one-day international online seminar on the theme “Relevance of the Bhagavad Gita in the Modern Context.”

The Department of Sanskrit at DAV Centenary College, in collaboration with the Haryana Academy of Literature and Culture and the Global Sanskrit Forum, Uttar Pradesh, organized a one-day international online seminar on the theme “Relevance of the Bhagavad Gita in the Modern Context.” The officiating Principal, Dr. Archana Bhatia, welcomed all the guests and stated in her address that the Gita offers practical guidance for understanding and dealing with the complexities of life. It inspires us to fulfill our duties and act selflessly through the path of Karma Yoga. Padma Shri Dr. Harmohinder Singh Bedi, Chancellor of Central University, Himachal Pradesh, remarked that the Bhagavad Gita is a timeless scripture that serves as a guiding light for humanity in all ages. He noted that the Gita has been translated into nearly 3,600 languages worldwide. He also shared the fascinating fact that astronaut Sunita Williams carried a copy of the Gita with her into space and read it daily for inspiration. Padma Shri Dr. Sukama Acharya, Principal of Vishwavara Kanya Gurukul, Roorkee, emphasized that the Bhagavad Gita promotes the concept of Nishkama Karma — performing duties without expecting rewards. She highlighted that actions done without attachment to outcomes are truly noble, and individuals should always strive to perform righteous deeds. The Director of the Publication Department of DAV Managing Committee, New Delhi, reflected on the importance of Karma. He explained that while actions may bring sensory pleasure, true bliss is attained through actions that uplift the soul. The Gita, he said, is a code of conduct for humanity and a beacon of spiritual light. Dr. Dharmadev Vidyarthi, Director of the Haryana Academy of Literature and Culture, said that the Bhagavad Gita has shared the message of peace with the entire world. It is a unique scripture that India possesses, showing humanity the path of well-being. Prof. Sunita Saini from the Sanskrit Department of MDU emphasized that everyone should read the Gita to live a meaningful life. The Gita provides deep teachings on yoga, selfless action, and life management. It guides how to lead a balanced life through proper thoughts, behavior, diet, and actions. International speaker Dr. Vivek Mani Tripathi, speaking from China, highlighted that in today’s era, the Gita provides solutions to challenges such as desire, anger, and mental stress. Dr. Amarjeet Arya from New York explored various aspects of the Gita and explained how its wisdom can be applied to achieve success in life. Dr. Dinesh Kumar elaborated on how the Gita is an excellent example of life management, illustrating his points with various examples. In this seminar, 85 participants from 18 states of India presented research papers on various topics. Four online tracks were created for this purpose: The first track was chaired by Prof. Rajneesh Kumar Mishra from JNU, New Delhi. The second by Dr. Pushpendra Joshi from Punjabi University, Patiala. The third by Dr. Satyapriya Arya from the University of Jammu. The fourth by Dr. Anil Kumar from the Delhi Education Department. Each track chair evaluated the research papers and offered their valuable feedback. The program was coordinated by Dr. Amit Sharma, Head of the Sanskrit Department, and supervised by Dr. Suniti Ahuja. Madam Meenakshi Kaushik efficiently anchored the event. Mr. Pramod Kumar, Mr. Dinesh Kumar, Madam Uttama, and Mr. E. H. Ansari served as technical coordinators. Many faculty members and students of the college attended the webinar and listened attentively to the speakers’ insights.