Academicians Gather at IIT Delhi to Reaffirm Cultural Roots at Conference on ‘The Eternal Relevance of Hindutva’
A national-level academic conference titled “The Eternal Relevance of Hindutva” was held at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi on Sunday, offering a platform for scholars and educators from across the country to engage in an in-depth discussion on India’s civilisational values, cultural continuity, and knowledge traditions.
The event was organised by the World Association of Hindu Academicians (WAHA) and witnessed participation from academicians representing multiple universities and institutions, reflecting a broad national footprint and academic diversity.
Delhi minister Parvesh Sahib Singh attended the conference as the chief guest, while K K Aggarwal, President of South Asian University, delivered the special address.
Both emphasised the importance of scholarly engagement in preserving and interpreting India’s cultural and intellectual heritage.
Setting the tone for the conference, Nachiket Tiwari, faculty member at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and a leading figure within WAHA, outlined the organisation’s vision and explained the philosophical essence of Hindutva.
He underlined the responsibility of teachers and intellectuals in addressing long-standing misconceptions about India, Hindu society, and Indian culture.
“Misunderstandings about India and its civilisational ethos cannot be resolved through surface-level debates alone,” Tiwari observed.
“The responsibility of clarifying these ideas lies primarily with educators and scholars who shape intellectual thought.”
He stressed that strong academic networks are vital in shaping balanced public discourse, arguing that sustainable change emerges when teachers and intellectuals engage constructively and collaboratively.
According to him, intellectual unity and dialogue within academia are essential to ensuring cultural narratives are presented with depth, accuracy, and integrity.
Explaining the theme of the conference, Tiwari described Hindutva as a broader civilisational idea rooted in manushyatva—the essence of human values.
He noted that political interpretations often overshadow its philosophical meaning, which traditionally reflects shared cultural consciousness and ethical principles.
Sanjoy Roy, Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Delhi, who attended the conference, said the discussions focused on the constructive role teachers and scholars can play in preserving India’s knowledge systems and cultural traditions.
He noted that participants included faculty members from Indore, Delhi, Kanpur, and Jawaharlal Nehru University, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Arvind Nema, Deputy Director of IIT Delhi, welcomed the delegates and acknowledged WAHA’s efforts in facilitating meaningful academic dialogue.
He praised Tiwari’s leadership in effectively guiding and coordinating the organisation’s initiatives.
WAHA has previously organised conferences on themes such as the academic representation of Hindu traditions, the relevance of the Bharatiya Knowledge System in contemporary times, and the impact of Western interpretative frameworks on Indian texts and traditions.
According to information available on its website, WAHA’s first international conference, held in Haridwar in October 2019, saw participation from a wide spectrum of socio-cultural organisations, highlighting its inclusive and dialogue-driven approach.
The IIT Delhi conference was widely seen as a positive step towards fostering scholarly engagement on India’s civilisational ideas, encouraging informed discussion, and strengthening academic collaboration across institutions.
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