Patna: Dr. Smita Kumari, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and Head of the Department of Sanskrit at Patna Women’s College, has been honoured with the ‘Sanskrit Ratna Samman’ at an international conference in Thailand.
The award recognised her contribution to Sanskrit and the Indian Knowledge Tradition. Dr. Kumari was invited as a special speaker at the conference, held from September 28 to September 30.
The conference was jointly organised by the Global Sanskrit Forum, Bharat; the Sanskrit Studies Centre, Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University, Bangkok; and the Thai Bharat Culture Lodge.
Lecture On Indian Philosophy
The central theme of the conference was “Indian Knowledge Systems: Bridging Cultures and Knowledge Traditions.”
Dr. Kumari delivered a lecture in Sanskrit on “Bharatiya Darshneshu Vyaktitva Vikasasya Vivechanam”, focusing on personality development in Indian philosophy.
Senior Professor Chirapat Prapandvidya, a Padma Shri awardee from Silpakorn University, Bangkok, chaired the organising committee. He presented Dr. Kumari with an angavastra, citation and certificate as part of the honour.
Focus On Personality Development
In her lecture, Dr. Kumari explained personality development in Indian philosophy as an inward and systematic process of human development towards universal consciousness.
She highlighted the role of purification of the inner conscience, mental clarity, balance among the three gunas and self-realisation in achieving mental stability and freedom from bondage.
She also linked these principles to social harmony, presenting personality development as a process extending beyond external recognition and material display.
International Participation
The conference was attended by India’s Ambassador to Thailand, Puneet Agarwal, along with professors and organisers from Silpakorn University.
Dr Rajesh Mishra, convener and secretary of the Global Sanskrit Forum, Sanskrit scholars and participants from India, the US, Germany, Thailand and other countries also took part in the conference.
Dr. Kumari’s participation placed Patna Women’s College among the institutions represented at the international academic gathering focused on Sanskrit, Indian philosophy and knowledge traditions.
