Events Platfrom: IKS

INDICA is pleased to announce the 13th IKS MetaRetreat, titled “Safeguarding the Sacred Context of Carnatic Classical Music”, to be held from 20–22 June at the Vilvam Foundation, Tiruvannamalai.

This MetaRetreat, anchored by Shri Subramanian Chidambaram, will offer a reflective space for open and honest conversations among a select group of performing artists, institution builders, critics, and connoisseurs. The retreat seeks to examine the contemporary challenges facing Carnatic music and to collectively explore pathways for preserving its spiritual integrity and civilizational depth in today’s rapidly changing cultural landscape.

Music is a universal language—an expression of nature, the mind, and the soul. While it offers entertainment and emotional resonance, in the worldview of Sanātana Dharma, music is a sacred pursuit. It is both kalā (art) and śāstra (science), and serves as a spiritual discipline leading to inner transformation and communion with the Divine. In Bhārata, music’s roots lie in the Sāmaveda, evolving into the Gāndharvaveda, an Upaveda dedicated to the study and practice of music.

Carnatic music, deeply anchored in Bhakti, has long served as a vehicle for devotion and self-realization. Today, however, it is navigating turbulent waters. Efforts to secularize or decontextualize it—from reinterpreting lyrics out of their devotional framework, to repurposing compositions in unrelated religious or ideological contexts—pose challenges to its authenticity. In some cases, the legacies of revered composers are being questioned or misrepresented. These developments, while often framed in the language of inclusivity or reform, risk diluting the very soul of the tradition.

This MetaRetreat is a timely effort to reflect on how Carnatic classical music can remain both accessible and true to its roots—how it can evolve without erasure. The time has come for a shared commitment to safeguarding its sacred context, nurturing its continued vitality, and resisting forces that may compromise its essence.

We believe that by coming together—artists, institution builders, critics, and connoisseurs—we can engage in thoughtful dialogue, rigorous reflection, and collaborative visioning. This gathering is our humble squirrel seva toward ensuring that this great tradition flows seamlessly from a luminous past into a purposeful future.

INDICA is pleased to invite one participant from the connoisseurs of Carnatic Classical Music to this exclusive MetaRetreat where distinguished performing artists, scholars and institution builders are participating through invitation.Selection will be based on one’s engagement and relationship with the Carnatic Classical Music world and a commitment towards safeguarding its Sacred Context.

Please apply the registration form in this announcement. We shall get back to you at the earliest.

Shivakumar GV

Director – IKS Changemakers

(Guru-Sadhaka Sachiva)

 

INDICA Reports on our Website on our previous MetaRetreats

Launch of IKS MetaRetreats 

The 5th IKS MetaRetreat Report: Making Sense of Cultural Differences 

The 6th IKS MetaRetreat Report: Deconstruction and Reconstruction beyond Colonial Discourse

The 7th  IKS MetaRetreat Report: Shakti – The Power Of Indic Feminine

The 8th IKS MetaRetreat Report: Indian Classical Dance – Beyond Proscenium

The 9th IKS MetaRetreat Report: “Indian Knowledge Systems – Imagining The Future

The 10th IKS MetaRetreat Report: Sacred Ecology : Hindu Perspectives On Future Environmentalism

 

INDICA Event Announcements on our Website of the previous MetaRetreats

The 1st IKS Meta-Retreat Event: Towards A Self Conscious Nation – Indica Events

The 2nd IKS Meta-Retreat Event: Hinduism: The Hope Of Philosophy – Indica Events

The 3rd IKS Meta-Retreat Event: Oral Storytelling Traditions – The Road Ahead – Indica Events

The 4th IKS Meta-Retreat Event: Tech For Dharma, Tech With Dharma – Indica Events

The 5th IKS Meta Retreat Event: Making Sense Of Cultural Differences

The 6th IKS Meta Retreat Event: Deconstruction & Reconstruction: Beyond Colonial Discourse

The 7th IKS MetaRetreat Event: INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE – BEYOND PROSCENIUM

The 8th IKS Meta Retreat Event: Shakti – The Power Of Indic Feminine

The 9th IKS Meta Retreat Event: Indian Knowledge Systems – Imagining The Future

The 10th IKS MetaRetreat Event: Sacred Ecology – Hindu Perspectives On Future Environmentalism

The 11th IKS MetaRetreat Event: Indian Knowledge Systems In Management

The 12th IKS MetaRetreat: Transformative Pedagogy – Exploring Hindu Learning Traditions

INDICA is pleased to announce the IKS Meta-Retreat on “Indian Knowledge Systems in Management“ from Dec 20-23, 2024 at Bilvam Foundation Retreat, Tiruvannamalai. The MetaRetreat would be led by Prof. B Mahadevan, retired professor of Operations Research IIM Bangalore, and a luminary of Indian Knowledge Systems..

This Meta-Retreat seeks to examine the foundational principles of Modern Management, deeply understand the progress in integrating Indian wisdom into Management, take stock of current drifts and emerging trends, and explore productive ways to move forward to further advance IKS in Management. A detailed note will follow.

Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) offer a holistic vision of wellbeing, extending care from individuals to communities, all living beings, and the environment. Drawing on philosophy, health, economics, science, aesthetics, linguistics, and ecology, IKS emphasizes interconnectedness, inclusive growth, and harmony. These principles provide a valuable framework for addressing contemporary management challenges.

As industries and entrepreneurs grow more receptive to diverse knowledge traditions, IKS stands ready to enrich modern management models. Institutions such as IIMs and IITs, along with independent consultants, are already integrating IKS into business practices. Fatigue with Western frameworks that prioritize profit alone, combined with rising global interest in spirituality and consciousness, further enhances IKS’s opportunity space and relevance.

To influence today’s complex industrial landscape, IKS must adapt. Concepts historically geared toward spirituality and small-scale communities must be translated into practical tools for large enterprises. This transition can help tackle pressing issues: environmental crises, mental health struggles, lack of purpose, inequality, and a sense of disconnection at work. By blending economic and ethical considerations, IKS can redefine success to include environmental stewardship, social justice, and personal fulfillment.

In this context, INDICA is organizing an IKS MetaRetreat on “IKS in Management, IKS for Management.” The MetaRetreat will explore how industrial life and management frameworks evolved, pinpointing opportunities to swiftly incorporate IKS-based approaches. It will examine the existing footprint of IKS, review progress made by professionals and institutions, and highlight government efforts—particularly through the Ministry of Education—to institutionalize IKS.

Most importantly, the MetaRetreat aims to chart a path forward, envisioning a future where IKS guides policy, leadership training, and organizational thinking. By identifying research priorities and practical next steps, the gathering aspires to establish “Bharat Management Techniques and Methods” that foster sustainability, resilience, and human flourishing over the coming decades.

INDICA IKS Meta-Retreats are immersive, intellectual journeys spanning 2-3 days with the triple principle of Acharya-Ambience-Attitude. It is led by an Acharya—an expert who leads a cohort in exploring specific themes in an atmosphere of Shraddha. With a cohort of 12-15 participants, these retreats foster an Upanishadic spirit of learning through immersive dialogue in a setting reminiscent of a Gurukula.

This 2+ days unique program authentically explores a subject through 8-10 sessions, in an aesthetic setting, organised around the following elements – thus weaving together an immersive and transformative experience.

• Invocation
• Cohort Introduction and Concerns around the subject
• A Stock Taking of the Present
• A Deep Dive into the Past to understand the Present
• Problems, Concerns, Conflicts that require Resolution
• The Emergence and the Opportunities
• Desired Future
• A synthesis towards the Desired Future
• The Specific Next Steps

The early mornings and evenings are spent in informal conversations around the subject with a visit to the Arunachala Shiva Temple, Ramana Maharshi Ashram and an offering of Naivedyam to Devi Saraswati with the cohort itself coming together to prepare the offering, thus symbolically signifying the MetaRetreat as a sacred offering.

As outcomes we seek to explore some specific actions that could be carried forward and advance the cause of Indian Knowledge Systems in Management.

A report on past INDICA IKS Meta-Retreats can be found in the links given below. So far we have completed 10 IKS MetaRetreats. Indian Knowledge Systems in Management would be the 11^th. Reports of the first 7 MetaRetreats are presented in the links below.

https://indica.in/launch-of-iks-meta-retreats/

https://indica.in/iks-meta-retreat-making-sense-of-cultural-differences-a-report/

https://indica.in/the-6th-indica-iks-metaretreat-deconstruction-and-reconstruction-beyond-colonial-discourse/

https://indica.in/the-7th-indica-iks-metaretreat-shakti-the-power-of-indic-feminine/

The cohort of the MetaRetreat consists of distinguished scholars, academicians, thinkers, independent practitioners and institution builders who are deeply engaged themselves in the advancement of IKS in Management over decades. Participation is by invitation only.

Shivakumar GV

Director – IKS Changemakers

INDICA

INDICA is pleased to organise an IKS MeRetreat on “Transformative Pedagogy – Exploring Hindu Learning Traditions” from 27-29 Dec 2024, with Dr. Nagaraj Paturi garu as the Curator and Smt. Sahana Singh as the Co-Curator.

The IKS Meta-Retreats are immersive, intellectual journeys over 2-3 days with the triple principle of Acharya-Ambience-Attitude. It is led by an Acharya—an expert who guides participants in exploring specific themes in an atmosphere of Shraddha (deep reverence). With a cohort of 9-12 participants, these retreats foster an Upanishadic spirit of learning through immersive dialogue in a setting reminiscent of a Gurukula.

India’s rich educational history has a huge potential to inform and improve today’s educational practices, fostering well-rounded, integrated learning environments. Our past is rich in methods of teaching, curriculum development, and interdisciplinary learning rooted in India’s intellectual traditions. In the face of today’s learning crises, we seek to explore whether Hinduism’s collective wisdom offers viable solutions to move forward, blending ancient insight with modern challenges. The upcoming MetaRetreat seeks to explore the traditional educational systems of India, emphasising their relevance in modern educational settings. 

In particular, the MetaRetreat seeks to

• Understand traditional pedagogical methods, oral traditions, the role of gurus and students, and the spiritual dimensions of learning.
• Think ways to implement them in contemporary frameworks
• List design principle and parameters for curricula development that reflect our diverse intellectual traditions 
• Explore the integration of indigenous knowledge systems and holistic approaches to learning
• Strive for a synthesis with modern pedagogical innovations while striving for a decolonized approach to education. 
• Engage in dialogue on how to reshape educational policies and practices using the knowledge of India’s past
• Draw the contours of educational systems that promote holistic development and intellectual growth.

The Evenings shall be spent in informal conversations around the subject, temple and ashram visit. 

INDICA is pleased to invite applications for the participant cohort. The cohort will consist of specially curated 12 members consisting of academicians, scholars, thinkers and activists deeply immersed in environmental concerns from different stand-points and seeking to future environmentalism through the perspective of their domains. Please send us your bio at namaste@indica.org.in along with a 300 word summary mentioning the subject, domain, or discipline you seek to explore in the form here. 

Travel, logistics, and accommodation at the Retreat will be hosted and managed by INDICA.

Date: 27-Dec 2024 to 29-Dec 2024

Venue: Bilvam Foundation Retreat, Tiruvannamalai

Curator: Dr. Nagaraj Paturi

Co-Curator: Smt. Sahana Singh

IKS MetaRetreat

Indian Knowledge Systems – Imagining the Future

(Knowledge Generation – Long Term and the Next 5 Years)

INDICA is pleased to organise the 9th IKS MetaRetreat – “Indian Knowledge Systems – Imagining the Future” – at Vilvam Foundation, Tiruvannamalai. The specific theme of the 2-days discussion would be “IKS Knowledge Generation” as needed in the contemporary times and future. The MetaRetreat will explore both the macro and the micro. 

1. A Long term steady-state configuration of the Civilization
2. A specific focus for the next 5 years

This MetaRetreat, led by Dr. Manohar Shinde and co-anchored by Prof. MS Chaitra, will offer a deeply reflective space for open discussions among a select group of esteemed luminaries, thought leaders, and subject matter experts on the many dimensions of IKS. The MetaRetreat seeks to envision a future where IKS is an integral part of all knowledge pursuits of our civilization drawing out knowledge generation required in the long term for a steady state configuration and a short term of 5 years to create door-openers and breakthroughs.  

Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) has witnessed a resurgence in the past decade, though its roots run deep. Many new strands developed during the colonial era when visionary minds began to reinterpret traditional Indian wisdom for contemporary times in response to the challenges posed by modernity, monotheism, and industrialization. Over the subsequent decades, these strands evolved into many streams across different regions, all drawn from the larger flow of Sanatana Dharma. However, the hope that IKS would become the backbone of modern India has, for many years, remained unfulfilled. It took over 70 years for the State to begin recognizing and nurturing IKS, and only recently have we seen its early stages of resurgence and mainstreaming. It is time IKS took its rightful place.

Towards this, the INDICA Meta Retreat is an invitation to reflect and envision the future in terms of IKS Knowledge Generation. The gathering will draw upon the collective wisdom of pioneering individuals who have championed and nurtured IKS programs and institutions long before their formal recognition. 

Our objectives for the MetaRetreat include:

1. An Evolving Vision Paper – A blueprint outlining the future trajectory of IKS in terms of desired knowledge directions and milestones. 
2. An Evolving Perspective Note – A collaborative summary of the perspectives shared during the retreat, offering semi-formed ideas for institutions and practitioners to develop and implement as they see fit. There will be space for cohort members to craft individual pieces that could get into the summary note.

INDICA MetaRetreats

We are pleased to share with you that INDICA has completed 8 IKS Meta Retreats so far. IKS MetaRetreats are immersive intellectual explorations spanning 2-3 days, led by an Acharya in the ambience of a Gurukula and conducted with an attitude of Shraddha. The Acharya is a leader or SME in the space, seeking to explore a specific topic, discipline, or domain along with a cohort. 9-12 participants who possess Shraddha and the right experience in the chosen theme form the cohort. This cohort then comes together with an Upanishadic attitude of learning through immersion at a location that echoes the ambience of a Gurukula. 

Pleased to share links to some of our previous MetaReteats.

• Launch of IKS MetaRetreats
• IKS MetaRetreat: Making Sense of Cultural Differences – A Report
• IKS MetaRetreat: Deconstruction & Reconstruction: Beyond Colonial Discourse – A Report
• IKS MetaRetreat: Shakti – The Power of Indic Feminine
• IKS MetaRetreat: Indian Classical Dance – Beyond Proscenium

 

Shivakumar GV

Director – IKS Changemakers

(Guru-Sadhaka Sachiva)

INDICA is pleased to organize an IKS Meta-Retreat on “Sacred Ecology : Hindu Perspectives on Future Environmentalism“ from 15-17 Nov 2024, led by Dr. Nagaraj Paturi garu as the lead faculty.

The IKS Meta-Retreats are immersive, intellectual journeys over 2-3 days with the triple principle of Acharya-Ambience-Attitude. It is led by an Acharya—an expert who guides participants in exploring specific themes in an atmosphere of Shraddha (deep reverence). With a cohort of 9-12 participants, these retreats foster an Upanishadic spirit of learning through immersive dialogue in a setting reminiscent of a Gurukula.

The upcoming Meta-Retreat seeks to examine the evolution of environmentalism in Bharat, confront contemporary challenges, and harness the potential within the Hindu cultural complex to address the ecological crisis. The retreat’s aim is to foster eco-friendly, prosperous human life by reviving our bond with nature and the Earth.

Key themes to be explored include:

1. Technology’s Role in the Crisis: Has technology, in its current form, aggravated environmental degradation? Is there a paradigm from our past that could transform technology into a force aligned with sustainability rather than exploitation?
2. Worldviews and Material Pursuits: How do worldviews shape our civilizational and material ambitions? What wisdom from our Vedic, Shamanic, and Folk traditions can we draw upon today to recalibrate our industrial lives toward a more harmonious relationship with nature?
3. Devata-Tatva and Nature: Hinduism recognizes divinity throughout the universe, seeing the sacred in all material manifestations. How does the polytheistic reverence for nature, expressed in the Upanishads, inform a harmonious relationship with the cosmos?

Vedic texts highlight Dharma as the sustaining force, restored when disrupted. Hindu environmentalism, closely linked to ecofeminism, views Earth as Bhūdēvī—a feminine divinity. Village Goddesses in Hindu folk traditions embody this sacred connection to ecosystems. The Hindu worldview aligns with Deep Ecology, emphasising the interconnectedness of all beings and ecosystems through Yajna, a sacred process of life-generation.

Hinduism today represents a complex web of Puranic, Agamic, Vedic, and tribal traditions, each contributing to a broader environmental consciousness. It is one of the few civilizations that has protected nature while simultaneously achieving material prosperity.

Yet, while Hinduism offers an explanatory framework for environmentalism, does this worldview arise from its ontology? Concepts like cosmic cycles, Yajna, Karma, and Moksha shape an intrinsic environmentalism where the human being feels indissolubly connected to the cosmos, while modernity isolates him in history. What difference does this make in how we approach environmentalism, and how can we bring these ideas into our present moment?

In the face of today’s environmental crises, we seek to explore whether Hinduism’s collective wisdom offers viable solutions to move forward, blending ancient insight with modern challenges.

The Evenings shall be spent in informal conversations around the subject, temple and ashram visit.

INDICA is pleased to invite applications for the participant cohort. It will consist of specially curated 12 members consisting of academicians, scholars, thinkers and activists deeply immersed in environmental concerns from different standpoints and seeking to future environmentalism through the perspective of their domains. Please send us your bio at namaste@indica.org.in. A 300 word summary mentioning the subject, domain, or discipline you seek to explore along with the names of cohort participants they would like to invite should also be furnished through the form here.

Travel, logistics, and accommodation at the Retreat will be hosted and managed by INDICA.

A report on past INDICA IKS Meta-Retreats can be found in the links given below.

https://indica.in/launch-of-iks-meta-retreats/

https://indica.in/iks-meta-retreat-making-sense-of-cultural-differences-a-report/

8th INDICA IKS MetaRetreat

INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE – BEYOND PROSCENIUM

(Seeking new Directions)

Namaste,

Greetings from INDICA.

This is a call for participation as Cohort Members in the 7th INDICA Meta-Retreat “Indian Classical Dance: Beyond Proscenium – Seeking new directions,” at Bilvam Foundation, Tiruvannamalai, from 27-20 September. This two-day retreat is an exclusive platform for dancers, thinkers, and connoisseurs of dance to come together and discuss matters that deeply concern them and their art. 

The world of performing arts depends on various dynamic factors such as the audience, conducive stage, and availability of musicians. For classical dance, these factors are even more critical. Patronage to classical dance performances has significantly reduced for several reasons. In this context, the Meta-Retreat seeks to explore the following:

• How can we take dance to the community instead of bringing the community to the proscenium, as has been the case for the last sixty or seventy years?
• Is it time to reflect on our past and future to find more enduring ways to present classical dance?

We hope the Meta-Retreat will facilitate vibrant discussions among all participants, leading to clear, actionable solutions. We seek to create a Vision Paper, a Group Project and some actionable personal objectives.

The Meta-Retreat is designed for 

• Practising or scholarly experience with one of the Bharateeya Dance Classical forms and a passion for imagining future frontiers
• A good appreciation for the Dharmic/Spiritual roots of our Natya-Parampara
• An appreciation of emerging frontiers
• An investment in the renaissance of our civilization

The MetaRetreat will be led by well-known Kuchipudi dancer Ms. Pujita Krishna – garu. 

The plan is as follows:

• Arrive at Tiruvannamalai at 2PM, 27th September
• Meta-Retreat on 27-Aug afternoon, 28th full day and 29th till 1PM
• Depart in the afternoon of 29th Sept to respective destinations through Chennai/Bangalore

The INDICA Meta-Retreat is an immersive program with the theme of Acharya-Ambience-Attitude. It is led by an Anchor, with the ambience of our ancient Gurukula-s, where all members of the cohort come together in an Upanishadic setup with an attitude to seek and learn from each other. This fosters an environment to imagine a future for a specific discipline they are passionate about and which is crucial for the renaissance of our civilization. Through this retreat, we seek to summarize the past, analyse the present, and synthesize a future in that discipline for Dharma. 

We have so far conducted 7 Meta-Retreat programs

here is a summary report on the previous programs.

https://indica.in/launch-of-iks-meta-retreats/

https://indica.in/iks-meta-retreat-making-sense-of-cultural-differences-a-report/

INDICA will take care of all logistics, stay, and travel. 

We invite applications from interested practitioners and scholars/thinkers. Please send in your registrations through the Register button of this page and fill this form.

 

Regards

Shivakumar GV

Director – IKS Changemakers

(Guru Saadhaka Sachiva)

INDICA

INDICA is pleased to organise a Meta-Retreat “Shakti: The Power of Indic Feminine” with Sh. Sumedha Ojha Verma  as the Lead Faculty at Bilvam Foundation, Tiruvannamalai from 22-Aug to 25 Aug 2024.

IKS Meta-Retreats are immersive intellectual explorations spanning 2-3 days, led by an Acharya in the ambience of a Gurukula and conducted with an attitude of Shraddha. Acharya, is the subject matter expert (SME), seeking to explore a specific topic, discipline, or domain along with a cohort. 9-12 participants who possess shradda and the right experience in the chosen theme form the cohort. This cohort then comes together with an upanishadic attitude of learning through immersion at a location that echoes the ambience of a Gurukula.

Bharat is Shakti. From ancient times to our freedom movement our ancestors, seers, luminaries have viewed Bharat as the Mother Shakti. Shiva-Shakti as Ardhanareeshwara has always been the defining principle of Sanatana Dharma. From ancient times to modern times, the Tatva of Shakti has guided us through our glory and fall alike. Every rejuvenation is with the guidance and power of Shakti – The Indic Feminine.

The time for rejuvenation, reimagination and renaissance has come again. Time for us to invoke Shakti.

It is time to focus, to introspect. The voice of Indic women with their own paradigm is showing incipient signs of progress. The stranglehold of Western Feminism, however, continues.

It is necessary, therefore, to take stock of the efforts to give ourselves voice and agency and to see if we are being drowned out by the feminist chorus.

For this we need to dig deep, go back to the roots of our ideas of Shakti, parse the Vedic corpus, Itihasa and Puranas as also folk stories and daily practices.

We have to fiercely critique the toxic effects of Feminism and lay out the pathway of Shakti to our future generations.

Diving into the past we need a blueprint for the future; from a medley of brilliant minds working in this area who can bring their energies together to move forward with formulating the modern conceptualisation of Shakti.

This Meta-Retreat is being organised in this context. Sh. Sumedha Ojha Verma – Member, Academic Council, INDICA will lead this Meta-Retreat which seeks to understand the true Bharata Shakti and the Tapasyaa we must perform to let it flow its grace upon us and shape a new Ardhanareeshwara civilization.

The Plan

22-August 2PM Arrival of the Cohort

22-25 August The Meta Retreat

25 August 2PM Departure of the Cohort

The Program Structure

INDICA is pleased to organise a Meta-Retreat “Deconstruction and Reconstruction: Beyond Colonial Discourse” with Prof. Kundan Singh as Lead Faculty at Bilvam Foundation, Tiruvannamalai from 26-July to 28-July 2024.

IKS Meta-Retreats are immersive intellectual explorations spanning 2-3 days, led by an Acharya in the ambience of a Gurukula and conducted with an attitude of Shraddha. Acharya, is the subject matter expert (SME), seeking to explore a specific topic, discipline, or domain along with a cohort. 9-12 participants who possess shradda and the right experience in the chosen theme form the cohort. This cohort then comes together with an upanishadic attitude of learning through immersion at a location that echoes the ambience of a Gurukula.

The Meta Retreat is organised in the context of the publication of Prof. Kundan Singh’s book “Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children.” The book, while characterising the impact of colonial distortions on Indian American children, presents a universally relevant deconstruction of James Mill’s The History of British India which is applicable to every context where its narrative made an impact. Prof. Singh’s book has been published Open Access as well in order to ensure a wide readership across the world. Please find its pdf as well as epub versions at the following website: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-57627-0

The following is the abstract of the book:

“In the early nineteenth century, James Mill, who eventually became one of the topmost officials in the imperial East India Company, wrote a three-volume work titled The History of British India. In volume one, he wrote seven chapters on the Hindu people with the thesis that they are savage, uncivilised, brute, primitive, uncouth, rude, coarse, etc. Making their primitiveness and savagery the defining characteristic of his work, he wrote on topics about their social structure and social laws, their governance and taxation systems, and their manners and customs. In addition, he devoted considerable space to arguing that Hinduism was a primitive and pagan religion that was irrational, superstitious, incoherent, and child-like. Backed by the massive imperial power that Britain eventually exerted on the world, this colonial-racist discourse set the narrative on Hindus, Hinduism, and Ancient India, which continues to get regurgitated in different places in different forms in educational institutions from school to higher learning, not only in other countries but also India, albeit in politically correct and sanitised ways.

Consequently, this archaic and racist discourse, camouflaged under the cover of political correctness, produces a psychological impact quite similar to what racism is known to have: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a phenomenon identical to racelessness where the children dissociate from the tradition and culture of their ancestors.  The irony of it all is that Mill’s discourse is one of complete fabrication and projection, given that there also is an exact correspondence between his British social and political writings on the one hand and his noxious discourse on Hindus and Hinduism on the other. Mill concocted his narrative on India, Hinduism, and Hindus in light of the social and political conditions that he wanted to reform and expel from British society—at the expense of India and Hinduism.

Mill’s characterization of Hinduism is in the shadows of the practices of the Church of England—the Church of Englandism as he called it. His description of the Hindu society bears an exact correspondence with his description of the British society that he did not want in Britain to exist.  Given that his discourse got the backing of the imperial East India Company, it became the normative discourse as time passed. It now finds a reproduction in the school text- books in a politically correct and sanitised form, causing damaging psycho-social consequences for many generations of educated Indians.”

This Meta-Retreat is being organised in this context. With Prof. Kundan Singh’s book at the core, this MetaRetreat seeks to discuss ways and means of deconstructing the Colonial Discourse and begin a process of reconstruction of civilizational discourse. This could be a multi-dimensional, multi-decade, multi-generation project. This MetaRetreat seeks to map all directions in even this deconstruction/reconstruction must spread and explore particular strands of it in depth.

We are pleased to share with you that Prof. Kundan Singh ji, the author of the book, would be leading this Meta-Retreat discussion. Prof. Kundan Singh-ji who is a Professor@Sofia University, Research Faculty@Hindu University of America, President@ Cultural Integration Fellowship, San Fransisco, Senior Fellow@Hindupedia is shortly on a trip to Bharat to offer a series of lectures in the context of his book and the deconstruction/reconstruction of the colonial discourse.

The Evenings shall be spent in informal conversations around the subject, temple and ashram visit.

INDICA is pleased to invite applications for the participant cohort. It will consist of specially curated 12 members consisting of academicians, scholars and scholar-activists deeply immersed in Hinduism studies from different stand-points and seeking to shape an aspect of our civilization in their own chosen domains. Please send us your bio at namaste@indica.org.in. A 300 word summary mentioning the subject, domain, or discipline you seek to explore along with the names of cohort participants they would like to invite should also be furnished.

Travel, logistics, and accommodation at the Retreat will be hosted and managed by INDICA.

INDICA is pleased to organise a MeRetreat on ”Tech for Dharma, Tech with Dharma” from 26-29 April 2024 under the leadership of Surendranath C, INDICA Leader and IT Professional and Ajit Padmanabh, IT Entrepreneur.

IKS Meta-Retreats are immersive intellectual explorations spanning 2-3 days, led by an Acharya in the ambience of a Gurukula and conducted with an attitude of Shraddha. Acharya, is the subject matter expert (SME), seeking to explore a specific topic, discipline, or domain along with a cohort. 9-12 participants who possess shradda and the right experience in the chosen theme form the cohort. This cohort then comes together with an upanishadic attitude of learning through immersion at a location that echoes the ambience of a Gurukula.

Our success as a civilization will depend on how well we craft a Technology future for ourselves – where it serves our purposes and develops an intrinsic harmony with Dharma. Both have been a significant challenge for us in the previous decades. In this light, this Meta-Retreat explores critical elements of a Dharmic Technology future.

The objective of the Meta-Retreat is two fold. Firstly, how do we leverage current Technologies towards our national renaissance ie., to organise life for Dharma in our times. Secondly, how do we transform Technology itself to protect, develop and nurture Dharmic sensitivities? What does it even mean for Technology to be intrinsically Dharmic – in the process of its creation, in its form and the outcomes it generates. We shall cover technologies touched upon ranging from Food processing, Healthcare, SocialMedia to AI and Metaverse.

The 2-Day program broadly has 8 sessions which were organised around the following elements weaving together an immersive and transformative experience.

• Invocation
• Cohort Introduction and Concerns around the subject
• A Stock Taking of the Present
• A Deep Dive into the Past to understand the Present
• Problems, Concerns, Conflicts that require Resolution
• The Emergence and the Opportunities
• Desired Future
• How do we get to the Desired Future
• The Next Steps

The Evenings shall be spent in informal conversations around the subject with a visit to the Arunachala Shiva Temple and Ramana Maharshi Ashram.

As an outcome, we seek to create a Vision Paper to be produced and published in 2024-25 along with another focused Group Project of immediate impact.

INDICA is pleased to invite applications to be part of this distinguished cohort. We seek applications from practitioners, scholars, thinkers with a good appreciation for Dharm, experience with Technology and with a passion to transform it, invested in the renaissance of our civilization.  The cohort will be carefully selected by the SME and INDICA consisting of practitioners, academics, thinkers, and activists. Please send us your bio at namaste@indica.org.in. A 300 word summary mentioning the subject, domain, or discipline you seek to explore along with the names of cohort participants they would like to invite should also be furnished.

Travel, logistics, and accommodation at the Retreat will be hosted and managed by INDICA

INDICA is pleased to launch a Meta-Retreat on “Oral Storytelling Traditions – The Road Ahead” from 22nd to 24th March 2024. This is designed as a coming together of minds engaged with oral storytelling: practitioners, academics and cultural thinkers, who appreciate and contemplate its varied dimensions, diverse forms, altering terrains and other features from the age-old to the contemporary.

IKS Meta-Retreats are immersive intellectual explorations spanning 2-3 days, led by an Acharya in the ambience of a Gurukula and conducted with an attitude of Shraddha. Acharya, is the subject matter expert (SME), seeking to explore a specific topic, discipline, or domain along with a cohort. 9-12 participants who possess shradda and the right experience in the chosen theme form the cohort. This cohort then comes together with an upanishadic attitude of learning through immersion at a location that echoes the ambience of a Gurukula.

As we chart a new course for the Nation based on Dharma, it is important to take stock of our storytelling forms and resinstrument them as we re-narrativize our past and present. We must have our stories of the future and for the future as well.

The Meta-Retreat is designed for practitioners, academics, thinkers of Oral StoryTelling Traditions to come on this platform to exchange thoughts, engage with each other and explore the subject. Through this Meta-Retreat, we seek to raise curiosities together to gain insights by retracing the path taken and review the existing landscape to envision the journey ahead. We seek to cover a wide range of topics such as a review and reimagination of the role and scope of oral storytelling, strengths and limitations of traditional and contemporary practices, and forms and instruments needed for the future.

The 2-Day program broadly has 8 sessions which are organised around the following elements weaving together an immersive and transformative experience.

• Invocation
• Cohort Introduction and Concerns around the subject
• A Stock Taking of the Present
• A Deep Dive into the Past to understand the Present
• Problems, Concerns, Conflicts that require Resolution
• The Emergence and the Opportunities
• Desired Future
• How do we get to the Desired Future
• The Next Steps

The Evenings shall be spent in informal conversations around the subject with a visit to the Arunachala Shiva Temple and Ramana Maharshi Ashram.

The Meta-Retreat would be led by Smt. Deepa Kiran – renowned Storyteller and head of Story Arts Foundation..

As an outcome, we seek to create a Vision Paper to be produced and published in 2024-25 along with another focused Group Project of immediate impact.

INDICA is pleased to invite applications from storytellers, academicians, thinkers and artists to be part of this Meta-Retreat cohort. The cohort will be carefully selected by the SME and INDICA consisting of practitioners, academics, thinkers, and activists. Please send us your bio at namaste@indica.org.in. A 300 word summary mentioning the subject, domain, or discipline you seek to explore along with the names of cohort participants they would like to invite should also be furnished.

Travel, logistics, and accommodation at the Retreat will be hosted and managed by INDICA.