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The three-day international conference on the theme of 'Revisiting
Indus-sarasvati Age and Ancient India' was organized by the Greater Atlanta
Vedic Temple Society and Hindu University of America. The Conference,
attended by scholars and Vedic researchers from several countries, was
inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Basdeo
Panday. There were several topics discussed during the three-day event. Two
of the most important topics discussed were concerning the controversial Aryan Invasion Theory
and the
accomplishments of the civilization that existed along the banks of the Indus
and sarasvati rivers. The conference focused on topics relating to the origins
of ancient Indian Civilization. Several leading authorities spoke at the first
international conference of its type, including
- Dr B B Lal, (former Director General, Archaeological Survey of India),
- Dr Klaus Klostermaier (Head of the Department of Religion, University of
Manitoba, Canada and one of the leading authorities in the world on
Hinduism),
- Dr Jim Shaffer (world renowned Archaeologist and Professor of Anthropology
at Case Western Reserve University).
- Dr David Frawley, (American Vedic Scholar and author of several books on
ancient India),
- Dr Subhash Kak (a leading expert on Vedic Science and Astronomy),
- Dr Koenraad Elst (Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium, a leading European
author on Indian History and author of several books on Indian History)
Chief Guest, Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, was introduced by one of the
conference conveners and well known Vedic Scholar Dr Bhu Dev Sharma. He called
upon the scholars to provide some direction to the common man by giving
practical guidelines blending the best of East and West. A highly developed
civilization existed along the banks of these rivers as early as 6000 BC,
according to the Rig Veda and corroborated by recent archaeological discoveries
in India and Pakistan. He said they were important milestones in the development
of Indian and Human societies. These early civilizations did not have any
outside inspiration. It was the florescence of the early Indian mind.
In
the Concluding session of the conference participants decided to form an academic
organization to hold similar conferences and to build other academic activities for Vedic studies.
List of materials available from the Conference
- Abstracts of the papers
- Information on the new organization
World Association for Vedic Studies.
- For a copy of the proceedings please write a check of $25.00 ($20 + $5.0 S
& H) to "International Ancient India Conference" and mail it
to
Dr Deen Bandbu Chandora,
4117 Menlo Way,
Doraville, GA, 30340.
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