Dr. Jai Prakash Tiwari
Gonda: The Department of English, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Degree College, Gonda, organized a seminar on “Indian Knowledge System and English Literature” under the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) initiative at the Lalita Shastri Auditorium.
Presiding over the programme, the Acting Principal of the college, Prof. Jitendra Singh, said that the Indian Knowledge System has continued to attract the world through its timeless message of universal brotherhood and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”—the belief that the entire world is one family.
The Head of the Department of English, Prof. Srinivasa Rao, welcomed the guests and highlighted the objectives and significance of the programme.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Jai Prakash Tiwari, Assistant Professor and Head, Department of English, Kisan Degree College, Bahraich, delivered an insightful lecture on the journey of Indian knowledge traditions through English literature. He explained that in early English literature, India was largely represented as a land of gold, spices and prosperity. He highlighted references to India and Indian knowledge traditions in the works of William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, Andrew Marvell and John Milton.
Dr. Tiwari also discussed the role of Sir William Jones, the Asiatic Society, and the translation of Kalidasa’s Abhijnanashakuntalam in taking Indian literature and intellectual traditions to the Western world. He further observed that the influence of Indian philosophy and spirituality can be clearly seen in the literary works of Sir Edwin Arnold.
The programme was ably conducted by Dr. Vandana Bhardwaj, Assistant Professor, Department of English. She emphasized that the influence of Indian knowledge traditions is not confined to Indian writers; Indian philosophy, spirituality, ethics, mythology and cultural thought have also found expression in the writings of numerous international authors.
Prof. Mansaram Verma, Coordinator of the Indian Knowledge System Committee, cited several examples and highlighted the dissemination of Indian knowledge traditions across different parts of the world.
The keynote speaker was introduced by Assistant Professor Vivek Pratap Singh, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Amit Verma. Students participated enthusiastically in the programme and gained an important opportunity to understand the extensive literary and intellectual connections between Indian knowledge traditions and English literature.
Prof. Aman Chandra, Chief Proctor Prof. Sandeep Kumar Srivastava, Prof. Abhay Srivastava, Prof. Jaishankar Tiwari, Prof. Shashi Bala, Dr. Om Prakash Yadav, Sakshi Tiwari, and several other faculty members were present on the occasion.
