A Grand Congregation of Indologists of the World

     From Nov. 21 to 23, 2015, the meeting of Indologists of the world was held in New   Delhi. More than 30 Indologists from the countries such as China, Russia, Italia and the USA as well as more than 200 famous scholars from different universities around India were present.

    It was a great scholar-studded academic meeting.

    The scholars invited by the host are senior researchers and representatives in the field of Indology. Take Mr. Fernando Tola as an example, he came from Argentina and is 100 years old. In order to participate this grand event, he took 24 hours in the air from Argentina to New Delhi by stopping in Paris. Not only present at the meeting, he also delivered a speech with a clear mind and vigorous spirit. Besides him, there were several other elder scholars coming with their assistants. Their appearance made us—the Chinese scholars stunned. At that moment, I had such a thought that Mr. Ji Xianlin would be a very right person for this occasion if he were alive. Three of us came to this meeting: Prof. Wang Bangwei from Peking University, Mr. Ma Jiali from the Forum of China’s Reform and Opening-up and me, 69 years old, the eldest one among us, but compared with the above-mentioned scholars, I was just like a little younger brother. Indian society always shows respect to the elders. This year, Prof. Lokesh Chandra, who succeeded Chairman Karen Singh of ICCR to host this meeting is nearly 90 years old. He not only did that but also made profound and unique opinions. At the meeting, Prof. Lokesh Chandra talked something about modern Europe’s Indology while Karen Singh discussed the nuclear ideas of different schools in India. Mr. Satya Vrat Shastri, a famous master of Brahma-vidy, who is also almost 90 years old, not only listened every scholar’s speech carefully but also made penetrating comments which made audiences gasp in admiration. By doing those, it is understandable and reasonable that the host invited so many famous Indologists of the world to attend this meeting because it is India’s social value and also shows that this academic meeting was really a grand congregation of famous scholars.

    It was a high-level academic meeting.

    On the morning of Nov. 21, the meeting was opened at the President’s house. At about 11 a.m, we arrived at the Durbal hall through a long corridor and saw it had been crowded with people. Escorted by the reception personnel, we were seated at the front row on the left of the hall and on the right was the Foreign Minister Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, the former and the present chairman Mr. Chandar and Mr. Karen Singh as well as other celebrities such as Mr. Satya Vrat Shastri.

    The hall’s atmosphere was solemn and awe-inspiring. On the high platform, a stone statue of Buddha sat facing the South, with the maroon canopy and veil over its head. In front of the statue was President’s seat whose both sides were four magnificent and mighty honor guards. Shortly after this, all guests stood up for the national anthem. President Pranab Mukherjee walked into the hall escorted by guards and sat down.

    The opening ceremony was hosted by the Foreign Minister Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Mr. President made the opening speech and then Chairman Chandra took the floor. On the ceremony, Mr. President awarded German Indologist Mr. Stietencron ‘Outstanding Indologist’ and had a photograph with all Indologists after the event. This meeting accommodated some Indologists at the President’s house, some at the villa close to its garden. Every suite has its own name, mine is Nilgiri, which, according to the reception personnel, is a mountain’s name. In my opinion, it is similar to Huangshan suite and Lushan suite in China. The suite is very bright and spacious, including a washing room and two big meeting rooms equipped with all office facilities.

     It was very obvious that the host had made sincere preparation and careful arrangement because the well-printed menu about everyday’s breakfast, lunch and dinner would be sent to the room before guest’s arrival, and the gifts were also placed there, which, elegant and presentable, were President’s speech collection and his quotations, Mahatama Gandhi’s Biography and a crystal cube in which is the laser-carved 3D President’s house’s image.

   On the evening of Nov. 21, President Mukherjee had a dinner with all the guests. Before starting, he shook hands and talked to everyone, like an old friend, approachable and elegant. Many Indologists including those who had been here for dozen times said that this reception’s level was the highest.

    It was an academic meeting of promoting the traditional culture.

    Such a high-level and great scholar-studded academic meeting was for the purpose of promoting India’s traditional culture, which could be seen from President’s opening speech and ICCR’s former and present Chairman’s, not mentioned all the scholars’ statements.

     The thesis I submitted to the meeting The Meanings of Studying Indology for the World was consisted of four parts: European refugee problem and the world’s new order, the Oriental culture’s responsibility in the history, the inspiration of Chinese people’s fever for traditional culture to India and the contribution that India’s culture should makes for the modern world. It emphasized that the great 5 ideas: ‘Brahmatmaikyam and animism’, ‘life-loving and no killings’, ‘freedom of faith and inter-religious dialogue’, ‘respect for teachers and teachings’ and ‘multiple coexistence’, with a long history and deep in people’s heart, have significant value for the whole world and would play an important role in establishing future world’s new order. These ideas attracted organizers’ much attention so that they asked me to be one-hour host of the meeting. To the content of my article, they asked me to explain them with Hindi language when I was interviewed by RSTV (Rsjya Sabha Television).  From the questions they asked, I could feel that the problems that how to treat the traditional culture and put them into practice to better today’s people’s lives are very concerned by Indian people. I took Chinese people’s fever for traditional culture for example and said: “I believe it has inspiring meanings not only for India but also for other Eastern countries. I also believe that India’s languages and national culture will get much more attention.”  What I said captured their hearts so dearly that all the working staff came to have photos with me when my interview was over.

    The academic meeting of Indology of the world was closed successfully. When I made a speech at the meeting, I said: “this meeting in New Delhi is the first one. From today, it should be held continually in every place and every country. The next meeting, if condition permitted, could be held in China.” No sooner was my speech over than heavy applause was heard in the hall. Why I made this suggestion is from my experience and understanding. In December, 1993, my wife and I were invited to attend the 10th international meeting of Ramayana and knew many researchers from different countries. When the meeting was over and discussed which country would be the next host, prof. Jin Dinghan from Peking Univeristy and I discussed and  expressed our willingness to host it at Shenzhen University of  China. This suggestion was received warm response. However, we did not get chance until 1996, the 13th international meeting of Ramayana was finally held at Shenzhen University. The meeting was very successful, more than 100 scholars came including 30 more foreign scholars. Mr. Ji Xianlin also sent congratulations which was read by Prof. Li Funing and interpreted by Prof. He Daokuan. After it, we accumulated some experiences about how to host an international meeting. Speak of understanding, it refers to my understanding to China’s reform and opening-up policy, to President Xi’s grand blue print of ‘one belt and road’ and to Shenzhen city and Shenzhen university’s innovative spirit—daring to be the first.

      At last, the suggestion I expressed got recognition. At the closing ceremony, Mr. C. Rajaskhar, director of ICCR said that the meeting was thankful for China’s Indologists’s willingness of hosting the next meeting in China and it was worth of our expectation. To our Chinese scholars, I think, we not only expect to host a successful international meeting of Indology of the world, but also hope to make our own contributions to the coming new world order through the cultural exchange between China and India.

                                                                                                                                        (   By Yu Longyu )