CUJ organizes seminar on ‘Sage Agastya: The Mantra Drashtaa’

Prof Ritu Bakshi presenting memento to key speaker Prof Manoj Kumar Patairiya during seminar at CUJ.
Prof Ritu Bakshi presenting memento to key speaker Prof Manoj Kumar Patairiya during seminar at CUJ.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 30: The Central University of Jammu organized a special seminar on “Sage Agastya: The Mantra Drashtaa”, highlighting the academic contributions of Rishi Agastya in the ancient Indian knowledge systems which are still relevant in the modern times.
The seminar was organised under the banner of Kashi Tamil Sangamam intended for national integration and bridging the modern science and ancient Indian wisdom as envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“Sage Agastya has profound influence on Indian knowledge traditions and made pioneering contributions to linguistics, Vedic scriptures, Siddha medicine, and ancient sciences,” said Prof Manoj Kumar Patairiya, a renowned scientist and academician while delivering the keynote address.
Dr Patairiya, who has been Director of CSIR-NIS CAIR (now NIScPR) and Head of National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), DST, New Delhi, shared several anecdotes related to Rishi Agastya which find relevance in today’s world.
Sage Agastya contributed immensely to the Vedic knowledge, especially the Rigveda. Sage Agastya is also known as the pioneer of Tamil grammar. He travelled widely across the country and had a special connection with Kashi.
Drawing parallels between modern times and the sage’s contributions and writings of ancient times, Dr Patairiya emphasised that academicians and scholars should explore the contributions of ancient Indian sages including Rishi Agastya and their relevance in modern times through scientific validation.
While speaking on the occasion, Prof Ritu Bakshi, Dean Students’ Welfare at CU Jammu, introduced the audience to the Kashi Tamil Sangamam initiative.
Dr Shashikanta Mishra, Associate Professor, Department of Hindi and Other Regional Languages, provided an overview of India’s ancient knowledge traditions, shedding light on the contributions of various sages.
Dr Abhay SD Rajput, HoD, Mass Communication and New Media, delivered the vote of thanks. The seminar was attended by several Deans and Heads, faculty members, PhD scholars and students of CU Jammu.