Bhubaneswar, Feb 28: The Department of Public Administration, Utkal University, inaugurated a two-day National Conference on “Indian Knowledge Systems: Relevance for Present-Day Governance,” focusing on integrating India’s civilisational insights into contemporary administrative practices.

The ceremony was attended by Chief Guest Indramani Tripathy, IAS, Labour Commissioner, Government of Odisha; Guest of Honour Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mohanty; Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jaganeswar Dandapat; PG Council Chairman Prof. Mitali Chinara; Registrar Dr Swati Mishra; and Head of the Department Dr Pratima Sarangi.

Addressing the gathering, Tripathy stressed the relevance of the Arthashastra and Bhagavad Gita in modern governance. “Indian Knowledge Systems are not relics of the past; they are living frameworks capable of strengthening contemporary governance,” he said, linking classical wisdom to the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

He further highlighted the Gurukula system, Vedic mathematics and India’s civilisational heritage as foundational to responsible leadership and informed decision-making, particularly in the vision of building an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

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In his keynote, Prof. Mohanty highlighted concepts such as “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and “Aham Brahmasmi,” stating that governance must be guided by dharma and justice. The Vice-Chancellor emphasised balancing Dharma, Artha and Kama in policymaking, noting that traditional knowledge can drive innovation and sustainable development.

Three publications, including Governance in India: Priorities, Policies and Prospects and 'Arthashastra Re Lokniti O Lokaprashasan', were released during the inaugural session.

The conference reaffirmed the relevance of 'Indian Knowledge Systems' in promoting ethical and inclusive governance.

Prof. Mitali Chinara emphasised the academic standing of Utkal University, comprising 27 departments and over 400 affiliated colleges. Quoting Albert Einstein - “We owe a lot to the ancient Indians, who taught us to count…” - she reiterated the global relevance of India’s intellectual heritage and the enduring contributions of Chanakya’s Arthashastra to governance.

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Dr. Pratima Sarangi, Convenor of the Conference, delivered the welcome address, outlining the objectives of integrating Indian Knowledge Systems into contemporary governance models. She thanked faculty members, research scholars and students for their organisational efforts.