8th International Ramayan Conference at IIT Roorkee
The 8th International Ramayan Conference was held at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee from December 11 to December 13, 2025. This conference brought together scholars, saints, and Ramayana enthusiasts from across India and around the world to discuss the relevance of the Ramayana in contemporary society.
Inaugural Session Highlights
The conference was inaugurated by Prof. K K Pant, the Director of IIT Roorkee. In his opening remarks, he emphasized the importance of integrating the values of the RamCharit Manas into modern education. He stated that education should not solely focus on providing a livelihood but should also aim to serve humanity. He quoted the famous line from RamCharit Manas, “Parhit Saras Dharma nahi Bhai,” which underscores the significance of serving society.
Prof. Pant also highlighted that the Kulgeet of IIT Roorkee draws inspiration from the Chaupai of RamCharit Manas, reinforcing the connection between the institute’s values and the teachings of the Ramayana. He urged the youth to view knowledge as a means to contribute to society and work towards a developed India by 2047.
Spiritual Insights
The inaugural session featured an Ashirvachan (blessing) by Mahamandeleswar Swami Hari Chetnanand Ji. He spoke about the timeless relevance of the Ramayana and other scriptures for character building and inner happiness, particularly in an age dominated by technology and material pursuits. Swami Ji praised IIT Roorkee and Shri Ramcharit Bhavan for their initiative in convening this conference, referring to the Ramayana as a comprehensive manual for life that teaches values such as sacrifice, devotion, and social harmony.
Significant Releases
During the inaugural session, the conference also saw the release of the “Gita Shabda Anukramanika” (Gita word index) and the e-proceedings of the conference. Dignitaries emphasized that these reference works would significantly benefit seekers, researchers, and devotees engaged in the serious study of the Gita and Ramayana.
Awards and Recognitions
In a special moment, the “Ramayana Ratna” award was posthumously conferred on the eminent Sanskrit scholar, Prof. Mahavir Agrawal, who was recognized for his five decades of contributions to Sanskrit literature and Indian knowledge traditions. The award was received by his wife, Smt. Veena Agrawal, who expressed her gratitude for the recognition of her husband’s work.
The inaugural session also included the first lecture of the Prof. Mahavir Memorial Lecture series, delivered by Prof. Dinesh Shastri, Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Sanskrit University. He emphasized the rich Sanskrit and philosophical traditions underlying the Ramayana and advocated for the introduction of such texts in structured courses from school to higher education within the Indian Knowledge Systems framework. Prof. Shastri noted that internalizing values such as परहित (selflessness), सत्य (truth), and करुणा (compassion) could help diminish social ills like corruption and disharmony.
Acknowledging Contributions
Several individuals were honored during the conference for their contributions to the field of Sanskrit and the study of the Ramayana. Dr. Rajrani Sharma, Prof. Vinay Sharma, Smt. Asha Srivastava, and Smt. Vineeta Mishra received the Shri Ram Charit Bhawan Ratna Award. Additionally, Dr. C. Kameshwari, Prof. Rajat Agarwal, Shri Ram Gireesh Dwivedi, and Smt. Alka Pramod were presented with the Shri RamCharit Bhawan Vibhushan Award. The Shri RamCharit Bhushan awards were given to Dr. Manvi Goel, Sh Chavinath Lal, Sh Rakesh Chaube, and Smt. Smita N. Ladhawala.
Conference Overview
This three-day conference was jointly organized by IIT Roorkee and Shri Ramcharit Bhavan, USA. Prof. Rajat Agrawal, Head of the Department of Management Studies and DPIIT IPR Chair Professor, welcomed the delegates and expressed gratitude to Shri Ramcharit Bhavan for selecting IIT Roorkee as the host campus. He highlighted the unique opportunity to host the Ramayana Conference at an institution with a rich history of nearly 180 years, where the “Ganga of knowledge has been flowing.”
Prof. Om Prakash Gupta, founder of Shri Ramcharit Bhavan and a faculty member at the University of Houston-Downtown, traced the journey of the International Ramayana Conference since its inception in 2016. He noted the conference’s evolution from its early editions in the United States to its current iteration at IIT Roorkee. Approximately 150 research papers on the Ramayana and related spiritual literature were presented in a blended format, with parallel technical sessions. The proceedings of the conference will be published as an e-book after peer review.
Conclusion
The conference theme, which connects the Ramayana with contemporary issues such as sustainability and ethics, aims to reinterpret ancient wisdom for modern challenges. The event concluded with a valedictory session on December 13, 2025, where Best Paper Awards were presented to Ms. Sakshi Goyal, Dr. Aparna Sigh, Sh. Rakesh Choubey, and Dr. Rajesh Kumar Mishra, recognizing their exceptional research contributions.
Note: The 8th International Ramayan Conference at IIT Roorkee serves as a vital platform for discussing the relevance of ancient texts in today’s world, fostering a dialogue between tradition and modernity.
