IKS Studies Through Colonial Encounter: Emergence, Evolution And Effect

Bhaarateeya Vidyaa Vibhuutih Dr. Nagaraj Paturi is a polymath and thought leader who has played a pivotal role in advancing Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). His contributions have significantly shaped academic programs, research collaborations, and dialogues between traditional Shaastric scholars and contemporary academia, ensuring their continued relevance in academia and policy-making. Trained at home in Sanskrit and Advaita Vedanta by his erudite father, the late Sri Paturi Sitaramanjaneyulu Garu, Dr. Paturi cultivated profound expertise in classical Indian knowledge traditions from an early age. His intellectual journey reflects a rare synthesis of deep traditional wisdom and modern scholarly inquiry, making him a vital bridge between ancient and contemporary thought. His life’s work focuses on reviving, preserving, and contemporizing Indian traditions, guiding scholars and institutions to embrace authentic Indian perspectives. As Senior Director and Dean at INDICA, Dr. Paturi spearheaded mentorship programs, research fellowships and curated diverse conferences and symposiums. These initiatives brought together distinguished scholars to explore domains such as Vedic mindfulness, yoga, Hindu aesthetics, environmentalism, polytheism, meditation, Hindu ethics and law, and various Indic traditions including Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Tantra, Bhakti, Jainism, and Buddhism. His ability to integrate Shaastric and contemporary academic frameworks has expanded INDICA’s impact, making Indian knowledge accessible to scholars, students, professionals, and homemakers alike. For over three and a half decades, Dr. Paturi has mentored thousands of Civil Services aspirants, equipping them with logical rigor, historical clarity, and a profound experiential understanding of Indian culture and governance. His contributions have reshaped intellectual and administrative spaces, challenging colonial frameworks and restoring an authentically Indian approach to policymaking. Dr. Paturi serves on the boards of studies and advisory councils of multiple universities and is a leading figure in Bharatiya Vidvat Parishat, a prestigious body of traditional scholars dedicated to Sanskrit and Shastric studies. His academic positions include Distinguished Professor and Curriculum Designer at the MIT School of Vedic Sciences and Board Member at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, and Veda Vijnana Gurukula. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Studies in Public Leadership and continues to serve on academic boards in the Departments of Sanskrit and Dance, as well as the School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad. His PhD from the University of Hyderabad is a pioneering study that applies Vedic parallels to Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy, and Aesthetics, establishing connections with classical Telugu poetry. His MPhil research introduced Paniniyan Linguistic Theory, establishing Vakyapadiyam as the theoretical foundation of Ashtadhyayi and unveiling its universal linguistic principles. His academic contributions include over 120 publications on Indian Knowledge Systems, Linguistics, Mythology, and Cultural Studies, along with 60+ conference papers on Vedic Sciences and Folk Culture Studies. He has provided consultancy for cultural research projects in theatre, dance, and literature and contributed to creative works, including scriptwriting for Classical Dance and Modern Theatre. Additionally, he is a distinguished Telugu poet, renowned for performing Ashtavadhanams, a rare literary and intellectual feat. His institutional impact includes co-founding the Maharshi Veda Vyas MIT School of Vedic Sciences at MIT ADT University, Pune, where he designed UG, PG, and research programs that set benchmarks for IKS education. His work has influenced the expansion of IKS studies across institutions, shaping initiatives under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. As a Senior Professor at FLAME University, he pioneered courses in Comparative Religion, Law and Justice, Historiography, and Media Research. He has also served as faculty at DJ Academy of Design (Coimbatore), NID (Bengaluru), and MIT Institute of Design (Pune), developing specialized courses in Design Ethnography, Semiotics, Research Methodology, and Indian Design Aesthetics. As a Visiting Faculty at the University of Chicago, he introduced Indian traditions and linguistics to a global audience. At the University of Hyderabad, he has led extensive research on religious transgenderism, ritual-officiating sub-castes, yogic mystic folk songs, the Bonalu festival, the folk-classical interface, and inter-traditional studies. Through his extensive research and teaching, Dr. Nagaraj Paturi continues to bridge ancient Indian wisdom with contemporary academia, policy, and governance. His work continues to revitalize and strengthen Indian sciences and cultural traditions, ensuring that Indian Knowledge Systems remain dynamic, evolving, and integral to India’s intellectual and governance framework.

Brief Biosketch: Ganti S. Murthy is a professor in Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology-Indore. He is the National Coordinator for the Indian Knowledge Systems of MoE operating from AICTE. He is also the Founding Head of the Center for Indian Scientific Knowledge Systems at IIT Indore. Previously he was a tenured professor in Biological and Ecological Engineering Department at Oregon State University for 14 years. He is the Co-founder/CEO of GRW Engineering LLC and currently serves as its Chairman, Board of Directors. He has PhD in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has a M.Tech and B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering from IIT-Kharagpur and NERIST, respectively. Murthy’s group broadly focuses on developing sustainable solutions for a resource-constrained world. Sustainable solutions are technically feasible, economically viable, resource sustainable, environmentally conscious and socially acceptable. Dr. Murthy’s research is specifically focused on sustainable bioprocessing and engineered systems analysis. His group employs a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches to conduct multi scale and systems level analyses. They study the nutrient-energy-water nexus with a particular focus on building the resilience of agro-ecological systems to pulse and pressure disturbances. He is also the lead editor of the book: Biomass, Biofuels, Biochemicals Green-Economy: Systems Analysis for Sustainability

Prof. Nomesh Bolia is a distinguished academic and researcher, serving as the Principal Investigator of the Indian Knowledge Systems Programme, a sponsored research initiative at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. He is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Delhi, where he has made significant contributions to research, education, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Prof. Bolia is the Founder and Coordinator of the Daksh Centre of Excellence for Law & Technology at IIT Delhi, an initiative that bridges the gap between legal studies and technological advancements. He is also the Founder and Director of the Public Systems Lab, which focuses on research-driven solutions for public sector challenges. In addition to his academic and research leadership, Prof. Bolia serves as the National Coordinator for the Doctoral Fellowship in India for ASEAN, a prestigious initiative under the Government of India aimed at fostering international academic collaboration. Through his multifaceted roles, Prof. Bolia continues to drive impactful research, policy discussions, and knowledge dissemination at the intersection of engineering, law, and public systems.

Associate Professor and Head, Department of History, Katwa College, West Bengal, and also involved in educational administration as President, Vidya Bharati, South Bengal. Writes on historical, social and educational issues.

Dr. Surabhi Pandey serves as an Assistant Professor (visiting) in the Department of History at Kamala Nehru College. She earned her doctorate in History from the School of Liberal Studies, Ambedkar University, Delhi. Her PhD thesis delves into the religious landscape of Braj during the 18th and 19th centuries. She holds an MPhil from Jamia Millia Islamia and completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in history at Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi. She has been a recipient of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) from the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). Her academic interests focus on early modern Indian religious history, the study of sacred spaces, and the religio-political dynamics of Braj. She has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences and has actively engaged in public history by leading heritage walks that explore the rich historical and cultural tapestry of Braj.

Meenakshi Jain is a scholar interested in cultural and religious developments in India. She has authored several books on ancient sacred sites, their early history and fate in medieval times. Her contribution to the Sati debate has been widely acclaim. In 2020, she was awarded Padma Sri by the Government of India for her contribution to literature and education. Her latest work is the two-volume The British Makeover of India, Vol. I Judicial and other Indigenous Institutions Upturned. Vol. II Indigenous Education and Languages Downgraded.

Dimple is the Director of Academic Programs at INDICA, leading INDICA Courses to advance Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). With over two decades of experience across media, telecom, technology, academia, and cultural initiatives, she has led impactful projects and strategic initiatives. Combining her understanding of IKS with her academic background and professional experience, she bridges traditional Gurukula learning with contemporary university education, creating innovative educational offerings beyond typical university frameworks. Her academic qualifications span Electronics & Communication Engineering, Marketing, Liberal Arts, and Eastern Classics, alongside a coaching certification, integrating technical, managerial, creative, and coaching perspectives through a transdisciplinary approach. An advocate for human rights and empathetic leadership, she is also an accomplished poet and writer. She has led and supported projects—including books, movies, festivals, centers, and a documentary—that contribute to preserving Indian heritage. She is dedicated to advancing Indian Knowledge Systems, believing they offer timeless wisdom and practical solutions to the pressing challenges of our modern world.

Dr Swaroop Sampat Rawal is a distinguished educator, actor, and life skills trainer, recognized for her profound commitment to human development through education. Her innovative approach integrates arts, particularly drama-in-education, into the national curriculum, fos-tering critical life skills among students from primary to postgraduate levels across India. Holding dual doctorates, a PhD in Education and a Doctor of Letters from the University of Worcester, UK, Dr Rawal’s academic rigor is coupled with a practical dedication to transform-ing educational landscapes. Her work extends significantly into rural India, where she has spearheaded large-scale teacher training programs, notably impacting 250,000 primary gov-ernment school teachers in Gujarat. Her efforts, including her role as a consultant for the Child Protection Unit in Gujarat, have extended her reach over 5,400 villages. Dr Rawal’s contributions have garnered international recognition, including being named among the top ten teachers globally for the 2019 Global Teacher Prize. Her influence is fur-ther demonstrated through her advisory roles in national academic initiatives, including her position as a non-government member of the Central Advisory Board of Education, India, and her mentorship within the National Mission of Mentoring. Author of impactful works like "Life Skills Education through Drama” and “Play, Practice, Pursue," she embodies a life-long commitment to cultivating creativity and empathy, firmly believing art holds the key to transformative learning. She persistently advocates for its integration into the national cur-riculum. Beyond her educational endeavours, Dr Rawal is a respected actress, known for her perfor-mances in Hindi cinema and in iconic television serials like Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi. Her multi-faceted career began with her victory in the Miss India pageant in 1979, where she repre-sented India at Miss Universe. Dr Rawal sees all her roles, whether in education or enter-tainment, as ways to contribute to society.

Masters in Sanskrit General Language and Literature from the Department of Sanskrit, University of Kerala, Trivandrum and Masters in Political Science from Indira Gandhi National Open University. A Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Department of Political Science, University College, Trivandrum. Vedavibhushan, Krishna Yajurvediya Taitiriya Samhita from the Tantra Vidya Peeta under the MSRVP was completed. Completed the Parliamentary Studies under the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Trivandrum, Kerala.

A gold medalist in academics, she received her awards from Former Presidents Shri R. Venkataraman & Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma; in the arts from Former Prime Ministers Shri Morarji Desai & Shri Rajiv Gandhi. Her M. Phil & Ph. D thesis on Indian Aesthetics, with reference to the Natya Sastra & Abhinavabharati were highly commended. She has trained mainly in Bharatanrtyam, besides Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Carnatic Music and Yoga with 40+ years experience in performing arts. She has cleared the UGC-NET exam (Fellowship & Lectureship), is the recipient of the JRF from I.C.P.R, Govt of India and the SRF from Ministry of Culture, Govt of India. Disciple of Dr.Padma Subrahmanyam, Padma Vibhushan awardee, Chennai and Dr. Jayashree Rajagopalan, Mumbai in Bharatanrtyam, under (Late) Smt Leela Gopalan and (Late) Vidwan Shri A.S.Panchapakesha Iyer in Carnatic Music, she has accompanied dance concerts as Vocalist, on Nattuvangam and as MC-Compere. Widely travelled to U.K, U.S.A, France, Mauritius, for dance performances & workshops besides Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand & Qatar, she is a popular resource person for Philosophy, Poetry, Art & Culture in India and abroad. She has presented papers in National & International conferences, many of which have been published. Her senior academic positions include Founder-Head, Natya Dept, MJC, Chennai, Humanities-in-charge, Shasun Liberal Education; Faculty, Dance Dept, (D.E.Mode), SASTRA University, Thanjavur; Member, Board of Studies-Performing Arts/Examiner Universities of Madras, Mumbai, Pune, Trichy, Aurangabad, Bengaluru, Vels-Chennai, BHU-Varanasi, Kalakshetra, Nrithyodaya, Chennai & Mumbai and Programme In-charge, Performing Arts for Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), South India. She retired as Director, Shasun Centre of Excellence, Art & Culture (Under N.S.D.C, Govt of India, New Delhi). Her book of poems ‘Ruminations’ was released at the 5th World Congress of Poets, San Francisco, USA. Dr. Rajshree is the Founder-Director of a Philosophical-Cultural Forum, Spanda Abhinava Holistic Initiative or SAHI

Pranava Kumar Vasishta G V is an Independent Researcher based out of Hyderabad. He is a student of Dharmaśāstra-s and the Constitution of India. He is associated with Pūrṇapramati - A Center for Integrated Learning, Bengaluru. He has translated three novels of Kavisamrāṭ Viśvanātha Satyanārāyaṇa from Telugu to English, of which one that is co-translated with Sri Viswanadha Satyanarayana (grandson of the author) is published as "Trial of Tenderness" and the others are in the pipeline. He holds a B. Tech in Computer Science & Engineering and an MS by Research in Computer Science from IIIT-Hyderabad (IIIT-H). He is associated with the foundational thought of Center for Exact Humanities, IIIT-H.

Completed BA, LL.B - National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and, LL.M from University of Leicester. He was a faculty of National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata and IIM , Kolkata. His interest: Law, Religion and Development.

Tirtha (Dr. Tirthendu Ganguly) is a poet, author, and artist. He has penned a collection of hundred-and-eight poems titled Firefly of Love (ISBN: 9781794652149) and he is now working on his next book, Tales from Mahābhārata, a collection of fifty short stories. He has been awarded a Ph.D. degree by the Department of English at Banaras Hindu University on the doctoral thesis titled, The Ontology and Aesthetics of Bhakti in the Hagiographies of Śrī Caitanya. At present, he is working as an Assistant Professor in the Centre for Indic Studies at Indus University. He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sanātana Dharma and the Indic Varta magazine. Previously, he held the post of the Editor-in-Chief at The Indian Rover, a multilingual literary magazine, for two years. He was a teaching instructor of communicative skills at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University. He also has a few laurels to his credit. His poetry, stories, and articles have appeared on multiple national and international journals, magazines, and conference proceedings. He is the recipient of the Research Excellence Award (2020), India Book of Records (2021), and Kalam Ratna Award (2021). In 2022, he was bestowed the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel by the Governor of Kentucky (USA)

Adwait Athawale is an author and researcher with a strong interdisciplinary back-ground in science and humanities. He holds an MSc in Physics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science from IIIT Bengaluru. His research focuses on the emer-gence of modernity and its effect on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). He has authored a well-researched book on Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and written multiple articles on culture, history, spirituality, and philosophy. At the Conference on IKS Studies through Colonial Encounter, he is presenting a paper on the debate between Lokmanya Tilak and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar through the lens of IKS. His study examines the paradoxical responses of Tilak and Agarkar to the imposition of the Western Knowledge System, shedding light on their con-trasting intellectual and ideological approaches.

Dr. Vishaka Venkat is an Assistant Professor of English at Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Kochi, Kerala. She holds a Ph.D. from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, for her research on Theorising the Language of Humour in Indian Political Cartoons. Her academic interests span humour studies, Indian aesthetics, cultural studies, and Shaktic traditions, with a particular focus on the mythology and rituals of Kerala's Devi temples. With over four years of teaching experience, Dr. Venkat has made significant contributions to literary scholarship. She has published extensively in Scopus-indexed journals, including Comedy Studies and The European Journal of Humour Research. Her research explores the aesthetics of hāsya, the intersection of humour and political discourse, and the cultural narratives embedded in Indian traditions. She has co-authored books such as The Language of Humour and Its Transmutation in Indian Political Cartoons (Palgrave Macmillan) and Conversations with Indian Cartoonists: Politickle Lines (Cambridge Scholars Publishing). Beyond academia, Dr. Venkat has been an invited speaker at national and international conferences, delivering lectures on Indian mythology, humour, and literature. She is also an active member of the International Society for Humor Studies and has contributed book chapters on folklore, Indian psychology, and online learning. As a researcher, Dr. Venkat leads projects funded by institutions like IKS-AICTE, focusing on the socio-cultural narratives of Kerala’s Devi temples. She is deeply involved in public engagements, conducting Harikatha sessions on Hindu mythology and coordinating literary activities at her university. Passionate about interdisciplinary research, Dr. Vishaka Venkat continues to explore the evolving intersections of literature, tradition, and cultural studies, shaping the academic discourse on humour and Indian aesthetics.

Dr. Sandhya Shankar is a distinguished linguist and academic with over seven years of post-Ph.D. experience in teaching, research, and curriculum development. She holds a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, where her research focused on Cognition of Time – Mapping Time to Space in Under-10-Year-Old Bilinguals. Currently an Assistant Professor at Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, she teaches courses in Public Speaking, Academic Writing, and Professional Communication. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor at Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Kerala, where she taught English grammar, psycholinguistics, and language and society. She was also the faculty coordinator for the Book Club and Bridge Program. A prolific researcher, Sandhya has published extensively in Scopus and UGC CARE-listed journals, contributing to the fields of linguistics, language pedagogy, and cognitive studies. She has co-authored several book chapters, including works on folklore, multilingualism, and Indian psychology. She is also a co-investigator for an AICTE-funded project studying the folklore of Kerala’s Devi temples. Beyond academia, Sandhya is actively involved in teacher training, having conducted workshops on Art-Integrated Learning and Sociolinguistics. She holds certifications in Education Leadership from NPTEL, The Science of Well-being from Yale University, and Teaching Character and Creating Positive Classrooms from Relay Graduate School of Education. Her research interests encompass language cognition, bilingualism, and holistic education, with a strong emphasis on integrating well-being into pedagogy. Passionate about interdisciplinary learning, she continues to shape the field of linguistics through her teaching, research, and academic leadership.

Deekshita is a dedicated researcher in Indic Knowledge Systems, specializing in Sanskrit studies, folklore, and cultural traditions. She holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Sanskrit from Chinmaya University and is currently a Research Assistant at Chinmaya Vidyapeeth, Kerala, working on "Folklores and Legends of Central Kerala Devi Temples – A Socio-Cultural Model Based on Emic Perspective." She has presented papers at national conferences on topics such as Avadhānakalā and cognitive functions, Indian culinary texts, and sustainability narratives. She has also co-authored a forthcoming book chapter on The Ecological Significance of Kavus, exploring mythology and environmental conservation. Beyond research, Deekshita has extensive experience in event management and leadership. She played a key role as the overall coordinator of her University’s intercollegiate fest, and has managed cultural and literary activities. Her academic journey includes internships at Vyoma Linguistic Labs and AICTE, where she researched Sanskrit prosody and phonetics in speech therapy. With strong analytical and organizational skills, she continues to contribute to the study and preservation of Indic traditions.

Komal Agarwal is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi. She obtained her doctorate from the Center for English Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2019. Her research interests comprise the epic and popular versions of the Mahabharata, Indian classical literature and aesthetics, folk and popular cultures in India, gender studies and translation studies. She is also an environment enthusiast and the co-convenor of Harithkram, the environment society of her College.

Halley Kalyan is an inquisitive Hindu trying to understand Sanatana Dharma. He has a B.Tech in Computer Science from IIIT-Hyderabad and also holds an MBA degree from IIM-Lucknow. He works as a product manager in the IT industry for livelihood. When not busy with work he is busy reading and engaging with the world via social media on the following areas: Modernity-Tradition-Continuity; Religion-Ecology-Economics; Technology-Society. Some of his talks are hosted on the Atharva forum on Youtube. He was a speaker at Indica's Symposium on Jaati Puranas in the past.

Abhik Ganguly is a poet, writer, and a scholar-practitioner. Currently, he’s a Junior Research Fellow pursuing his PhD in “Śākta Tantrism” at the Department of English, University of Delhi. He has won prestigious events like the ‘Poetry on Spring’ contest organized by House of Harmony 2023, besides winning the Amity International Literature Festival’s 'Comic Trivia' which included short story writing and 'Twitterature’. His academic essays and poems have been published in various outlets like the Poetry India, Monograph, Indian Review, Hooghly Review, Setu Magazine, and others.

Dr. Saswati Bordoloi, is a researcher specializing in Folklore, Cultural Studies, Indian Knowledge Systems, and Byzantine Studies. Dr. Bordoloi currently serve as an Assistant Professor at the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Cell, The Assam Royal Global University, Guwahati, Assam. Dr. Bordoloi has also worked as a Research Associate (Postdoctoral Research Project) at the Institute for Science and Spirituality (ISS, IKS Research division) under the Ministry of Education, New Delhi, and completed a research project on the socio-cultural impact of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad Gītā in shaping Indian society. Also, Dr. Bordoloi is handling a project on the Tiwa community of Assam for the North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC), Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Dr. Bordoloi has been awarded the prestigious Tata Fellowship and Dora Plus Fellowship (International) and was a Ph.D. visiting student at the University of Tartu, Estonia (Europe). Also, was a researcher and ambassador in Europe for The Global Encyclopedia of the Ramayana project under the Ayodhya Research Institute, Ministry of Culture, for which she received the Bharat Vibhushan Award. She has presented her Ramayana research at the ACSAS 2022 conference in Seoul, South Korea, and showcased Assam’s mask-making tradition in Jakarta, Indonesia. Dr. Bordoloi has also shared her research on folk songs and oral literature in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, complemented by a documentary she produced. With over 60 presentations at national and international conferences and seminars, she is frequently invited as a resource person and keynote speaker, including sessions at IIT Mandi, Himachal Pradesh; CCRT's regional center; Ramayana Kendra, Bhopal; and Ayodhya Research Institute. She is an Empanelled Expert at the CCRT (Regional Centre), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and is affiliated as a lecture demonstrator. Dr. Bordoloi also serves on the editorial board as Section Editor for SCOPE: Journal of English Language Teaching (Indonesia) and is a reviewer for UGC CARE-listed journals. Recognized for her research excellence, Dr. Bordoloi has received two Best Paper Awards (one international and one national). To date, she has published 27 research papers, authored two books, and edited one book. Additionally, she has contributed creative writing to various magazines and newspapers, affirming her status as a respected scholar in her field.

Bharat Gupt, Padma Shri, Ratna Sadasya of the Sangeet Natak Academy, Executive Trustee of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, and Vice-Chairman, National School of Dra-ma, is a well-known figure in the field of arts. He is a classicist, theatre theorist, sitar and surbahar player, musicologist, cultural analyst, and newspaper columnist. His writings have altered the perception of ancient Greek drama as ‘Western theatre’, showing its utter close-ness with techniques of ancient Indian theatre. He is known as an international authority on the Natyashastra.

Shivakumar G V is 'Director - INDICA (Guru-Saadhaka Sachiva). His responsibilities focus on INDICA’s critical mission to cultivate leadership. He guides initiatives to serve Gurus, perpetuate their legacies, enable/empower leaders committed to IKS to become influential thinkers, institution builders and public leaders, and bolster the broader IKS ecosystem. Over the next 36 months, Shivakumar embarks on an ambitious pledge to honor and sustain the legacies of 108 Living and Past Gurus from the 20th Century. His efforts will focus on organizing, making accessible, and cultivating a parampara that highlights their significant contributions to our civilization. As an IKS Research Scholar, Shivakumar remains dedicated to his scholarly pursuits in Itihasa-Puranas and Indian Knowledge Systems. His work includes developing contemporary frameworks based on IKS principles, with a special focus on the Mahabharata and Purushartha. He has been a prolific contributor to INDICA Today, sharing his insights and knowledge with both academic and general audiences. He has delivered several story telling and courses on Mahabharata, Purushartha, Indic Civilization Studies for aspiring leaders and students. He is the curator of ‘Aryaa - An Anthology of Vedic Studies’ a collection of 10 stories on 10 Vedic Women by 10 Authors published by INDICA. Shivakumar holds an M.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay and a B.E. from the National Institute of Technology, Surat. With 25 years of experience in the IT industry, his expertise spans theoretical computer science, algorithms, and learning system design. Shivakumar resides in Bengaluru with his family and is a devoted follower of the River-Goddess Saraswati.