Introduction to Center for Indian Studies of Shenzhen University

         The Indian Studies of Shenzhen University started in 1984 and the Center for Indian Studies of Shenzhen University was officially established in 2005. Mr. Ji Xianlin serves as Chief Advisor. It was authorized as "Key Research Base for Humanities and Social Sciences of Shenzhen University" in 2011 and "Key Research Base for Humanities and Social Sciences of Shenzhen City" in 2019. It was rated as "The Belt and Road" national and regional research center of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission in 2020. It is rated as national and regional research center filing (pilot) of the Ministry of Education in 2021.

         As one of the most important Indian Studies Institutions in China, the Center is well-known both at home and abroad and enjoys the reputation in Indian political circle and educational circle. The Center is established with "Tan Yunshan China-India Friendship Hall" which is the only Collected Literature Library of Tan Yunshan in the world.  The Center has successively established over ten courses including Summary of Indian Culture, Indian Visual Arts, Appreciation and Analysis of Indian Cultural Heritage, 〈 The Laws of Manu 〉 and Indian Society, etc. and has 

published over 30 books including Book about India and Glorious Chapter, Comparison of China and India Poetics, Critical Biography about Ji Xianlin, Chinese-foreign Literary Exchange History · Volume about China- India, Indian Culturalism, China’s Academic Course in Foreign Literature Studies: Academic Course of Indian Literature Research, "The Belt and Road" Initiates New Era of Human Civilization-- Concurrent Discussion of Undertaking of China and India in History, etc. The Center members undertake 7 national, provincial and ministerial-level social science fund research projects at present.

         The Center maintains a long-term cooperation relationship with Peking University, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Jawaharlal Nehru University, Institute Of Chinese Studies (Delhi), Observers Research Foundation (Mumbai), Academy of Social Sciences about India Raja Hindustani, Oriental Art Museum in French, etc. The Center members have accepted the exclusive interview of mainstream media including China Radio International, Hong Kong TV, Shenzhen TV, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, Shenzhen Economic Daily, Chinese Social Sciences Today, China Pictorial, etc. and the foreign media Sputnik for many times. They keep work contact with Chinese embassy in India and Indian embassy in China.

         The Center has the following research features:

         1) Many achievements, good consulting provided for government’s decision, consultation by leaders. The Center members have worked on Indian Studies for decades of years, have published over 30 monographs and translation books, and provide consulting report of government’s decision and consulting service for Department of Asian Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Planning Office of Social Science, Exchanges and Cooperation Center of Chinese and Foreign Language of Ministry of Education, Propaganda Department of Provincial Party Committee, General Office of Municipal Party Committee, etc. throughout the year. 

         Book about India and Glorious Chapter: Indian Author and Chinese Culture written by Yu Longyu, Cai Feng, etc. won the Second Prize of Outstanding Achievements of the Fourth Humanities and Social Sciences Research for Chinese Universities (2006). Chinese-foreign Literary Exchange History · Volume about China- India written by Yu Longyu, Liu Zhaohua, etc. won the Book Award of the Sixth Chinese Excellent Publishing Award of Chinese Publishers Association and the Third Prize of Outstanding Achievements of the Eighth Scientific Research for Institutes of Higher Education (Humanistic and Social Science) (2019). The foreign language publishing agreements were concluded and signed, and the English versions and Indian versions were selected in key translation funding projects of the 2016 National Silk Road Scholarly Project (2016). China’s Academic Course in Foreign Literature Studies: Academic Course of Indian Literature Research (one of collections of "Foreign Literature Studies of the People’s Republic of China for 60 years") written by Yu Longyu, Huang Rong, etc. won the First Prize of Books of Excellent Achievement Award of Shanghai Philosophy and Social Science (2018) and the First Prize of Outstanding Achievements of the Eighth Scientific Research for Institutes of Higher Education (Humanistic and Social Science) (2019). Comparison of China and India Poetics written by Yu Longyu, Cai Feng, etc. won the Second Prize of Excellent Achievement Award of Guangdong Philosophy and Social Science (2009). Critical Biography about Ji Xianlin written by Yu Longyu, Zhu Xuan, etc. includes English version (2018) and Indian version (2018), in which the latter was selected in the key translation funding projects of the 2016 National Silk Road Scholarly Project. Indian Culturalism written by Yu Longyu, etc. and Indian Press signed the Publishing Agreement in English and Indian (2016).

         2) Wide research field includes Sino-India cultural relations, Indian literature, Indian philosophy, Indian religion, etc.

         Center researchers preside over 1 key project of National Planning Office of Philosophy and Social, 8 general/youth projects of National Planning Office of Philosophy and Social, and Humanities and Social Science Fund of the Ministry of Education at present. They have successively presided over and participated in 4 major project sub-topics specially entrusted by National Planning Office of Philosophy and Social, 1 national key book project in the Tenth Five-year Planning, 1 special sub-project of National Planning Office of Philosophy and Social, 3 humanities & social science planning projects of the Ministry of Education, 1 major scientific sub-project of the Ministry of Education, 1 doctoral program sub-project of humanities and social sciences research of State Education Commission in the Ninth Five-year Planning, and 1 project of the Ministry of Culture.

         3) Advantages and distinctive characteristics. Supported by Shenzhen University, "Tan Yunshan China-India Friendship Hall" (iinscribed by Ji Xianlin) was prepared to be built in 2006. This Hall is the only data library which collects the most complete literature of the dean of International University of India of Tagore who is called as "China-India friendship Golden Bridge" and "Modern Xuan Zang" Tan Yunshan (1898-1983) in the educational circle. Since 2008, successive Indian Ambassadors have come to Shenzhen University and visited "Tan Yunshan China-India Friendship Hall". Collected Works of Tan Yunshan edited by Center member Huang Rong will be published.

         4) Close cooperation with the first-class India research institutions at home and abroad. The Center has kept close cooperation with main domestic Indian research institutes for a long time, including Indian Literature Research Branch of China Society of Foreign Literature, Center for Indian Studies of Peking University, Research Center of Oriental Literature of Peking University, Indian Research Center of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, South Asia Research Center of Sichuan University, Center for Gandian and Indian Studies of Fudan University, Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, etc. It has established good relationship with Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, International Confucian Association, headquarters of Confucius Institute, etc. It has concluded and signed Memorandum of Cooperation and Cooperation Agreement with Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Jawaharlal Nehru University, International University of India of Tagore, Observers Research Foundation (Mumbai), Academy of Social Sciences about India Raja Hindustani, Ambedkar Open University, Indian Maniben Nanavati Women’s College, Oriental Art Museum in French, etc. It has maintained long-term stable cooperation relationship with International main research institutes of Indian Studies, such as Indo-Tibetan Department of George-August-University of Göttingen, Harvard-Yenching Institute, School of Oriental and African Studies of University of London, India and China Research Center of New Campus of New York University, etc. 

         5) The Center is the key position of Indian Studies in South China, and Chinese and foreign academic circles, Indian government departments and Chinese government departments have paid high attention to it.

         Center for Indian Studies of Shenzhen University is well-known indeed, and learned scholars with extensive knowledge are attracted to it. Many famous scholars are attracted to visit our Center, for instance, Professor 契特, Prime Minister of India and Economic Counselor visited our University in 2005; 拉奥琪, Indian ambassador to China, visited our University in 2008; Doctor 凯伦·辛格, President of Indian Committee of External Cultural Relations, visited our University in 2010; 洛克希·金德尔受, President of Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Dean of Indian Institute of International Culture, invited our University. Since 2005, the Center has held over ten large-scale international academic seminars, and has received India’s National Dance Troupe and Art Troupe for performance and exhibition in Shenzhen University for many times.