Faculty Training Programme on Indian Knowledge Systems

Name of the Event : Faculty Training Programme on Indian Knowledge Systems
Date of Event : 10.11.25
Guests:
Padmashri Awardee Dr. M. D. Srinivas
Founding Chairman, Centre for Policy Studies, Chennai

Dr. K.S. Balasubramanian
Director, The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute, Chennai

Dr. Saraswathi Murali
Chartered Accountant & Information Systems Auditor

Description

Summary

A Faculty Training Programme on Bharatiya Jnana Parampara (Indian Knowledge Tradition) was organized on 10th November 2025 for the faculty members by the Centre for Excellence for Art and Culture in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the college. The Resource Person of the first session Padma Shri Awardee Dr. M.D. Srinivas, Former Head, Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Madras, and Founding Chairman of the Centre for Policy Studies, Chennai spoke about the rich corpus of Indian Knowledge Systems, emphasizing India’s manuscript heritage, epigraphical wealth, and its far-reaching contributions to global scientific thought. He highlighted rare sources such as the Tamil numerical text Chudamani Ullamudiyan and the Sanskrit Katapayadi Sankhya system, elaborating on their role in decoding astronomical data related to stars and constellations. He further explained, how ancient Indian discoveries influenced Greek and Western astronomers, and illustrating the depth of India’s intellectual legacy.

The second session was conducted by Dr. K.S. Balasubramanian, Director, The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute, who delivered a thought-provoking lecture on the Life Sciences of Ancient Bharat. Citing references from the Mahabharata, the Garbha Upanishad, and the life of Mahavira, he discussed the profound understanding of cytology, genetics, and embryology evident in India’s classical texts. His talk drew connections between ancient scriptural knowledge and modern biological sciences, highlighting India’s early engagement with scientific inquiry.

The third session featured Dr. Saraswathi Murali, Chartered Accountant, who spoke on “Influence of Kautilya’s Arthashastra on Modern Accounting and Revenue Administration.” She examined how Kautilya’s Arthashastra discusses principles of fraud prevention, accounting errors, revenue collection, audit procedures, and administrative accountability, emphasizing its relevance to contemporary financial management and ethics.

Faculty members from several leading institutions—including Ethiraj College for Women, A.M. Jain College, D.G. Vaishnav College, and M.O.P. Vaishnav College—participated enthusiastically, along with the faculty of Shasun Jain College.

Outcome

The day-long training programme provided an enriching academic platform that seamlessly integrated India’s ancient wisdom with modern educational perspectives, inspiring faculty to explore and incorporate the essence of Bharatiya Jnana Parampara in teaching and research.