psychology', the rich theoretical aspectsof psychology found in theories ofconsciousness and the self, the potential of Yogaas a research tool for various aspects ofpsychology, and how Indian Psychology can beapplied to many of the problems ofcontemporary society. The urgent need for asystematic study of Indian Psychology, andmaking it part of the curriculum washighlighted. The 52nd Session of the Akhil BharatiyaDarshan Parishad was held from December 21-23, 2007 at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeet.Session was organized by Dr. Ambika DuttaSharma of Sagar. A National Seminar on “Ethics and Epics:Reflections on Indian Ethos” was organizedby Dr. Kali Charan Pandey from January 5-7,2008 at DDU Gorakhpur University,Gorakhpur. The Seminar had presentations byProfessor R.C. Pradhan delivering the keynote address An ICPR Special Symposium on “IndianPsychology” was held during the 17th AnnualConference of National Academy ofPsychology at IIT Kanpur from December 17 toProfessor R.P. Shrivastava lighting the lamp16

about 30 scholars on different aspects of thetheme. The theme of the seminar wasintroduced by Professor D.N. Yadav and hepresented a working paper dealing with theepics and their relationship to ethical issues. The 20th Annual conference of All OrissaPhilosophy Association was held from 20-21January 2008, under the directorship ofProfessor S.C.Panigrahi at Utkal University,Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Professor Ashok Vohra,the General President of the session delivered athought provoking talk on “The ReligiousOther and His Excursions: An Analysis”. Hepointed out that it is the surface grammar of thelanguage, and therefore the form of life thatbewitches our intelligence into believing thatmultiplicity is real once we dwell in the depthgrammar we find that there is an essential unityunderlying the apparent diversity. A National Seminar was organized on“Morality and Social Justice” by theDepartment of Philosophy, B.S. College,Danapur, Bihar from January 27-29, 2008 underthe directorship of Professor Abha Singh. Theseminar had 12 sessions which were decidedthematically. Eminent scholars were presentalong with the participants to make the event agreat success. A National Seminar on Philosophy of Logicand Language was organized by Departmentof Philosophy, University of Burdwan from 6-8February 2008. Professor Ashok Vohra, DelhiUniversity delivered the Keynote address andhighlighted different aspects of Philosophy ofLanguage, Indian and Western. There were sixacademic sessions during this period ondifferent aspects of the theme. Participantswere from all over the country. The seminarwas in a way fulfilling its objective of enrichingthe M.A., M. Phil Students, research scholars,teachers of the undergraduate colleges alongwith the faculty members of P.G. Departments.Since Philosophy of Logic and also Philosophyof Language overlap with many other areas aswell as recent trends in philosophy, thediscussions at the seminar helped theparticipants to get acquainted with recentdevelopments in Philosophy. A National Seminar on Jiddu Krishnamurti'sPhilosophy and the Future of Humanity wasorganized by the ICPR at Sri VenkateswaraUniversity, Tirupati under the Directorship ofProfessor Vedaparayana from 7-9 February2008. The Seminar focused on the need topropagate and practice the philosophy of JKwho advocated for shedding the past to embracethe present in its pristine forms to achieve totalinner transformation.Deliberations at the Jiddu KrishnamurtiSeminar in progressIn the keynote address Radhika Herzberger,Director of Rishi Valley Education Centreexplained how man-made crises such as climatechange, nuclear proliferation etc. have landedhumanity in life-threatening situations. She feltthat religion as it is practiced today wasresponsible for making deep divide in humanityand indicated that knowledge needed to be deassociatedfrom religion. She said that the ideaof questioning oneself – the very essence of J.K'sPhilosophy will activate the spirit of doubt andact as springboard in acquiring knowledge.Professor C. Ramaiah, Member, ICPR said JKhad nothing to hide and presented himselftransparently in his school of thought. Beingnot identified by any religion made him thinkafresh. JK believed in starting the thoughtprocess with an empty mind, which was not ablank mind, but a fresh and receptive mind.Professor K. Venkata Reddy, Vice-Chancellor,S.K. University, Professor P.V. Arunachalam,Dravidiyan University, Director of SV Central17

Library and Research Centre, and HansHerzbergar of Canada, were the participants.Professor G. Mishra, Member-Secretary, ICPRattended the Seminar and apart from presentinga paper, presided over the Valedictory Session. The Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh DarshanParishad was held from 11-12 February 2008 atJhanjgir (MP).A session at Madhya Pradesh and ChattisgarhDarshan Parishad held from 11-12 Feb 2008. A National Seminar on Contemporary Crisisand Value-education was held from February16-18, 2008 at Department of Philosophy,University of Allahabad, Allahabad under thedirectorship of Professor Narendra Singh. Inhis keynote address Professor Sabhajeet Mishrabrilliantly analysed the causes of contemporarycrises with reference to Structuralism, PostModernity and Existentialism. He analysed thecauses and consequences of materialism,consumerism and globalization.Session of the Seminar on Contemporary Crisis andValue-education at AllahabadIn his presidential address Professor D.N.Dwivedi demonstrated the presence of valuecrises in every year starting from 6th century tillpresent in one or other form. ContemporaryWorld is passing through many changes anddue to these changes we are witnessing manycontemporary crises like consumerism,pollution, corruption, abortion etc. It is tounderstand the proper nature of those crisesbefore finding parallel philosophical solutions. A National Seminar on Moral Dilemmas inthe Era of Globalization was organized byCentre for Philosophy, School of SocialSciences, JNU from 27-29, February 2008. TheSeminar was held from an interdisciplinaryapproach. Professor B.B. Bhattacharya, Vice-Chancellor of JNU said that the benefits ofGlobalization are uneven and the process ofGlobalization is irreversible. It is the idea of21st Century and since it is irreversible, the bestway will be to make it more human. ProfessorYashpal, Chancellor, JNU and formerChairman of UGC said that globalizationshould be inclusive; each and every villageshould be connected. True globalization isbased on global consciousness and explosion ofcreativities. If this kind of new world ispossible, then morality is possible. A National Seminar on “Basic Values ofIndian Culture and Contemporary” wasorganized on 28-29th February and 1st March2008 at Gorakhpur under the directorship ofProfessor M.M. Trivedi, Member of theCouncil. The objective of the seminar was toanalyze the Value system in the contemporarysociety. Professor Trivedi in his introductoryspeech explained the concept and stated thatthere is not only the attainment of Value in theconceptual plane but it has also tremendoussignificance in the sphere of practical ethics andmorality. A National Seminar on Ramchandra Gandhi:Faith and Inquiry was held from 15-17 March2008 at Vishvabharati, Santiniketan. Therewere 12 academic sessions devoted to differentissues relating to the theme of the Seminar. Theseminar was attended by 25 participants fromall over India and 30 from within the state andSantiniketan.18

A National Seminar on Basic ValuesEmbodied in Indian Culture and theirRelevance in National Reconstruction withspecial reference to the Gita, SwamiVivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi was heldat Tripura University, under the Directorshipof Professor S.K. Sarkar during March 18-19,2008.A view of the Inaugural Session at Shantiniketan A National Conference on “Ethics: Theoryand Application” was organized from 18-20March 2008 at IIT Bombay. The Inaugurallecture on “Shifting Paradigms in Ethics” byProfessor S.A. Shaida was very interesting andthought provoking. Students, ResearchScholars and teachers of Philosophy participatedin the seminar by presenting good papers.There were in all 26 presentations whichgenerated very interesting discussions on thewhole.Session of the Seminar on Ramachandra Gandhion progress ·The Eight-Day National Workshop on Needof Teaching Philosophy in Schools, Collegesand Universities, was organized byDepartment of Philosophy, Patna University,Patna from 4-11 December 2007 under theDirectorship of Dr. (Mrs.) Ratna Chaudhary.The Workshop had two sessions each for threehours. Each session had the lecture of resourceperson followed by group discussion and thelast hour was for interaction with the resourcepersons and comments of different groups onthe paper. Everyday there was lively discussionon the papers or lectures of resource persons.Inaugural Session of the WorkshopWorkshops19 A Ten-Day Workshop on Advaita in theClassics was organized by Dr. K.H.Subramanian, at Chinmaya InternationalFoundation, Adi Sankara Nilayam, Veliyanad,Kerala, from 19-28 December 2007. Fortyfiveparticipants from all over India attended on28th December 2007 during the valedictoryfunction. Professor R. Balasubramanianinaugurated the Seminar. ProfessorGodabarisha Mishra gave the valedictoryaddress at the function which was chaired bySwami Advayananda, Acharya, ChinmayaInternational Foundation. The tradition oftextual exegesis is a unique feature of all Indianschools. Among this Advaita occupies theprominent place since it has richness of textswritten over a period of centuries. Textualtradition in Advaita comprises commentarieson Prasthanatraya of Vedanta. Humanreasoning and scriptural authority have alwaysbeen given their due place in Advaita and in thepresent day context it has the opportunity tointeract with all other philosophical thoughtsof the world. The workshop was conducted

aiming at acquainting the students with thefundamentals of Advaita Vedanta and wasintended to outline the historical developmentof Advaita from the period of Upanishads downto the modern times. Since Adi Sankara'scontribution forms the most important elementin the development of the system, stress was laidon a thorough study of original works.A view of the Inaugural function of the workshopon Advaita in the classics at Kochi The Council organized a major workshop onIndian Models of Philosophical Enquiry underthe directorship of Professor V.N. Jha, CouncilMember at the Academic Centre, Lucknowduring 17-31 January 2008. The workshopProfessor Rajendra Prasad, Prof. R.R. Verma andMember Secretary Prof. G. Mishra atthe Inaugural Functionaimed at creating an opportunity to acquaint theparticipants with this Model of PhilosophicalEnquiry and with the Concepts of Knower,Knowable, process of knowing and knowledgeof almost all the orthodox and heterodoxsystems of Indian Philosophy. Eminent seniorscholars of philosophy, like Professor RajendraPrasad, Professor Srinivasa Rao, ProfessorAshok Vohra, Professor Pradeep Gokhaledelivered lectures on different schools of IndianThought. There was a good participation ofteachers of philosophy and scholars fromdifferent parts of the country.International Seminars An International Seminar on the Concept ofUltimate Reality was organized by PuneUniversity under the leadership of ProfessorS.S. Deshpande during 6-7 June 2007. An International Conference on "Science(s) andMethod(s)" was organized under the leadershipof Dr. Bijoy Mukherjee, Department ofPhilosophy from 7-10th January 2008 at VisvaBharati University, Shantiniketan. An International Conference on "IncommensurabilityThesis" was organized by theDepartment of Philosophy, School ofHumanities, University of Hyderabad from 18-20 January 2008 at Hyderabad under thedirectorship of Professor S.G. Kulkarni. Therewere 12 significant papers which covered all themajor issues raised by the IncommensurabilityThesis which is the focal point of contemporarydebates and discussions in Philosophy ofScience. The issues of realism, rationalism,concept formation, meaning, reference andtruth were the chief concerns of papers anddiscussions. The papers invariably providedthe historical and thematic backdrop of theconcerns. The participants included senior andupcoming scholars. The Seminar had an activeparticipation of scholars outside the faculty ofphilosophy. The participation of students was aspecial feature of this Seminar.International Philosophy DayEvery year the Council observes the InternationalPhilosophy Day in the third week of November tocommemorate the birthday of Socrates as declaredby UNESCO.20

This year the International Philosophy Day wasorganized by ICPR on November 19, 2007 at theIndia International Centre, New Delhi andProfessor Ramakrishna Rao presided over themeeting. Professor Namvar Singh, Professor S.K.Chaterjee and others participated and spoke ondiffrent philosophical themes. Professor G. Mishra,MS welcomed the gathering.The Council in its ongoing scheme of training theteachers of philosophy in the country throughRefresher Courses, conducted two such coursesduring this period.Refresher CoursesAround 22 Universities/Institutions were givengrants to organize seminars, debates, EssayCompetitions, Panel Discussions, Symposiadialogues and colloquia on the occasion ofinternational Philosophy Day.It had a good impact during the past few yearsalthough the Council is contemplating on evolvinga scheme for its effective organization. A Refresher course on A Critical &Comparative study of Indian PhilosophicalSystems was held from 2-26 February 2008under the directorship of Professor DevendraNath Tiwari. Twenty seven participants fromdifferent regions partook sincerely anddiligently in the Refresher Course. Classes forparticipants were arranged on all the days fromFebruary 02-26, 2008 except two Sundays, thatis, 4th & 10th February 2008. All theparticipants attended the lectures regularly andpunctually. Separate arrangement was made ontwo of the Sundays on which participantspresented their individual papers related to thesubject of Refresher Course. Participant'sseminars were chaired by Professor M.K. Jha,Professor P.K. Majumdar, Principal, SanskritCollege, Kolkata respectively. Participantswere provided with Course material on therelated topics in the form of photocopy of therelevant scholarly papers published in books orin reputed journals and some texts publishedfrom Sanskrit Sodha Sansthan, Kabraghat,Darbhanga. The second Refresher Course on “CriticalThinking and Applied Philosophy” wasorganized by the Department of Philosophy,Utkal University under the directorship ofProfessor S.C. Panigrahi from 20th Nov to17thDecember 2007. The Director of the RefresherCourse, Professor Panigrahi emphasized thesignificance of philosophy of mind andRefresher course at L.N. Mithila Univ. Darbhangaconsciousness as an emerging field of research inIndia and in the West and also said that the teachersand researchers in the universities and colleges mustbe made aware of the recent developments in thisarea. Thus, the course had a good output. Thecourse content encompassed a wide spectrum in thedomain of critical thinking and appliedphilosophy. The eminent resource personsdelivered lectures on Business Ethics, EnvironmentalEthics, Medical Ethics, Media Ethics,Animal Rights, Rights of Women and Childrenand Critical Thinking of Kant and Wittgenstein.Besides the above seminal philosophical issues onthe current philosophical themes were discussed indepth and extension. On the eve of the completionof the course the participants were evaluated as perthe UGC rules on the basis of the objective test, teston application of computer and presentation ofpaper conducted within the period of the course.The participants were awarded grades on the basisof their performances. What is significant aboutthis refresher course is the degree of interest andinvolvement on the part of the participants as wellresource persons which made it academicallyfruitful and rewarding.21

International CollaborationICPR has an ongoing programme of InternationalCollaboration between India and overseas nationsto facilitate exchange of views among scholars inthe field of philosophy and other related disciplinesICPR participates in various conferences abroad.The Council sent a delegation to participate in TheInternational Congress of Vedanta held at Miami,USA during September 2007. Professor K.Ramakrishna Rao, Professor Srinivasa Rao andProfessor G. Mishra were in the delegation. Theypresented the following papers.1. Professor K. Ramakrishna RaoYoga-Advaita Psychology: An InclusivePsychology for the Future2. Professor G. Mishra :Consciousness and Its States: ExploringDharmaraja's Concept of Vrtti and ItsImplications3. Professor Srinivasa Rao:The “Ontological Gap” and theSadasadvilaksana of Advaita Metaphysics: AreThey Logically Sound?With a view to acquainting teachers and studentswith the recent thoughts of leading philosophers aswell as providing opportunities for interaction withthem, the Council organizes every year NationalLectures by leading eminent scholars, two Indianand two overseas scholars in different parts of thecountry. The Council had nominated ProfessorP.D. Premasiri from Sri Lanka and ProfessorWilliam Waldron from USA to deliver lectures inIndia during the year 2007-08.Professor P.D. Premasiri has delivered threelectures in different Universities like BanarasHindu University, Delhi University, andJawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Thetopics are:1. The Critique of Philosophy in the Teaching of the Buddhaand its Implications on the Uniqueness of the Buddha'sContribution to World Philosophy.2. A Buddhist Perspective on the Question "Is EthicalKnowledge Possible?"3. Problems Concerning the Application of a Non-CognitivistAnalysis of Religious Language to the Teachings ofBuddhism.Professor William Waldron has delivered threelectures in Madras University, Chennai;Nagarjuna University, Guntur; Banaras HinduUniversity, Varanasi; and Delhi University,Delhi on the following topics:National Annual Lectures1. A Buddhist theory of Unconscious Mind ( A - laya-vijñana) -2. Indian Thought and Social Science on the Travails of Selfidentity3. Selves and Selfless Discourse.Professor W. Waldron National VisitingProfessor (Overseas) delivering lectures atMadras University, ChennaiProf. W. Waldron delivering lectures at BHU, Varanasi22

Periodical LecturesThe Council organizes Periodical Lectures for thepromotion of philosophy among young students ofdifferent cities in India on a low cost budget. Seniorscholars of the local area are requested to lecture tothe young scholars, researchers and teachers so as toenable them to be benefitted by their erudition.The Council organized Periodical lectures in thefollowing places yielding good results.1. Professor N.K. Ambastha of Vinoba BhaveUniversity arranged the lecture series from 21-23 March 2007 by Dr. S.N. Roy who delivereda lecture on “Philosophy Today”.4. Department of Humanities and SocialSciences, IIT, Kanpur had arranged a lectureby Professor Srinivasa Rao on “PracticalRationality” on 1st February 2008.5. Professor Raghunath Giri delivered his lectureon “Bharatiya Tarka Shastra” on 16 February2008, at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth,Varanasi.6. Professor A.K. Chaterjee delivered lectures on2nd February 2008 and 16th February 2008 atM.G. Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi on “PramanaVyavastha”.Dr. G. M. Prasad delivered a lecture on“Philosophy Today”.Professor N .K. Sinha lectured on “Satyagraha”on March 23, 2007.Professor R.S. Ambastha delivered anextempore lecture on “Phenomenology”.2. Professor Gopalakrishna Dash of UtkalUniversity delivered a lecture on 24 January2008 on “Yogic Vision and Samyak Darshan”at Sanskrit Department, Ranchi Vishvavidyalaya.Ranchi.3. Department of Philosophy, LucknowUniversity organized two lectures byProfessor Ashok Vohra on “Meaning of Life”on 31st January 2008 and the other lecture byProfessor S.K. Seth on “Science and Truth” on4th March 2008.Professor Ashok Vohra delivering the Periodical Lecturesat Lucknow UniversityProfessor A.K. Chatterjee delivering lecture atM.G. Kashi Vidyapith7. Dr. H.P. Narayan delivered a lecture on 9thFebruary 2008 on “Vedanta and Science” atSanskrit Department, Ranchi Vishvavidyalaya.Ranchi.8. Professor Chandrasekhar Rath delivered a talkon the “The hall-mark of Indian culture and itsrelevance to the Present Society” andProfessor Bijayananda Kar, Retd. Professor ofPhilosophy, Utkal University, Senior fellowICPR also delivered a talk on “Knowledge, selfand liberation in Indian philosophy” atRavenshaw University, Cuttack on 13th and14th February 2008.9. Department of Humanities and SocialSciences, IIT, Kanpur had organized a lectureby Professor Y.N. Mohapatra on “ScientificRationality” on March 14, 2008 on the23

General Theme “Practical and TheoreticalRationality”.10. Three different lectures were organized by theDepartment of Philosophy, ManipurUniversity, Imphal by the Professor SoyamLokendrajit. The topics of the lectures and thescholars who delivered them are “History ofPhysical Thought: A Philosophical Perspective” byProfessor J. Singh; “The Moral Symmetry ofFractiles” by Professor Raj Mohan Singh; “Rasa inIndian Aesthetics” by Professor Shyam KishoreSingh.Translation ProjectThe Research Project Committee of ICPR hasdecided to sanction a Project to translate classicaltexts of Indian languages into English. ProfessorV.N. Jha would be the coordinator of the Project.The Project would be monitored from RashtriyaSanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati. The following textshave been chosen for the Translation Project for thecurrent academic year:1. Nyaya-siddhantamuktavali of Visvanatha byProfessor V.N. Jha2. Advaitasiddhi of Madhusudhana Saraswati byProfessor N. Veezhinathan3. Advaita-ratna-raksana of Madhusudana Saraswatiby Professor V. Swaminathan4. Nyayaratnadipavali of Anandanubhava by Dr.Kanshiram5. Adhyatma-samkirtanalu of Tallapaka Annamacharyaby C. Ramaiah6. Bharatiya Manovidya of Dhirendra Nath Shastriby P.K.MukhopadhyayaThe ICPR has provided grants for the following other Research Projects:Project Name of the Scholar PeriodBetween Femininity and Feminism:Philosophical Reflections Dr. Kanchana Mahadevan 2 yearsDevelopment at Navya Nyaya:Udayana to Gangesa Professor Sachchidananda Mishra 1 yearPhenomenology of Violence Professor Gangadhara Rao 3 yearsSource Book of Indian Psychology Professor Sangeeta Menon 2 yearsPublicationsThe Council has a publication programme underwhich it brings out quality work of renownedscholars of philosophy and interdisciplinarystudies. The publications of the Council representa varied range such as books on Classical IndianPhilosophy, Contemporary Indian Philosophy,works on Contemporary Indian Philosophers,ICPR documentation Series, books of Readingsand Reference Publications. The Council has so farbrought out110 titles.The Council decided to offer 50% discount onselect publications to make it reach students as wellas interested scholars as part of its Silver JubileeCelebrations. Book Exhibitions were organized atdifferent places and the response was good.Recent Titles brought out by the CouncilAuthor and Subject Index JICPR Vol.I-XX- ProfessorR.S. BhatnagarIntercivilizational Dialogue on Peace: Martin Buber andBasanta Kumar Mallik - Mrs. Madhuri SondhiPhilosophy Culture and Value ed. Professor R.C.PradhanThe Central Problems of Bhartrhari's Philosophy-Professor D.N. Tiwari24

Journal of Indian Council of PhilosophicalResearch (JICPR)Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research (JICPR)is a journal published quarterly by the IndianCouncil of Philosophical Research (ICPR). It isdevoted to the publication of original papers ofhigh standard in any branch of philosophy. One ofthe objectives of the ICPR is to encourage interdisciplinaryresearch which has directphilosophical relevance.The Council during this period has brought out thethree issues of the Journal i.e. JICPR VolumeXXIII-1, 2, 3. The content of the forthcoming issueof JICPR Vol.XXIII-4 is given below:Articles:Aminul HaquePrivacy, Private Language and Rules of Syntax and LogicSanjay Kumar ShuklaInterpreting Husserl's Phenomenology as a SecondCopernican RevolutionJaison A. ManjalyWhat is wrong with 'Dualistic Metaphysical Framework'?Lekshmi R.Ethics of Science in its Epistemic and Practical GoalsKatatkar Vasudeva RaoReligion and Atheism can Coexist with SecularismM. Maroof ShahIqbal's Experientialist Argument for the Existence ofGod: A Sufistic-Metaphysical AppraisalSharda NarayananNature of Sound as per SastraDaya KrishnaThe Cosmic, the Biological, the Cultural Conditionings andthe Seeking for 'Freedom'Discussion and CommentsAshok R. Kelkar: Nature Language and ComputerLanguageS.K. Ookerjee: Ethno-Science versus Logic-Centered ScienceSantosh Kumar Pal: Sustainability and Deep EcosophySanil V: The Impersonal ImageLiza Das : Infidel Heteroglossia : A Bhaktinian CommentLibraryThe Academic Centre of the ICPR located at PCFBuilding, Lucknow, houses an up to datespecialized library in philosophy, with all facilitiesavailable for scholars from the country to visit andmake use of its facilities. The library has at present28,257 books, and receives 127 philosophicaljournals. This library which is Nations' PhilosophicalArchives has got different manuscripts andrelated artifacts of philosophers preserved forposterity. The facilities for borrowing and readingthe books, reprographic services are available forall. Besides this, the scholars can get the acquisitionlists of books and journals on request againstnominal payment. As the Academic Centre ishoused in a rented building, the ICPR is nowmaking plans to provide at its own expense readingrooms, Conference Halls, office and guesthouse forvisiting scholars. It is certainly hoped that theAcademic Centre would serve not only as adepository of knowledge but also as a crucible forgenerating new knowledge.Vigilance AwarenessWeek 2007In compliance with the instructions given by theMinistry and the Central Vigilance Commission,the Vigilance Awareness Week of the Councilcommenced on12.11.2007 and went on up to16.11.2007. On 14.11.2007 there was a pledgetaking ceremony, where all the ICPR staffmembers and officers took an oath which wasadministered by Director (P&R/A&F), VigilanceOfficer of the Council. Council had also invitedShri Subhash Khuntia, IAS, Joint Secretary of theMinistry of Human Resource Development whodelivered a very inspiring and thought provokinglecture on 14.11.2007.25

ObituaryThe Indian Council of Philosophical Researchexpresses its sorrow over the sudden and sad demiseof Professor Daya Krishna, formerly Professor andHead of the Department of Philosophy, Universityof Rajasthan, Jaipur, and Editor of the Journal ofIndian Council of Philosophical Research (JICPR) on 5thOctober 2007. Professor Daya Krishna was one ofthe most widely acknowledged doyens among theliving philosophers in India. The Council as well asthe entire philosophical community misses himgreatly and it is indeed a permanent vacuum.Professor Daya Krishna throughout had in him akind of Socratic streak. His inquiring spirit andattitude was infectious and the way he questionedall established opinions specially inspired successivegenerations of young students and researchersthroughout the length and breadth of our country.Young men and women would always collectaround him like bees would collect around honeybearingflowers. He always remained the oldestamong the young, and the youngest among the old.What was amazing about him was that his criticalpowers seemed to be at their peak whatever be hisage or state of health.He brought a new vitality into the discussion ofvarious issues in the vast field of Indian philosophyand no area was ignored by him. He could alwaysbe seen either discussing what interested him orICPR Websitelistening to and participating in a discussion of whatinterested the person with whom he wasconversing. What was most outstanding in all thiswas his astonishing capacity to take and withstandwhat appeared to be even the worst and the mostbitter of criticisms philosophical, and sometimeseven very personal. His eagerness to learn markedhim off very distinctly from all others of hisgeneration because unlike most of them he wore hiscuriosity to learn right on his sleeve. He alwaysremained a wonderful person to talk to because henever put on airs, which he could have been easilytempted to do on account of his great scholarship,seniority, fame and age.The ICPR organized a condolence meeting at IndiaInternational Centre on 19 November 2007. Themeeting was attended by many renowned scholarsof the country like Professor Yash Pal, ProfessorT.N. Madan, Mr. Om Thanvi, Professor MrinalMiri, Professor Shail Mayaram. At the meetingsspeakers recalled the invaluable services renderedby Dr. Daya Krishna to philosophy in India andalso as Editor of the Journal of Indian Council ofPhilosophical Research. The Journal entered a new stageand a new avatar during his editorship and hespared no efforts to make it a journal of high qualitydespite several obstacles in his way.The Council has switched over from NIC toits own independent site. The site now iswww.icpr.in. The website contains detailedinformation on all the academic activities, schemesof the Council, ongoing projects, publications,Journal and RTI cases. The Website has applicationforms for fellowships, Seminar/Workshops/Refresher Courses, Study-cum-Contingency grant,projects and awards. Those interested to knowmore about the Council may visit our website.26

ICPR Silver Jubilee FunctionFelicitating Founder ChairmanProfessor D.P. ChattopadhyayaFelicitating Professor R. BalasubramanianFelicitating Professor Mrinal MiriFelicitating Dr. Kireet JoshiRecent PublicationsINTERCIVILIZATIONAL DIALOGUE ONPEACEAuthor: Madhuri Santanam SondhiISBN 978-81-89963-03-3Rs. 435.00Philosophers Martin Buber and Basanta KumarMallik lived and worked in the same decades of thetwentieth century, the former in Germany andIsrael, the latter in India and Britain. Their workinglives extended from the European fin-de-siecle,through both world wars, to independence for theirrespective countries. Although they employeddifferent philosophic perspectives, existentialistand metaphysical, their common thrust wastowards a viable and practicable ethical position formodulating interpersonal and inter-societalrelations. Since this entailed for them both a criticalre-interpretation of their traditions in greater orlesser degree, this study has elements ofcomparative civilizational analysis, and since theyanticipated the post-modern problematic of interhumansubjectivity, it also deals with culturalpluralism.27

AUTHOR AND SUBJECT INDEX OF THEJOURNAL OF THE INDIAN COUNCIL OFPHILOSOPHICAL RESEARCHVOLUME I-XXCompiled by:R.S. BhatnagarThe book contains an Cumulative Index ofArticles, Book Reviews and Discussions andComments published in the JICPR Volumes I-XX.It constitutes two parts viz. author access andsubject access for early reference. It is hoped thatthis volume will come handy for the students andresearchers to locate the topics of their interest andserve as an important tool of research inphilosophy.THE CENTRAL PROBLEMS OFBHARTRHARI'S . PHILOSOPHYAuthor: Devendra Nath TiwariISBN 978-81-89963-02-6Rs. 530.00'The Central Problem of Bhartrhari's Philosophy'is a critical approach to Bhartrhari's philosophy oflanguage. For the first time, his philosophy of wordand sentence is presented authentically as a systemof philosophy of language and analysis. It discussesthe metaphysical, the phonetic and the cognitiveunderstanding of language and analyses indepth theword theorists' arguments, the counter argumentsand their reply from the Bhartrhari's side. It bringsout an authentic picture of his holistic philosophybased on the active theory of knowledge for whichreading, writing, speaking, understanding, analysisand translation are cognitive activities.PHILOSOPHY CULTURE AND VALUEEssays on the Thoughts of G.C. PandeEditor: R.C. PradhanISBN: 978-81-89963-00-2Rs. 280.00The book deals with various aspects of ProfessorG.C. Pande's Philosophy. Professor Pande is aversatile thinker and a great historian of our times.His thoughts and works range over a vast fieldwhich includes history, culture, society, art,aesthetics and poetry apart from philosophy. Inphilosophy he has deep interest in Buddhism andVedanta to which he has made originalcontributions in terms of both interpretation andunderstanding. He has developed his ownphilosophy of value and culture which is the mainfocus of this volume. The eminent contributors tothe volume have expounded Professor Pande'sphilosophy with great sincerety and devotion.28

taught for over quarter of a century in the sameuniversity. In recognition of his teaching talent andcharismatic intellect he was invited as fellow,visiting lecturer and professor by several Indian aswell as foreign universities and institutes of higherlearning. Humayun Kabir described him in 1963 asone "among the outstanding philosophers of theyounger generation". Recognizing the risinggenius, Suniti Kumar Chatterjee said in 1970 thaton Professor Murty "the mantle of Dr.Radhakrishnan has fallen worthily". The Metropolitanof Delhi and the North, Paulos MarGregorios described Professor Murty "as theleading philosopher of my country". AcharyaTulsi, the famous Jaina Muni wrote "The vision andthe capacity to realize it, and single mindeddevotion to duty as noticed in Professor Murty isfound in rare persons only. In the modern age suchhonesty, authenticity and integrity of purpose asfound in him are not commonly found."In recognition of his teaching and research sixIndian universities, including the Banaras HinduUniversity have conferred on him the Honorary D.Lit. The Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg in Germany, Sofia University ofBulgaria, Russian Academy of Sciences, andPeople's University of China conferred onProfessor Murty their Honorary Doctorates ofPhilosophy.Besides being an active teacher and researcher inphilosophy, Professor Murty has distinguishedhimself as a policy maker in higher education and asan efficient and honest administrator. He was theVice Chancellor of Sri Venkateswara University,Tirupati (1975-78), Vice Chairman of UGC (1986-89) and the Chairman of Indian PhilosophicalCongress (1980-94). At the international level heserved as Vice President of International Federationof Philosophical Societies (FISP).While he was born and brought up and continues tolive as a Hindu, Professor Murty respectssecularism at its best in his writings as well as in reallife. His philosophical works, besides presenting anexposition of the texts of the Hindus, make anextensive reference to the philosophical writings onIslam, Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianismand other religious sects. Among hisfavourite students were several Christians and non-Hindus. Neither religion nor caste equations everentered into his decision making or judgementalconsiderations.In recognition of his outstanding contributions toPhilosophy, Professor Murty was conferred in theyear 1984 the Dr. B.C. Roy National Award – oneof the most prestigious awards in the country. Forhis overall excellence in philosophy and highereducation he was honoured with Padma Bhushanin 1984 and Padma Vibhusan in 2001.In the true tradition of the Indian rishis, after hisretirement from active service, he has been living inhis ancestral house in Sangam Jagarlamudi, a smallvillage in Andhra Pradesh. For quite some timenow, he has been pursuing his philosophicalinterests from the quietness of that village, far fromthe limelight of the cities. He has not accepted anyoffice, honorary or otherwise, after his retirement;and he spends his time in quiet contemplation like aJnana Yogin and a Sthita Prajna.In honoring Professor Murty with this Life timeAchievement Award on the occasion of thecelebrations of the Silver Jubilee of its foundation,the Indian Council of Philosophical Research ishonoring itself. He is a highly respected andadmired icon who made a significant contributionto ICPR's policies in its formative years, added newdimensions to philosophical excellence in thecountry and gave fresh interdisciplinary andintercultural perspectives to global philosophy.29

Honoring Professor K. Satchidananda MurtyICPR SILVER JUBILEE AWARDProfessor K. Satchidananda Murty (born 25September 1924) is an astute thinker and aconsummate philosopher ingeniously interdisciplinaryin approach and indigenously interculturalin orientation. Standing tall among hiscolleagues and contemporaries, Professor Murty isconspicuous as a distinctive and creative blend oftradition and modernity, classical Indian thoughtand current wisdom. He is a deeply religious personwith exemplary sensitivities of a secular scholar. Anoutstanding authority in classical Indianphilosophy with amazing proficiency andscholarship liked by his students and colleaguesworldwide.A prolific writer, Professor Murty authored morethan forty books in English, Telugu and Hindi. His500-page commentary in Telugu on the Bhagavadgitawas published in 1941 when he was just sixteen, awork he began when he was only thirteen years old.An encyclopedic scholar, Professor Murty'sadmirably expository and thoroughly criticalwritings range over almost all branches of Easternand Western philosophy. The many splendours ofhis philosophical brilliance shine in his books onethics, culture, education, peace studies, religion,social and political thought, foreign policy and ofcourse classical Indian Philosophy – particularlyVedanta. These books are replete with originalideas, critical comments, and insightfulcomparisons. They contain iconoclastic, lucid, welldocumented, instructive and penetrative analysis ofthe related issues and problems from aninterdisciplinary perspective. In each of his bookshe synthesizes the best elements of contemporarythought with the classical wisdom of Indianculture, tradition and values.His books Revelation and Reason in Advaita Vedanta,Advaitic Notion and Vedic Hermeneutics are acclaimed allover the globe as classics and 'must read' for all thestudents of Indian Philosophy.Professor Murty learnt Sanskrit from traditionalpundits. After obtaining his post-graduate anddoctorate degrees from Andhra University hecontd. on pre page no. 29Published by the Member-Secretary, ICPR, 36, Tughlakabad Institutional Area, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, (Near Batra Hospital),New Delhi-62, Tel : 29964749, 29964756 Fax: 29964750. For details contact Director (P&R) E-mail : icpr@del2.vsnl.net.in,mercyhelen_dpr@icpr.in website:www.icpr.inLayout, Design and Printing by Datagraph Creations Pvt. Ltd., Tel : 27221409, 47019171 Fax : 47091473