J. Somaiya Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham seeks to promote and propagate eternal values enshrined in Indian Heritage and thereby endeavours to cultivate the spirit of peace, harmony and universal brotherhood through value education, interfaith meets and dialogue and similar educational activities so as to nurture an integrated view of Indian Heritage for classes and masses. It provides opportunities for pursuing scholastic activities and research in Indian Culture, Philosophy, History, Sanskrit language, Yoga and Interreligious dialogue.
J. Somaiya Bharatiya Sanskriti Peetham was established on 20th October 1989 by Padmabhushan Late K. J. Somaiya, a humanist and a philanthropist with great foresight and vision. Besides offering courses on various levels such as for graduate and post-graduate students’ programmes, the institute runs a variety of traditional and innovative courses. Some of them are recognized by university, while some are autonomous.
Since 1999, the Peetham is recognized by Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University – a statutory University established by the Government of Maharashtra- to conduct Diploma, Degree, Post Graduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree and Ph.D. programmes in Sanskrit and Yoga. It has been granted permanent recognition as a research centre to guide students for Ph.D. in Sanskrit, Comparative Study of Religion and Yoga.
The Institute is also recognized by the University of Mumbai as a research institute to guide students for Ph.D. in Sanskrit, Philosophy and History.
The institute runs the following autonomous courses: Advance course in Sanskrit, Certificate course in Yoga, Diploma in German Language, Diploma in Indian Philosophy, Diploma in Stress Management , Diploma in Yoga Therapy, Diploma in Yogic Counselling, Preparatory course for NET examination in Yoga, Preparatory course for QCI (Quality Council of India) in Yoga, Diploma in Samkhya-Yoga Philosophy, Certificate course in Studies of Comparative Religions, Certificate course in Italian Language. Some of the autonomous courses are run depending on availability of and demand from students. We have a galaxy of students who are toppers in Yoga and Sanskrit courses in University.
The institute is well-known for its courses in Yogashastra. Besides Postures and Kriyas, the institute emphasizes teaching of the philosophical foundation of Yoga based on the original Sanskrit texts along with their commentaries.
Customized programmes as per the requirement of Indian and foreign students are alsoconducted by the institute. So far the institute has run courses for students of Cornell University (USA), University of Religions and Denominations, Qom (Iran), for Mr. Francis Bassard, McGill University (Canada), for Mr. William Parker, Monash Asia Institute (Australia), for Ms. Nafeesa Chinoy from UK and forDr. Laura Yerekesheva, Deputy Director,Institute of Oriental Studies;UNESCO Chair Coordinator, (Kazakhstan)etc.
Since its inception the institute has organized 36 National and International Seminars in collaboration with eminent Universities and institutes from India. Inter-religious Dialogue is a salient feature of the Peetham. The Peetham has been working as a nerve centre of the Hindu-Christian Dialogue in India. Three seminars on dialogue were held in Vatican City in 1998, 2002, and 2004.
The honest and earnest attempts of the Peetham to establish an open platform for Hindu-Christian Interfaith Dialogue have been appreciated by the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Vatican.
Since 2005 a new dimension was added to the Interreligious Dialogue with inclusion of Islam in the themes of the seminars. Late Dr. Shantilal K. Somaiya has represented Hinduism in the International Congress of World and Traditional Religions organized by the Hon. N. A. Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan in 2003, 2006 and 2009 as the Leader of Hindu Delegation. Since 2012 Mr. Samir Somaiya represents Hinduism in the Kazakhstan Congress as a leader of Hindu Delegation and member of Council of Religious Leaders. Dr. Kala Acharya, the Director of the institute was awarded two medals and certificates from the President of Kazakhstan, H.E. Nursultan Nazarbayev for her contribution to Interfaith Dialogue and to the Secretariat for the Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions on Thursday 18th May, 2017.
The institute has published 20 books devoted to various topics of religious, philosophical, cultural, spiritual and literary significance. The Peetham has a well-equipped library covering a vast range of books on Indian Culture, Philosophy, Ancient Indian Scriptures, Comparative Religion, Sanskrit Language and allied subjects. A good collection of around 17009 books including reference books, audiocassettes and CDs of important speeches in Sanskrit, English, Marathi and Hindi are also preserved in the Library.
Website:
Be the first to comment