IHC’s Bharat Bodh Kendra inaugurates Samlapa: The Discourse with a Focus on India’s Cultural Heritage

On the occasion of Teachers Day today, IHC Director, Prof. (Dr.) K. G. Suresh, India Habitat Centre inaugurated Samlapa: The Discourse – Monthly Series of Book Discussions: under the aegis of the Bharat Bodh Kendra, with a lamp lighting ceremony.

“Samlapa is aimed at creating awareness about our rich cultural heritage and civilisational legacy through book discussions, lectures and workshops, Prof. Suresh, Director-IHC, said in his inaugural address”.

‘Bharat Bodh Kendra’ has been set up in the IHC’s Habitat Library and Research Centre, and aims to foster awareness and appreciation of India’s rich cultural and civilisational heritage.

Bharat Bodh Kendra (BBK) houses a curated collection of books and resources on Indian art, music, spirituality, history, philosophy and other related fields. BBK is a quiet space for exploration and learning about India’s timeless traditions and evolving cultural discourse and intellectual exploration of India’s rich civilizational heritage.

Samlapa: The Discourse series of monthly book discussions, is the next offering from the Bharat Bodh Kendra to enable dialogue and discourse on India’s ancient and rich cultural heritage.

The first book to be featured in this series is Odissi Dance: Aesthetics, Therapeutics, Metaphysics by Reela Hota, Odissi dancer, author & cultural curator and published by Prabhat Prakashan. Chaired by Director – IHC, Prof. (Dr.) K. G. Suresh, the panelists featured Prof. Soumendra Mohan Patnaik, Professor of Anthropology, University of Delhi, former Vice-Chancellor, Utkal University; Prof. Rajnish Kumar Mishra, Professor, School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, JNU, and Prof. Ajay Verma, Professor, Centre for Philosophy, JNU. 

The speakers highlighted how the principles of Natya Shastra and different forms of Yoga, including Dhyana, Natya and Hatha, have influenced classical dance forms including Odissi.

The panelists were unanimous in their appreciation of the setting up of the Bharat Bodh Kendra in IHC, and commended the initiative taken by Director-IHC, Prof. (Dr.) K.G. Suresh, to commence the book discussion series titled Samlapa: The Discourse, and conveyed their interest in engaging with this platform actively.

A rich fare of discussions, workshops and talks, under the aegis of the Bharat Bodh Kendra, are on the anvil.