World Association of Vedic Studies is all set to explore Vedic Knowledge for Civilizational Harmony in its 8th International Conference to be held at Port of Spain from August 4-7, 2010.
World Association of Vedic Studies (WAVES) is holding its 8th International Conference at the University of West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad between Aug 4th and 7th, 2010.
The Conference is being hosted by Saraswati Mandiram Trinidad and Tobago Inc and is supported by the Sanatan Dharma Mahasabha of Trinidad and Tobago (SDMS), The National Council for Indian Culture (NCIC) and the Vedic Mission of Trinidad and Tobago and many other local organizations. Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Mrs. Kamla Bissessar will be a keynote speaker. President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo and theVice President of Suriname, Ram Sardjoe w i l l also participate and deliver keynote addresses.
This is the largest conference of its kind in the Americas and promises to be an historic event in cultural studies and celebration of vedic traditions. The Conference is being organized by a team of eminent community leaders and scholars including Sashi Kejriwal, Engineer and Entrepreneur in Dallas, Texas (President of WAVES), Bal Ram Singh, Director, Center for Indic Studies, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth (Chairperson of the WAVES 2010 Conference), Pandit Ramadheen Ramsamooj (WAVES2010 conference coordinator), lecturer, University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth and director 3R Foundation, Shekhar Shastri and Vanita Shastri, Meru Foundation, S. Kalyanaraman, Sarasvati Research Centre, TRN Rao, Emeritus Professor, Louisiana State Univ. and Dhiru Shah, President, India Awareness Foundation,Atlanta.
The society
World Association of Vedic Studies (WAVES) is a multidisciplinary, non-religious, academic society. It is a forum for all scholarly activities and views on any area of Vedic Studies variously called as Indian Studies, South Asian Studies or Indology.
Vedic traditions have continued without interruption for many millennia and remain a living and formative source of Hindu culture and tradition. UNESCO has declared Vedic chanting as an intangible World Heritage. It is universally acknowledged that Vedas are among the oldest existing records of human thoughts. UNESCO representatives will be invited to participate and see the Vedic traditions as living heritage.
Conference highlights
This conference can be a platform for you to share your views, experience, and initiatives with leading academicians, scholars, and leaders. Opportunities for participants to network with these leading personalities is expected to be an important contribution of this conference. The conference is open to all.
The conference will be held in three tracks:
Track 1: Living Hinduism: Understanding Hindu Practices
This track will demonstrate Veda as a living world heritage. The goal of this track is to establish a new framework for the appreciation of Puja, Yajna and other forms such as Abhishekam, or a Vedic wedding or Vedic worship by highlighting the science and the aesthetics behind these practices. Invited scholars would participate in a series of activities including lectures, panel discussions, and demonstrations with aims to explore the: I) scientific underpinnings and the cosmological insights; II) the important surviving formal disciplines of Hindu worship; III) the ways of transmitting these beautiful forms of worship and practice to the coming generations and finally IV) seeking out the science and technology that are contained in the Vedas that can be used in contemporary living.
Track 2: Academic Symposium: Vedic knowledge for Civilizational Harmony
In this symposium, research papers will include topics such as: Archaeology & Anthropology; History & Social Sciences; Language, Literature & Linguistics; Science & Technology; Vedas; Upanishads; Smiritis; Puranas; Epics – Ramayana & Mahabharata, Bhagavadgita; Contemporary Works and Issues; Dharma – Shastras, Ethics & Rituals; Agriculture, Plant Science & Ecology; Inter-Religious Dialogue; Health, Yoga & Martial arts; Business, Economics & Administration. Over 100 scholars will present academic papers in these fields.
Aspecial session will be held on Portrayal of Hinduism in Western Indology. A team of scholars have contributed papers and deliberate on the topic. The contributed papers will be published in a book form and released during the Conference for wide dissemination in schools, research and other academic institutions.
A wide range of Vedic scholars, linguists, philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians present their researches. Scholars participating in the Conference include: David Frawley, Rama Rao Pappu, Ram Krishna Puligandla, TS Rukmani, Douglas Allen, Aseem Shukla, Nicholas Kazanas, S. Kalyanaraman, Subramanian Swamy, Subhash Kak, Aksharananda, Ramasubramanian, Triloki N.Pandey, and Jeffrey Armstrong.
Track 3:Youth Summit: Owning the Discourse
In comprehending the present and charting out a future, Hindu youth are often faced with issues surrounding their identity; especially the Diaspora always has to negotiate their identity with heightened awareness in the work place and in public life. This conference track spans these issues in the forms of a series of conversations between youth leaders and invited scholars to gain a better foothold on issues related to Hindu identity, relationships, family, social activism, community, and most importantly building a favorable academic discourse. Successful models in building and supporting youth groups will be shared by community leaders. Youth from many different parts of the world are expected to participate in forging together a new discourse for a powerful future.
An essay competition has been held for students on the topic “Was Ancient India really scientifically challenged?” and winners will be announced and invited to participate in the Conference.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago, Ministry of Tourism through the Trinidad and Tobago Convention Bureau will be providing the Hospitality at the Airport, sponsoring the “Island Tour” and providing the conference bags. The Caribbean Airlines are providing discounted air fares from NYC to Port of Spain. The Indian High Commissioner for India in Trinidad, Malay Mishra is having a reception for the delegates, hosting the pre-conference workshop on Ayurveda on August 3, 2010, and providing some artists for the cultural programs.
“This conference provides an excellent opportunity for the Indian community at large to understand and connect with their traditions of eternal values”, said Kejriwal, WAVES President. Pandit Ramsamooj said, “The Trinidad community is looking forward with their eager eyes to hosting first ever WAVES Conference outside USA”.
For more information on WAVES, see http://www.umassd.edu/indic/waves2010.cfm
