International conference
on
Revisiting Indus-sarasvati Age & Ancient India
Atlanta (Georgia, USA), October 4-6, 1996
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 particpants 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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