Silchar, July 31, 2026: The Department of Sanskrit, Assam University, Silchar, organised a one-day National Seminar on "The Contemporary Relevance of the Literary Works of Mahakavi Kalidasa" on the occasion of Guru Purnima, bringing together scholars, teachers, and research scholars from across India and Nepal to explore the enduring significance of the legendary Sanskrit poet's literary contributions.
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| Scholars, faculty members, research scholars, and students pose for a group photograph during the National Seminar on "The Contemporary Relevance of the Literary Works of Mahakavi Kalidasa" organised by the Department of Sanskrit, Assam University, Silchar, on the occasion of Guru Purnima. (Image: facebook.com/AssamUnivSil) |
Held on July 29, the seminar was dedicated to the sacred tradition of Guru Purnima, observed in honour of Maharshi Vedavyasa, and served as a platform for academic discussions on Kalidasa's timeless works and their relevance in contemporary society.
The inaugural session took place at Swapna Devi Smriti Bhavan in the Department of Sanskrit and was attended by Vice-Chancellor (i/c) Prof. Ashok Kumar Sen, former Head of the Department Prof. Snigdha Das Ray, IQAC Director Prof. Piyush Pandey, Head of the Department Prof. Shanti Pokharel, and Prof. Govind Sharma.
Welcoming the participants, Prof. Shanti Pokharel highlighted the importance of preserving India's rich literary and cultural traditions through academic engagement. The programme began with a devotional invocation to Goddess Saraswati performed by postgraduate student Joyita Bhattacharjee.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Snigdha Das Ray reflected on the life and literary brilliance of Mahakavi Kalidasa, drawing examples from his celebrated works such as Ritusamhara and Abhijnanasakuntalam. She explained how Kalidasa's poetic imagination, philosophical depth, and depiction of nature and human emotions continue to inspire readers and scholars centuries after they were written.
Prof. Piyush Pandey spoke about the universal appeal of Kalidasa's writings, noting that the poet is often compared with William Shakespeare for his mastery of language and understanding of human nature. Research scholar Vijaya Lakshmi Sharma addressed the gathering on the significance of Guru Purnima and the enduring Guru-Shishya tradition in Indian culture. As part of the celebration, students honoured their teachers by applying tilak and presenting them with mementoes.
In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor (i/c) Prof. Ashok Kumar Sen described Sanskrit as the repository of India's vast knowledge tradition and emphasised that Kalidasa's works continue to offer valuable insights into literature, ethics, philosophy, and culture. During the inaugural session, the department also released the 20th volume of its annual research journal, Vagishwari. The session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Prof. Govind Sharma.
The seminar featured five technical sessions, including two offline and three online sessions, during which 63 research papers were presented. Of these, 19 papers were presented offline and 44 papers were delivered virtually, reflecting the seminar's broad academic participation.
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The valedictory session was attended by Assam University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rajive Mohan Pant, who addressed the participants as the Chief Guest. He highlighted the rich heritage of Sanskrit literature and reaffirmed the timeless and universal relevance of Mahakavi Kalidasa's works in today's world. Certificates were distributed to all paper presenters before the session concluded with the recitation of the Shanti Mantra.
The one-day seminar witnessed the participation of 103 registered delegates, including scholars, teachers, and students from 76 universities and colleges across 14 Indian states. Researchers and academicians from Nepal also participated, adding an international dimension to the event. The seminar concluded with a renewed commitment to promoting Sanskrit studies and preserving India's classical literary heritage through research and academic collaboration.
