In a significant academic event, the head of the Sharda Sarvagya Peetham in Kashmir, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Amritanand Devteerth, formally inaugurated a major national conference at Lucknow University on Friday. The event marks the celebration of 75 years of the prestigious Lucknow School of Anthropology.
Conference Details and Scholarly Participation
The joint annual conference is centered on the pivotal historical theme of 'Second Urbanisation'. It is being organized by the university's own anthropology department in collaboration with three leading national bodies: the Indian Society for Prehistoric and Quaternary Studies, the Indian Archaeological Society, and the Human Ecology Society. The three-day intellectual gathering has drawn more than 50 scholars from various parts of India to discuss and deliberate on this crucial phase in Indian history.
Legacy of the Lucknow School of Anthropology
The Lucknow School of Anthropology refers to the highly influential academic tradition that originated from the anthropology department of Lucknow University, founded in 1951. As one of the oldest departments of its kind in India, it has built a formidable reputation for training renowned scholars and producing significant research across various sub-fields. Its contributions span physical, cultural, and prehistoric anthropology, cementing its place as a cornerstone of anthropological studies in the country.
Shankaracharya's Message and Thematic Focus
During the inauguration, Shankaracharya Swami Amritanand Devteerth shared profound insights linking geography with spiritual and practical life. He stated that in Hinduism, the three sacred sites of Kanchi, Kashmir, and Kashi respectively symbolize the three fundamental essentials of life: knowledge, action, and devotion (bhakti). He encouraged people to visit these places for self-realization.
The conference itself will delve deep into the era of the Second Urbanisation. This period, around the 6th century BCE, witnessed a transformative shift in the Indian subcontinent, especially in the Gangetic plains. Scholars will examine the rise of early cities, the expansion of trade networks, increasing craft specialization, and the emergence of new political centres that defined this epoch.
The event underscores Lucknow University's continued role as a premier hub for advanced historical and anthropological research, bringing together spiritual wisdom and academic rigor to explore India's ancient past.
