Symposium On The Living Traditions Of Ramayana

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.

Dr. Rangan Ramakrishnan is a revered Spiritual Guru, Vedic scholar, and Ramayana exponent, known for his profound contributions to the revival and dissemination of Dharmic wisdom. As the founder-president of Webolim (Web of Life Makers)—an organization dedicated to promoting inner peace and universal harmony through the Ramayana and Vedas—he has been at the forefront of spiritual education for over 25 years. A Sanskrit pundit, Yoga mentor, educationist, and prolific speaker, he has delivered discourses in Sanskrit, Tamil, Hindi, and English across the globe. He established Shurtiram Gurukulam, a traditional Veda Patasala, and Seetalakshmi School, which integrates modern and traditional systems of learning. His literary legacy includes over a dozen influential works, notably Dhvani Dipika, a monumental 10-volume Sanskrit commentary on the Rig Veda, and Valmiki Ramayana, an extensive research treatise on Ramayana traditions. His insightful book What is Dharma explores the philosophical depth of righteousness, while Darshan reflects Webolim’s spiritual worldview. For his outstanding work, he has been honored with titles such as Samanvayaacharya, Yoga Rama, and Ramayana Pravacha Virat, and awarded a D.Litt. by SVYASA University and the Dharmathma Award by the Sri Sringeri Jagadguru Sanatana Dharma Vidhya Samithi.

Dr. Siri Rama is a Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi dancer, teacher and choreographer based in Singapore. She is also the founder-director of the dance institution in Mumbai, the Kanaka Sabha Performing Arts Centre. She holds a PhD in the Fine Arts on the study of Dance Sculptures in Belur and Halebidu temples from the University of Hong Kong and has performed to critical acclaim, presented group performances, and lectured, in many different cities of India and in many parts of the world including the USA, Germany, the Middle East, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand. She has choreographed and presented several solo and group dance performances to traditional as well as contemporary themes. She has collaborated with musicians and dancers from many other genres including Hindustani music, Chinese and Malay dance, and computer musicians. She is served four terms as the president of the Singapore chapter of World dance Alliance Asia Pacific. She is Adjunct Faculty at the School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Singapore). She has recently published a book, Dance Divine: Dancing Deities of India, Shubhi Publications (2021)

Dr. Vishwanath M V has an MA in Sanskrit, Alankara Shastra, and Phalita Jyotisham and holds a PhD from Banaras Hindu University for his doctoral thesis on the conversations of Ramayana titled Śrīmadvālmīkirāmāyaṇe Saṃvādavimarśaḥ. His research areas include Sanskrit Sahitya Shastra, Valmiki Ramayana, Artha Shastra, Phalita Jyotisha, Nimitta, Shakuna, and Samkhya Darshana. He currently serves as a Guest Faculty in the department of Alankara Shastra at Government Maharaja Sanskrit College, Mysore. He is an Adjunct Professor at the department of Heritage Sciences and Technology in IIT Hyderabad. He is also working as a Consultant and Chief Teacher in Indic Knowledge System at Yoga Vijnana, Bangalore. He also is the chief astrological consultant for WeWake, a website for online astrological consultations. He is a subject expert and consultant at Coolture Designs in projects Parvadarshini, and Devabhasha. He has been associated with Nirakula Yoga and Svabhaa Foundation since their inception. He is also a visiting faculty at Yoga institute Just Yoga in Shanghai, China. He regularly delivers lectures on Advaita Vedanta both in India and abroad for Aham Brahmasmi Foundation, a unit of Dakshinamnaya Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham. He is currently teaching Yoga Upanishads, Principal Upanishads, Samkhya Karika, Vyakarana, Kavyaprakasha, and Jyotisha at home and other platforms both online and offline. He has presented papers in various seminars and conferences and has published four research papers in referred journals. A Series of talks on mahākāvyas in Sanskrit, Śrimadbhāgavatam in Kannada, Rasagaṅgādhara in Hindi are available on his YouTube channel Guruguhalahari.

Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant, inhabits the worlds of administration, academics, and arts; straddling them with equal ease. Celebrated as one of India’s most eminent and renowned classical dancer, choreographer and dance scholar, Ananda’s artistic body of work, spans mythologies, abstraction, historical chronicles, women studies, poetry, philosophy and humour. As the Artistic Director of Shankarananda Kalakshetra, Ananda, leads an acclaimed ensemble, besides training and presenting the next generation of Bharatanatyam artists. For her contribution to the field of classical dance, Ananda was conferred the "Padma Shri" in 2007 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar for Bharatanatyam in 2009. Ananda is a sought-after motivational speaker and actively engages with young India on a wide range of topics, at leading corporate entities, leadership programs, hospitals, universities and schools. A TED speaker in 2009, her TED talk, has been ranked as one of 12 Incredible TED talks. Harnessing Technology for Arts, Ananda has conceptualized and created Natyarambha, a first of its kind digital arts initiative – a Bharatanatyam practice app that was launched in January 2017, and is now followed across the globe. Ananda’s cutting edge digital product – Kutty Kahani – a video embedded e book that brings Indic stories by and for children through the prism of art; caught the attention of Hon Prime Minister of India Sri Narendra Modi ji, who mentioned this unique venture in his Man ki baat of 18th June 2023 Ananda also served the Ministry of Railways as a senior officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service

Jay Jina is director of Chitraayana, a vertical within INDICA. Chitraayana’s vision is to capture and share India’s rich cultural heritage, vividly told in words and visuals as seen through the experiential eye of the insider. Jay curated the fourth volume in the series and an Anthology, “Padma Bharatis: Ordinary Indians Extraordinary Triumphs”, (Blue Ink, 2024), and before that, “Anveshana”, (Notion Press, 2023) which was completed in partnership with INDICA Pictures, a compilation of photo stories captured by grantees which Jay edited and co-wrote. Prior to editing “Padma Bharatis”, Jay had mentored young writers on a creative writing programme. Being from an Applied Mathematics background, most of Jay’s career has been in business where he held several senior and executive level positions within automotive, aerospace, and instrumentation sector multinationals. This varied industrial career has been interspersed with periods teaching and conducting applied research in academia and consulting with a “big four”. For several years, Jay also served as adjunct faculty and taught executive MBA programmes. Apart from his role within INDICA, Jay is Hindu Chaplain, and until recently, taught Mathematics in a UK university. Born in East Africa to Indian descent parents, Jay has lived most of his life in England. He and his wife now reside in rural Devon and are active grandparents to two boys.

Charu Uppal is a media scholar based in Sweden. Uppal’s research interest are interdisciplinary with a focus on the use of media for expressing cultural and political identity. Her work has ex-plored how the Indian diaspora uses Bollywood movies to inform their cultural identity. Her cur-rent research explores how netizens use social media to counter mainstream media and assert their cultural identity. Uppal’s work has appeared in Journal of Creative Communications, Social Sciences, Journalism Practice and International Communication Gazette. Blog: https://charuuppal.substack.com YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@charuuppal7043

Subramanian (commonly referred to as Subbu) hails from a family of Samavedic scholars in the Pu-thucode village of Palakkad district (Kerala). He is an electrical engineer by qualification and a post-graduate in management from IIM Lucknow. He has 15+ years of experience in management consult-ing & industry and is currently working as Chief strategy officer for a leading MNC in India. He deliv-ers lectures on management at premier B schools in the country. Subbu is an M.A. in Sanskrit (Specialization in Vedanta) and Diploma in Manuscriptology, both from the University of Mumbai where he has also been a visiting faculty of Vedanta, Itihasa, Puranas and Bhakti. He has formally studied Veda chanting for 8 years. He is currently pursuing his doctoral stud-ies on ‘Indic perspectives for modern leadership’ from Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth. Subbu hails from a family of music connoisseurs on his maternal side. He was initiated into Carnatic music by his mother Mrs. Bhagyam. He has now been learning music under ‘Sangita Kala Acharya’ Vidushi Smt. Alamelu Mani for the past 2 decades. Subbu has been giving many lecture demonstrations and ‘Sangeeta Upanyasam’ (i.e. musical storytell-ing) combining his interests and skills of music and Indic knowledge. Subbu has also been hosting a channel on Youtube called ‘Subbu’s corner’ that comprises various kinds of sessions aimed at increas-ing awareness of our great Indic tradition and knowledge. Recently he has published the book 'Sankarayanam The journey of Sankara' which has been well re-ceived by readers.

Rudra Vikrama Srivastava is a scholar of ancient history and Archaeology. I have completed my Master's in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from Banaras Hindu University. I am currently working as in independent scholar of early-mediaeval epigraphy of North India.

Dr. Sumitra Velury was awarded a Ph.D. in Kuchipudi Dance from Potti Sriramulu(PS) Telugu university. The topic for the dissertation is “The origin and development of Kuchipudi dance with special reference to Bhamakalapam”. She did her Masters in Human resources management from Andhra University and Kuchipudi Dance from P.S. Telugu University respectively. She is qualified in the UGC NET exam, in the year 1999 and awarded a Senior fellowship in 2007. She has forty published research articles in various reputed magazines and souvenirs. Presented papers in several National and international seminars and received wide acclaim from the learned. A special mention needs to be made of Workshops on Natya Sastra and Kuchipudi, which were well received by the knowledge seekers. Apart from working for electronic media, she is also a visiting professor at Telugu University and Krishna University. Recently she joined as a faculty member, Veda Samskriti Samithi. As a performing artist, choreographer, anchor, compeer, academician, and educator her multi-faceted career spanning over three decades is fruitful and rewarding. In recognition of her contribution to Indian Dance, music and literature she was awarded with the title - Natya Mayuri.

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.

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/

S.Shanmugam have completed MSc and M.Phil in Biochemistry and serving as assistant professor in Sri Sankara Arts and Science College Kanchipuram affiliated to university of Madras. Shanmugam Presented research papers in various conferences and published paper in reputed journals . Contributed chapters in books .Shanmugam received Best Programme Officer from Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu branch for conducting various youth seminars, social activities and awareness programmes. Started sri NS academy during 2021, through this various awareness initiatives taken to preserve tradition , culture and environment.Mr. shanmugam was selected by ministry of education to participate in Kasi Tamil Sangamam during the year 2022.