Oxford gets a Hindu flavour

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Keywords: Philosophy , Hindu Tradition

Oxford: If you want to study Hinduism, you might have to go to England for the best course. The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies has now been recognised as an independent centre for studies on Hindu tradition and philosophy.

The status has made the centre’s association with the University more formal and it becomes the only academic institution in Europe and one of the first in the world dedicated to a study of this kind.

"This is the first such centre of its kind in the world at this level of scholarship that is so multidisciplinary that’s a big accolade especially for Oxford, 50 years after it was the centre for training the imperialist approach the older civil service of the Raj," Director, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Shaunaka Rishi Das says.

The centre, established seven years ago works closely with Oxford's theology department and conducts programmes in philosophy, history, anthropology, Sanskrit and even music. And as the Centre's director explains, it’s not a Hindu centre, but a centre for Hindu studies.

"Its an important distinction. It means it’s not sectarian or political. People from every religious tradition or none can come and study Hinduism in its breadth. When we say Hinduism, especially in India, they want to back off," Das says.

The centre also hopes to develop exchange and scholarship programmes with Indian universities soon. The students come from all over the world including third generation Indians from US and Britain.

"Hinduism is a field that hasn't been studied academically especially with science. Here we are able to create resources, have professors, study this in an environment that is conducive," a student from the US, Gopal Gupta says.