39th Symposium On Studies On Traditional Retellings Of Ramayana

Trained in Sanskrit and Advaita Vedanta by his hyper-polyglot, polymath and spiritually accomplished sakala-shaastra-paarangata father, late Sri Paturi Sitaramanjaneyulu garu, Dr Nagaraj Paturi is seriously committed to the transmission of Vedic sciences to the present generation. In his PhD thesis (1998, University of Hyderabad), he developed an Indic Model of Myth Criticism of Literature and in his MPhil (1987, University of Hyderabad), he foregrounded Vakyapadiya as the theoretical foundation of the Ashtadhyayi. In addition to over 50 publications and about 60 conference/seminar/workshop papers, Dr Paturi has designed several courses pertaining to the contemporary applications of Vedic Sciences and has been successfully teaching them and getting them taught. Formerly Senior Professor of Cultural Studies FLAME School of Communication (& FLAME School of Liberal Education) and a Visiting Professor, University of Chicago (USA), Dr Paturi is currently Senior Director and Chief Curator at INDICA, a Distinguished Professor, Curriculum Designer, Executive Committee Member, Board of Studies, MIT School of Vedic Sciences (Pune, Maharashtra), Member, Board of Studies at Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University (Ramtek, Maharashtra) and Rashtram School of Public Leadership (Sonipat, Haryana). He is also the Editor-in-Chief of International Journals of Studies in Public Leadership and is a member of the Advisory Council of Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthanam (Bengaluru, Karnataka). He has provided consultancy to numerous culture research, theatre, and dance innovation projects. He has authored scores of creative writing works for Classical Dance, Modern Theater, and magazines and has delivered several series of talks and other programs on Radio and Television channels.

Dr B C Anish Krishnan Nayar holds multiple masters degrees in English, Linguistics, Philosophy and Religion and Psychology.His doctoral research was on multivalency ie how a text can provide multiple at times contradictory interpretations.He is mAdhva by faith and focuses on Agamic systems.His research works mainly focuses on colonial constructs and narratives of religion and their effect on the colonized.He has written numerous articles in Tamil and English on Tantra , Comparative Literature and related topics.He teaches Technical Communication in college level and does independent research. Some of his writings can be read here: https://tamizhini.in/2018/11/14/devadasis-beyond-constructs-and-contentions-b-c-anish-krishnan-nayar/

Dr. Sushumna Kannan has a PhD in Cultural Studies from Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, Bengaluru, India. Her research on the South Asian devotional traditions and feminist epistemology focused on the medieval saint, Akka Mahadevi and her vachanas. She received the BOURSE MIRA, French research fellowship in 2006 and 2007 and the Sir Ratan Tata fellowship for PhD Coursework and Writing in 2003 and 2007. Dr. Kannan has published her research on bhakti, dharmashastras, ethics, women’s writing in Kannada and English as well as on translation theory in peer-reviewed journals and as book chapters. She received the Indic Academy fellowship in Indic feminism to study “Women’s subjectivity in the dharma texts” in 2021. She is currently working on a book project, Hinduism, Violence and Nonviolence and is finishing an essay on “The Mahabharata as a stri-shudra text.” Dr. Kannan is Scholar-in-Residence at Indic Academy. She runs a podcast on Women and Hinduism for INDICA.

Smt. Manisha Amey Kulkarni is a Sanskrit educator with an experience in teaching Sanskrit language, grammar and literature to students across academic boards. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sanskrit, Diploma in Comparative Mythology, and ancient Indian scripts such as Modi, Brahmi, and Kharosthi. She is also a Government Certified Modi Script Transliterator.

An avid reader of history and ancient texts, Pranshu Saxena inherited love for writing and reading along with diabetes from his forebears. This madhurmeha (and madhumeha) stuck with him through his education on three continents. He enjoys delving into details of stories to find hidden truths which his young students at Vidyalaya enjoy. His stories are published in INDICA anthologies (Unsung Valor, Flight of Deities, Shared Roots, Adrsya) and on Real Mahabharata of Veda Vyasa. His writings on Epics and history are available on various portals. Pranshu resides in New Jersey where he shares his life with wife, daughter, father-in-law, and a lifelong collection of books.

Parshva Shah is a cross-border disputes lawyer working in the chambers of Ms Karishma Vora, a barrister at 39 Essex Chambers, London. His work primarily focuses on complex commercial arbitration and litigation in the courts of England & Wales, DIFC Dubai and India. Beyond the courtroom, Parshva is a passionate student of Indian history and comparative religion, with a deep-rooted engagement in Jain philosophy. His journey began at a young age under the guidance of His Holiness Gachchhadhipati Acharya Shri Vijay Punyapalsurishwarji Maharaja, the 79th successor of Lord Mahavir Swami. His Holiness’s engaging discourses on the past and future births of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Ravana, as discussed in the Shwetambar Jain texts, inspired Parshva to study the Jain retellings of the epic. Parshva remains committed to advancing nuanced conversations that blend Indic traditions with contemporary thought, legal practice and cross-cultural dialogue.

M.C. Vaijayanthi is a Post Graduate in English Literature from the Madras University, and holds a P.G.Diploma in Journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai. Spent major part of her working life as a journalist covering stock markets, banking, finance, oil and gas sector. Was a Panos South Asia fellow in 2012-13 as part of their India Telecom Project and a Justice Telang fellow in Indology in 2017-18, Asiatic Society, Mumbai. The thesis presented was titled - Araiyar Cevai: A Millennial Retrospective. Since then as independent researcher presented several papers on temples, textiles and heritage.

Deepak M R is a professional writer and trainer with 25+ years of experience in academics, consulting, and training. He is an avid bibliophile and has studied the epics. He is the author of the books “Abhimanyu – the warrior prince”, “Mahabharata Tales”, “Markandeya Ramayana”, “Original Vyasa Mahabharata”, “The Life and Music of Lata Mangeshkar”, “Blood & Iron”, “Fall of the Patriarch”, and “Illustrated Book of Mythology – Curses and Boons”, and contributing author to the anthologies “Unsung Valour” and “Aryaa”. He is currently working on a book about lessons from the Mahabharata for the modern world. He lives in Bangalore with his wife, daughter, and parents.

Dr. Achyut Kant Jain is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Jain Studies, Jain University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. He completed his PhD in August 2024 from Jain Vishva Bharati Institute (Deemed University), Ladnun, Rajasthan, with his doctoral dissertation titled "A Philosophical Application of Causality with Special Reference to Jain Philosophy." He holds the prestigious UGC NET-JRF qualification. Dr. Jain's academic credentials include an M.Phil in Jaina Darśana from Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, New Delhi, where he was awarded the Gold Medal and received UGC-JRF. He also holds an M.A. in Jainology and Comparative Religion & Philosophy from Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Ladnun. His research interests encompass Jaina Metaphysics, Jaina Epistemology and Ethics, and Jain Karma theory. Dr. Jain has actively participated in the academic community, presenting his research at several international and national academic conferences and events, contributing to the scholarly discourse on Jain philosophy and its contemporary relevance.

Aryamba Sriram, hailing from the sacred lineage of Sri Ramana Maharishi, embodies a dance that is as much prayer as it is performance. Known for her subtle and nuanced command of Bharatanatyam, her journey began under the initiation of Swami Shantananda Saraswathi, founder of the Temple of Fine Arts, Coimbatore—where she first entered the world of Bharatanatyam and Odissi. With grace honed by devotion, Aryamba blossomed under the guidance of Padma Shri Leela Samson, as a member of the acclaimed Spanda Dance Company, and continues to be mentored by the legendary Smt. Bragha Bessell and Sri K.P. Rakesh. A distinction-holder from the esteemed Kalakshetra Foundation, she was awarded both Best Outgoing Student and Best All-Rounder in 2017—testaments to her excellence in performance, scholarship, and spirit. She holds a Master’s degree in Dance from the Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University, and a Bachelor’s in Sanskrit from Madras Sanskrit College, Mylapore, grounding her deeply in tradition. For Aryamba, dance is not mere performance, but a sacred offering— a timeless dialogue between form and formlessness, body and soul.