New Delhi: The Adani Group, in collaboration with the Union Education Ministry-run Indian Knowledge Systems division, is launching a global conclave to revive and celebrate Indian ancient knowledge.
The event will bring together scholars, innovators and artists from around the globe. The experts will explore and reinterpret India’s civilisational heritage through cultural performances, competitions and startup challenges. Debates and discussions on relevance of Indological studies in contemporary times will be another mainstay of the event.
The event, “Adani Global Indology Conclave: Reviving parampara for a United World”, will be held between 20 and 22 November at Adani Shantigram Township in Ahmedabad.
According to IKS division officials, this marks the first time a corporate group has partnered with them as a knowledge collaborator for such an initiative.
“The Adani Group approached the IKS division with this keen interest in organising a conclave at this scale. We were happy to collaborate as the knowledge partner. It is entirely the group’s initiative, and we are assisting in conceptualising the competitions and events. It’s a great effort, as they genuinely wish to contribute to the field of Indology,” said IKS Division National Coordinator Ganti S. Murthy in a statement to ThePrint.
An Adani Group spokesperson confirmed the development to ThePrint, saying, “Adani Group is planning a Global Conclave on Indology to raise awareness and encourage deeper study of this subject, which holds tremendous value not just for our nation but for global understanding as well.”
“Our aim is: spark wider understanding and appreciation of India’s civilisational knowledge systems and their continuing importance,” added the spokesperson.
However, this is not the first time the Adani Group has supported an initiative in the field of Indology. In January last year, Group Chairman Gautam Adani announced on the microblogging site X that the Adani Group would sponsor 14 students pursuing their PhD in Indology. The group is likely to make the formal announcement at the conclave next week.
5 contests, 16 themes: Adani to meet travel costs
According to officials in the education ministry’s IKS division, the conclave will feature five competitions designed to engage scholars, students, innovators, and enthusiasts in exploring and reinterpreting IKS.
Participants can present their ideas across 16 thematic areas, spanning Vedic philosophy and cognitive sciences, language and linguistics, historical and civilisational studies, law and governance, mathematical and astronomical sciences, health and medical sciences, performing and fine arts, architecture, and agricultural sciences, among others.
One of the competitions, Indology Quiz, will test participants aged 18 and above on their knowledge of India’s intellectual traditions through an in-depth quiz based on two seminal texts: Samvadasamgrahah and Indian Contributions to Science.
In the IKS Poster Presentation Competition, “Ancient Practices to Modern Solutions”, participants will visually interpret one of the 16 thematic areas of IKS. They will connect traditional wisdom, such as insights from the Charaka Samhita in Ayurveda or the Sulba Sutras in mathematics, to contemporary challenges, such as sustainability and health innovation.
Under this documentary competition, participants have to create documentaries that elevate IKS themes to global Over-The-Top (OTT) standards, showcasing Bharatiya perspectives on sacred traditions and culture.
On the other hand, the IKS Deep Tech Startup Challenge has invited individuals and teams of any size or age to pitch deep-tech startup ideas that preserve and promote Indian cultural and knowledge heritage. Participants are to use emerging technologies, such as AI, robotics, biotechnology, and immersive media, to develop innovative and scalable solutions for civilisational renewal.
Lastly, under the traditional professional arts challenge, artists passionate about Bharatiya Kala and traditions can reimagine their performances using AR, VR, and 3D technologies, transforming them into immersive digital experiences that bring back India’s rich heritage to life.
The awards? Rs 1,00,000 for first place, Rs 50,000 for second, Rs 30,000 for third and a Rs 20,000-worth Jury Award.
The Adani Group will bear the accommodation and travel costs of the selected candidates, Murthy said.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)