22nd - 23rd November 2016

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Inaugurate Ist International conference on Ancient Indraprasha

Lamp Lighting Ceremony Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Prof B.B.Lal, Dr B.R.Mani, Shri Mukul Kanitkat and Ms Neera Misra

Felicitation of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,

Felicitation of Dr B.R.Mani, DG National Museum

Dr B.R.Mani addressing the participants

Shri Navneet Soni, OSD to Hon Culture Minister beingwelcomed by Dr B/R/Mani

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar showers his blessings

A view of the participants

nd rd st 22 and 23 November were devoted to the 1 International

Conference on Ancient Indraprastha, which took place at National Museum. The program had a spiritual beginning with

blessings from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who appreciated the efforts saying love for heritage comes from the heart and

has lasting impact. He shared his views on the need to preserve

and promote our heritage. Gurudev felicitated the Prof B.B. . Lal, DG National Museum Dr B.R Mani, the writers and

composer of Indraprastha Anthem Aryan and his team, Gen G.D.Bakshi, ICHR Chairman ProfY.S. Rao.

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Academic Session

Shri Mukul Kanitkar Jt. Organizing Secretary of Akhil

Bhartiya Shikshan Mandal, gave a very powerful

inspirational speech on the role of youth in contributing to

the preservation and promotion of our deep rooted cultural

heritage and its value systems of respect towards all

humanity, nature and environment. Prof B.B. Lal in his

Keynote address shared his excavation ?ndings at

Hastinapura and Indraprastha and established the identity

of current Purana Quila areas to ancient Indraprastha

region, which was the abode of the Pandava brothers.

The Academic Sessions started at about 12 noon and

through seven sessions various aspects of the ancient

Indraprastha and its signi?cance was showcased by

renowned International and national speakers. Prominent

papers presented were as per following:-

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International Conference on Ancient Indraprastha 22nd - 23rd November 2016

Dr. B R Mani:

Dr. A.K. Sharma

Shri K. N. Dikshit

Dr. B R Mani

Prof Sushmita Pande

Prof R C Bharwaj

Dr. Ashutosh Dayal Mathur

Come Carpentier

Dr. B.M. Pandey

Prof. Narhari Achar

Dr. Koenraad Elst

Dr. Somnath Chakraverty

Shri Ashok K Bhatnagar

Shri Jijith Nadumuri

Shri K. K. Muhhammad

Dr. Shashi Tiwari

DAY TWO of the Conference continued with papers on Literary Evidences, Shri K.K. Muhhammad Director Monuments, North, ASI (retd) chaired the Academic session IV. It started with a brilliant and engrossing paper by Dr Ashutosh Dayal Mathur: “Principles of Governance in the Mahabharata (Based on the RAJADHARMA-PARVAN of the SHANTI PARVA)”. An international touch was given to Indra by Dr Come Carpentier in his interesting presentation on “Indra, Toponymous Deity of Indraprastha” (the archetype of the Sky God of Thunder in Eurasia and his role in the Mahabharata). A general view was presented by Dr Shashi Tiwari: “Ruling Dynasties of Kaliyuga: As Depicted in Bhāgavata Purāna”.

Academic Session I was titled Archaeology and History, and was chaired by Dr B R Mani: DG National Museum Delhi. Four speakers and their topics were Dr A.K. Sharma: “Pre Historic Indraprastha”, Shri Vishnu Kant: “Recent Excavations at Indraprastha (Purana Qila)”, Prof Narhari Achar: “Astronomical Dating of Mahabharata and Indraprastha”. Shri B.M. Pandey threw very interesting light on little known facts about “Indraprastha references in Inscriptions” and other texts.

Academic Session II continued with Archaeology and History (Contd.), and was chaired by Shri K.N. Dikshit, Chairman Indian Archaeological Society. In this Dr B.R. Mani shared his knowledge “Archaeology of Indraprastha”, Dr Koenraad Elst spoke on “Convergence of Evidence on a Chronology of the Mahabharata war” and Dr Somnath Chakraverty threw light on “Ethnic Entities and Relations on Indraprastha”.

Academic Session III Literary Evidences were discussed and it was chaired by Prof Sushmita Pande, Chairperson National Monuments Authority. Retired Head of Sanskrit College Delhi University Prof R.C Bhardwaj read a paper on “Indraprastha as Depicted in Sanskrit Literature”, Shri Ashok K Bhatnagar: “Indian Calendar During the Time of Pandavas” and Shri Jijith Nadumuri Ravi: “Yamuna: A Study of Its Links From Sarasvati Findings”.

Academic Session

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22nd - 23rd November 2016

Dr. Yvette Claire Rosser (Ram Rani)

Prof. S K Pachuri

Shri Prashant Chauhan

Dr. Arundhati Dasgupta

Roopali Yadav, NMI

Prof. Narhari Achar

Shri K. K. Muhhammad

Prof. Anupa Pande

Dr. Koenradd Elst

Gen G.D. Bakshi

Dr. B R Mani: Shri K.N. Dikshit

Academic Session V on Art, Architecture, City and Legacy was chaired by Prof Narhari Achar, Memphis University USA. INTACH Delhi Convenor Ms Swapna Liddle spoke on “The legacy of Delhi's Ancient Past” and Shri K.K. Muhammad, gave a very powerful, visionary and enlightening view on “Showcasing Indraprastha”. The third paper was jointly presented by Prof S K Pachauri (Retd. IAS & Cul. Sec Andhra Pradesh) with Prof Prashant R. Chauhan (Asst Prof, Amity University Noida) on “The role of NGOs and Individuals Preserving and Promoting Cultural Heritage in India”.

Academic Session VI dealt with Mahabharata Era Reflected in Art and was chaired by Prof Anupa Pande, Director NMI. Papers presented were Dr Sudha Satyavadi: “Silpa in Janapada”. Dr Arudhanti Dasgupta: “Vignettes of Mahabharata from Modern Indian Painting”, Dr Roopali Yadav, Research Scholar, NMI and architect Dr Renu Khanna showcased her virtual Reality video with a paper on “An Architect's Perspective of Indraprastha”.

Academic Session VII on Legacy Projection and Development was chaired by Dr Koenraad Elst: Orientalist and Indologist. A very inspirational, powerful and pragmatic presentation by Maj. Gen. G.D Bakshi on “Geo-Politics of the Mahabharata Era” was actually a crowning glory to the two day as conference, Last paper was by Dr Yvette Claire Rosser (Ram Rani): “Indraprastha: Elided and Excluded by Historians”.

VALEDICTORY SESSION was chaired by Dr B.R. Mani. Summation was done by Shri K.N. Dikshit, Chairman ASI, with Special Remarks by Dr D. Dimri Director ASI. Dr B.R. Mani then read out the Resolution which was unanimously accepted and passed. The brief Resolutions points were (details attached):-

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Dr. Sudha Satyavadi