3 International Conference on Hinduism, Management

BGRF-SSGS International Conference, Schedule for the conference November 2021

International Conference on Hinduism, Management & Philosophy, 13 November 2021-A Virtual Conference 1

3rd International Conference on Hinduism, Management & Philosophy (ICHMP)

13th November 2021

8.30 am -17.30 pm (London Time)

A VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

Co-hosted by the

Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation (BGRF) &

Sree Sree Geetasangha, Bangladesh International Journal of Hinduism & Philosophy (IJHP)

Conference Programme & Proceedings

Method - Integrity – Camaraderie



SPONSORS



Welcome to ICHMP-2021 International Conferences 4

Conference committee 5

Sponsors 6

Conference Chairs and keynote speakers 7

General Information 17

Schedule for the conference 21

TABLE OF CONTENTS



Welcome to the ICHMP-2021 International Conference

Dear Conference Attendees,

We are delighted to welcome you to the BGRF-SSGS-2021 International Conference on Hinduism, Management & Philosophy (ICHMP), London, UK. In an increasingly troubled world, it is more important than ever those individuals have the opportunity to meet in an environment that affords opportunities for learning and enlightenment. In this regard the Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation (BGRF) and Sree Sree Geetasangha, Bangladesh extends its sincere welcome to all attending 3rd International Conference on Hinduism, Management and Philosophy (ICHMP).

We hope that you all appreciate that the situation around COVID-19 is extremely fluid and thus we endeavoured to act according to official guidance. Our primary consideration is the safety and well-being of participants and thus we hope that you will understand why we have chosen to organize this conference virtually. While we understand that this will not be the full, well-loved, and exciting face-to-face conference experience, this is still a great opportunity for us to gather, collaborate and share intellectual insights. It is our wish that the time spent together will be spiritually enriching and encourage each of us to explore topics and issues in a calm and supportive environment. Together we have an opportunity to focus on the here and now, as well as explore matters of profound and sublime importance. We hope that this conference will prove to be both positive and purposeful and enable us all to listen, discuss and ponder on subjects that warrant not only worthy of our attention, but deserve meaningful reflection.

May your time at ICHMP be blessed with opportunity for spiritual enquiry and personal growth.

Nityananda Chakravorty

Dr P. R Datta

Conference Chairs



Conference Chairs Nityananda Chakravorty, President, Bangladesh Gita Sangha, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dr P. R. Datta, Executive Chair, Centre for Business & Economic Research (CBER), UK and Director of Research, Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation, UK

Conference committee Santosh Chandra Sarker, President, Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation, UK Dr B. R Chakraborty, Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation (BGRF), UK Prof. Dr. Deepraj Mukherjee, Kent State University, USA, President, BGRF, USA chapter Prof. Rupen C. Bhattacherjee-Pro-Vice Chancellor, PDM University, New Delhi, India Prof. Dr. Gairik Das, IISWBM, Kolkata, India Prof. Dr. Atish Prasad Mondal, St Xavier’s College, Kolkata, India S.R. Sinha, Retired Member of the Supreme Court Bar in England and Wales, UK Engr. Dipendra Narayan Singha, Chief Executive, Sree Gouri Shankar Jute Mills Ltd, West Bengal N. Bardhan, Secretary, Gitasangha Bangladesh Amiya Mukherjee, Secretary, Aurobindo Centre, Dhaka, Bangladesh Sukumar Chakrabarty, Ex-Banker and religious orator, Bangladesh Nanda Gopal Chakraborty, Fellow Chartered Accountant, Dhaka, Bangladesh Mohini Mohan Chakrabarty, Ex-Additional Secretary, Government of Bangladesh Dr. Sunil C Dutta, Ex-president, BGRF, Australia Chapter

Prof Dr. Srini R Srinivasan, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS)University of Mumbai Prof. B.C. Basak-Chairman, Civil Engineering Department, Stamford University, Dhaka, Bangladesh Subhra Saha, President-BGRF, Toronto, Canada Chapter Dr Sajal Kumar Palit, President-BGRF, Australia Chapter Dr Arun Kumar Saha: Former Senior Project Officer/Unit Head, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Bangladesh Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank (ADB), President, BGRF-Bangladesh Chapter Prof. Dr. Padmakali Banerjee, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dean Academics, Amity University Haryana, India Prof. Dr. Rahul Gupta Choudhury, IFIM Business School, Bangalore, India Prof. Dr. Akhilesh Chandra Pandey, Central University, Gharwal, Srinagar, India Pawan Sethhi, Bollywood Script Writer, Poet, international orator, India Eng. Ranjit Roy, Srikrishna Bhakta Shangha, USA Stephen Silver, Principal, School of Philosophy and Economic Science, UK Dr BalMukund Bhala, MBBS, DA, MD, Patron of Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford, UK

ICHMP-2021 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

ICHMP-2021-CONFERENCE ADVISORY BOARD



Co-Sponsors

Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation (BGRF) has been established with the express purpose of ensuring a wider understanding of a supremely holy text of Hinduism. BGRF works not only to propagate this work but to ensure greater tolerance and openness of mind. The Bhagavad Gita offers a route to enlightenment that is open to all, for many of its devotees it is a means of finding the eternal way of ultimate liberation, knowledge, and bliss. Importantly, this philosophical treatise offers diverse paths (the spiritual, theological, intellectual, and scientific) that help provide greater meaning to life. Through the study and practice of the tenets and teachings of the sublime book, we are all afforded a means to be spiritually nourished and satisfied. The BGRF seeks to ensure a wider understanding of one of the most influential texts in Eastern Philosophy, as well as bringing people together who have a wish to appreciate life's spiritual essence. We all need to seek and be prepared to question and learn in a spirit of mutual respect, tolerance, and humility. Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation (BGRF) is a non-profit making organization that is registered in UK as a company limited by guarantee. It is an independent and non-political entity that does not accept donations from any person or organization seeking to use the BGRF as a vehicle to promote their own political agenda.

In Bangladesh, Sri Sri Gita Sangha has been working for a long time to disseminate the message of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita and to help people apply the lessons of the Gita in their daily lives. In Bangladesh, the organisation currently operates around 4,000 branches and 600 schools, according to its website. The International Journal of Hinduism & Philosophy (IJHP) seeks to take the reader on a journey of exploration, one that challenges, surprises, and provides meaningful insight. With an estimated 15% of the world's population being adherents to the Hindu faith there is all the more reason to examine this world religion from an academic perspective. Similarly, philosophy, the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence is a laudable pursuit. Hence, the International Journal of Hinduism & Philosophy (IJHP) aims to play a positive and purposeful role in fostering greater understanding and enlightenment. IJHP is a refereed journal that seeks to be a scholarly conduit by which academic papers concerning Hinduism and Philosophy are place into the public domain. The journal seeks to provide an authoritative source of information for academicians, religious scholars, and practitioners, and those desirous to learn about Hindu theology and the way in which thinkers down the ages have wrestled with the fundamentals of human existence.

International Conference on Hinduism, Management & Philosophy (ICHMP)



Mr. Sarker is currently working as a Customer Care Officer in the Joint Government Department of Works and Pension and G4S Secure solutions (UK) Ltd. Before, he worked in British Rail for 2 years. In the capacity of Registrar. Mr. Sarker worked for a British College of further Education for 2 years. Since last 19 years between 1986 till 2005, he worked as a Director and General Manager of Proshika IAF Trust in Bangladesh including 10 years in peoples' facing microfinance project management in the poverty-stricken areas in rural settings of Bangladesh. During his tenure, Mr. Sarker worked as Team Leader of four collaborative research projects with the University of Bath, East Anglia University, University of Greenwich, and Department of International Development (DFID) UK. As additional assignment, Mr. Sarker worked as People's Participation Expert in a consultative group of Hydraulic Engineers in formulating National Water Management Plan of Bangladesh. In the year between 1980 to 1986, Mr Sarker worked as a General Manager of Rural Electrification Board, Bangladesh. Since 1977 till 1980, he has worked in the capacity of Senior Water Resources Engineer with International Engineering Company, Inc USA in a Water Development Project in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Mr. Sarker has co-authored a conference paper and jointly presented in the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He represented Bangladesh in the World Water Forum in Stockholm, Sweden and presented paper as a keynote speaker. Mr. Sarker worked with Professor Dr. Robert Chambers of Cambridge University in an action research project as to how to carryout Rapid Rural Appraisal and formulating People's Participation Rural Planning in the remote village of Bangladesh. He is a professional trainer of project planning and management.

Mr. Sarker has the greatest quest of learning about the tenets and teachings of Bhagavad Gita, the holy book of beauty and wisdom, spiritual book of humanity to shake up his spiritual door of ignorance. His dream is to leave a platform for the world-renowned researchers and scholars of Vedic philosophy to diffuse knowledge and wisdom of peace and harmony to our contemporary social settings.

Dr. Datta earned his first degree in Plasma Physics from the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia in Moscow, MSc in Marketing from Glamorgan University, U.K., and a PhD in Marketing from the University of Hertfordshire U.K. He is a fellow and member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), U.K., and various professional bodies, including the British Academy of Management, European Marketing Academy. Currently, Dr. Datta holds the position of Executive Chair of Centre for Business & Economic Research (CBER), Director, Centre for Innovative Leadership Navigation (CILN), U.K., and is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Business and Retail Management Research (JBRMR).

He has worked as a consultant with a wide range of national and international organisations and designed appropriate marketing systems for various manufacturing sectors and FMCG industries in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and the U.K. Dr. Datta continues to work with a wide range of marketing and business

PRESIDENT, CONFERENCE CHAIR & KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Santosh C Sarker MEng (water resources) Cranfield

University, UK; MBA, USA President, BGRF, London, UK

CONFERENCE CHAIRS

Dr P. R. Datta Executive Chair, Centre for Business &

Economic Research, UK Director of Research, Bhagavad Gita Research

Foundation, UK



sectors, especially retail and marketing, providing in-depth knowledge of CRM, customer loyalty, trust and commitment, branding, and the developing and implementation of marketing strategies.

His Book: Relationship Marketing for Enhancing Customer Retention (2018) is currently available in five languages. His recent book "We're doomed! Brexit Revisited", co-authored with Mark T Jones and Anidya Dasgupta, is published in September and is available in Kindle and paperback. He is a regular contributor to international academic conferences. He contributes regularly in various Business and higher education articles in prominent English language daily newspapers in Bangladesh. Such is the level of insight he brings to the specialism areas that he has made several television appearances in the U.K. and Bangladesh. A seasoned traveller, Dr Datta has visited over 75 countries.

Bangladesh became independent in 1971. He left his teaching profession and joined Bangladesh Water Development Board as an Economist, served the organization for 27 years in different positions and retired as the Joint Chief Planning of the organization in 2003. Since then, he has been serving as national consultant Economist till date for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the Government of Bangladesh and for many other international consulting houses. He has been elected as the President of Bangladesh Gita Sangha, a nationally registered organization, since 2010, dedicated for the preaching the teachings of Srimad Bhagabat Gita and practicing those through its more than 400 branches across the country and abroad. He published a largely appreciated edition of the Gita & teaches the Trainers of Gita Schools under the Hindu Welfare Trust of the Government regularly and chairs many religious Workshops, Seminars and Discussions held at different places in Bangladesh, as requested.

Swami Sarvasthananda is the Minister-in-Charge, Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire SL8 5LF, U.K. near London. It is the only centre in U.K. of the well-known international organisation Ramakrishna Math and Mission with its HQ in Belur near Kolkata with nearly 200 branch centres all over the world. He is also the Editor of the international journal ‘Vedanta’ published by the U.K. Centre since 1953. After graduating in Mechanical Engineering, he joined the Ramakrishna Order at its Headquarters at Belur Math in February 1987. Since June 1987 he served Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot in India in various capacities for more than 30 years. He served in the Centre’s Publication Department (which has published more than 200 books in Gujarati and English) for nearly 25 years and was the editor of the Gujarati Monthly ‘Shri Ramakrishna Jyot’

By Nityananda Chakravorty President, Sree Sree GeetaSangha

Bangladesh

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Swami Sarvasthananda Minister-in-Charge, Ramakrishna Vedanta

Centre, UK



for nearly 17 years. He offered his services in several major relief activities and rehabilitation projects after natural disasters like drought, flood, cyclone, and earthquake since 1987 in Gujarat and served as the Head of the Rajkot Centre for nearly 7 years.

He tours all over the globe extensively preaching the universal message of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda, Vedanta, India’s Cultural and Spiritual Heritage and on other topics connected with value-based education, personality development, leadership and management, social transformation in universities and various other forums.

Swami Sarvasthananda represented Ramakrishna Mission in an UNESCO Conference on "Youth and their Social Impact” held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in May 2017 and also in Tunisia in Sept 2018, respectively. Since June 2017, he has been appointed as one of the three official monastic representatives of Ramakrishna Mission to the UNESCO events wherever they are held from time to time in different countries of the world.

Gauranga Das is a monk, a Bhakti Shastri, and a motivational speaker. In addition, he is the Divisional Director of ISKCON (Govardhan Ecovillage) in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He gives many motivational and devotional speeches to people, making many people's lives brighter and stronger. He serves in Mumbai, but he also serves in various capacities at the national and global levels of the ISKCON organisation. He is the Director of the Govardhan Ecovillage, a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) award winning Eco-village. He has given more than 10,000 discourses in the last two decades on Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita. He has millions of real and virtual followers and devotees. He also wrote many books and was a well-known author.

Stephen Silver has been a student of practical philosophy for over 40 years, primarily through the School of Philosophy and Economic Science, which is a non-religious organisation providing courses in philosophy and economics with justice. It draws on influences from the west and from the east, particularly Advaita Vedanta, for which it has received guidance from His Holiness Mahārāja Śrī Śāntānanda Sarasvatī, Śaṅkarācārya of Jyotirmath and his successor Śrī Vāsudevānanda Sarasvatī.

Gauranga Das Divisional Director of ISKCON (Govardhan Ecovillage) in

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Stephen Silver Principal, School of Philosophy and

Economic Science, UK



Prof Prashant Salwan is a Strategy and International Business Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Indore in India. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom, as well as a British Chevening Scholar and a Fulbright Scholar. He has approximately twenty-three years of experience, fifteen of which were spent in academia and the remaining eight in industry. He holds a PhD as well as two postgraduate degrees in management and international trade. He received his education and training at the University of Pune, the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom, Harvard Business School, the University of Michigan, the Ross School of Management, IIM B, and IIMC. He teaches a variety of subjects in the areas of strategic management and international business. He has mentored eight PhD students. He has given invited talks at Ohio State University, Texas University at Dallas, the Wharton School of Business, and the University of Pennsylvania. In 2018, he was a Senior Research Fellow at the Wharton School. He has provided customised training and consulting to the Government of India, as well as to Indian and foreign multinational corporations. He is a World Bank consultant who served as the project's lead consultant for autonomy and strategic planning. He also consults for UNDP, the MHRD, and the MP Government. Dr. Salwan has approximately 75 research publications in national and international research journals, books, and journals, including Harvard Business Review.

A writer, poet, spiritual practitioner, and orator. He has a long career of 35 years in the advertisement industry as a copywriter with ace advertising agencies like Mudra, Rediffusion, Percept. He works as a writer in Indian Hindi Television and Film industry also known as Bollywood. In his long career as a screenwriter, he has worked on various genres and formats, given a few movies and more than 7500 episodes of famous TV serials and operas. His work was awarded in various ceremonies. A spiritual practitioner from the early teens and sunk himself into reading and assimilating different scriptures. He is in the middle of beginning an NGO- TAT TVAM ASI which will propagate Indian philosophy and schools without textbooks for talented underprivileged children. A new magazine in English and Hindi by the name of "KRISHN PRAGYA" is in the final stage of its inaugural issue in the next few months, which will reach the native and international devotees and readers of Shri Krishna.

Prof. Dr Prashant Salwan Indian Institute of Management, Indore, India

Pawan K Sethhi A writer, poet, spiritual practitioner, and orator

Mumbai, India



Mr. Chakravorty served as a lecturer in Economics in colleges between 1969 to 1976 during which Bangladesh became independent in 1971. He left his teaching profession and joined Bangladesh Water Development Board as an Economist, served the organization for 27 years in different positions and retired as the Joint Chief Planning of the organization in 2003. Since then, he has been serving as national consultant Economist till date for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, the Government of Bangladesh and for many other international consulting houses. He has been elected as the President of Bangladesh Gita Sangha, a nationally registered organization, since 2010, dedicated for the preaching the teachings of Srimad Bhagabat Gita and practicing those through its more than 400 branches across the country and abroad. He published a largely appreciated edition of the Gita & teaches the Trainers of Gita Schools under the Hindu Welfare Trust of the Government regularly and chairs many religious Workshops, Seminars and Discussions held at different places in Bangladesh, as requested. Mr. Chakravorty has published extensively including an appreciated edition of the Gita; Sanatan Stories; Bodhayanta Parashparam; Helps to the Study of Gita, etc.

Dr Bhala born on the 12th of January 1949 in a Rajasthani business family and grew up in Chikhli (Buldana) Maharashtra, India. He completed his MBBS, DA & MD Anesthesiology from Nagpur University. He started working in NHS England in October 1976 with Full GMC registration to further Anaesthetic career from London Teaching Hospitals like Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals. Gained place on GMC Specialist Register soon after completing Anaesthesia Higher Training. Passed FFARCS (Ireland) and ECFMG (USA) in one year’s time after coming to England. A rapid academic & career progress from SHO, Registrar, Senior Registrar to a Substantive Consultant Anaesthetist post in the NHS in 1982. Trained at the University of Cincinnati, USA as a Clinical Fellow in Pain Control with Prof Prithvi Raj, Prof de Jong & Prof Bridenbough in 1982. On top of his medical qualifications, he also completed Open University MBA in 3 years (1995-98) with NHS Executive Management Bursary, while in a full-time consultant post in Kettering, Nothants. Gained PG Diploma & LLM in Medical Law (2000-2002) from Northumbria University at Newcastle upon Tyne, while at BPAS & doing NHS consultant locums.

A practising Hindu Vegetarian, with special practical interests in Bhagwad-Geeta, Regular Fasting, Yoga, Breathing exercises (Pranayam), Sun salutations (Surya Namaskar) & Meditation. Regular speaker at Global Geeta / Yoga Conferences and a teacher at Yoga Teacher Training weekends. Further Yoga & Sewa teacher training www.pypt.org from the experts in Haridwar, Rishikesh & Delhi, India in 2015.

Dr Bhala initiated a few weekly Bhagwat Geeta Study Groups in UK & India, the oldest weekly one in Wellingborough Sanatan Mandir is regularly running for over 27 years. He is a Sanghchalak of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh in South Midlands Vibhag & a Patron of Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford.

Nityananda Chakravorty President, Sree Sree Geeta Sangha

Bangladesh

Dr BalMukund Bhala, TD, RAMC (V) MBBS, DA, MD Anesthesiology

(Nagpur), FFARCSI, MBA(Open), LLM in Medical Law (UNN) Consultant in Anaesthesia, Resuscitation & pain

management, UK



Sri Ranjit Roy resides in New York City and is a Civil Engineer, working with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He studied Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and New York University. Ranjit Roy is an active member of the Bangladeshi American community. He was the Secretary of the Bangladeshi Engineers and Architects in America and was the president of the Srikrishna Bhakta Shangha USA inc in New York. Ranjit Roy enjoys teaching the younger generation about Hinduism and is an Advisor of Sanatan Philosophy and Scripture (SPS) in Bangladesh. Ranjit Roy is the author of Sahajpathya Srimadbhagavad Gita and Prasnauttare Sahajpathya Srimadbhagavad Gita and Naitik Shikha

Saurabh Todariya has done his M. Phil and Ph. D in Philosophy from Centre for Philosophy, JNU. His Ph. D focused on the phenomenological analysis of time and subjectivity. From the Heideggeian perspective, he explores the relationship between the time and consciousness. Another significant question he explores in his work is how the subjective lived time connects with the historical time of the community. Saurabh Todariya has worked both in academics and social organizations in various capacities before joining NIAS as Post Doc Associate. After NIAS, he joined SRM University as an Assistant Professor. Earlier, he has taught in Delhi University and JNU and worked with the India Education Collective, Azim Premji Foundation, Ganga Prem Hospice wherein he attempted to explore the relationship between philosophy, school education and health. He has published the articles in the various peer reviewed journals like JICPR Springer, Kritike, Journal of South Asian History and Culture, Routledge, EPW. Besides, he regularly presents the papers in various National and International Conferences. Currently he is exploring the relationship between the body and Transcendence in Kashmiri Shaivism from the phenomenological point of view. He is mainly interested in the role of body for constituting the sense of the world. Also, he is exploring the possibility of transcendence through the embodied phenomenology. As such, his interest areas cut across phenomenology, philosophy of mind and Indian Philosophy. Besides, he is interested in making philosophy more accessible and communicable to the larger public through exploring the relationship between philosophy, literature, health, and religion.

Ranjit Roy Srikrishna Bhakta Shangha, USA

Dr Saurabh Todariya SRM Unuiversity Amravati, Andhra

Pardesh, India



Dr Eugen Manole, is currently serving as a Director for Business Development with Madeira Corporate Services S.A. a management company in Madeira, Portugal. He holds a PhD from the University of Greenwich, London - Department of History, Politics and Social Sciences. Due to his rich knowledge and expertise, he has been elected: Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (UK), Member of the Institute of Directors (UK) and Associate Academic of the Manchester Metropolitan University (UK). Interested in applied mindfulness and its benefits in teaching, coaching, mentoring, and counselling he is practicing Yoga and Tai Chi for more than 20 years. Strategic thinker, he is a chess player and avid reader with a keen interest in management, governance, communication, history, Buddhism, Taoism, modern and ancient wisdom.

In his private life Dr Manole is a Co-Founder of Sundari Center and he is practising and teaching Traditional Integral Yoga and Taoist Yoga at Sundari Center Funchal. His practice and study of teaching yoga is recognized by the Yoga Alliance, the largest international non-profit association in the yoga community. He founds inspiration in The Upanishads as a set of philosophical guidelines giving to the human being both spiritual vision and philosophical reasoning. He believes that Bhagavad Gita, as the quintessence of all the teachings of the Vedic scriptures, may and should be used as the “manual for mankind” for the betterment of the human society.

Thus, during this astonishing journey of the human spirit, the contribution to the transformation of the global society may be achieved only with open hearts and learning minds. We must continue to share together the diverse wealth of wisdom thus ensuring the continuous human evolution

Dhruv Chhatralia is an author of 21 books on Hinduism and he has given 300 public talks of over 350 hours between them on the Bhagavad Gita, Hanuman Chalisa, Ramayan, Shrimad Bhagavad, the Upanishads, the Vedas, Yoga and Meditation that are watched in over 161 countries around the world, with over 400,000 views on YouTube and over 340,000 fans on facebook. He is working as an international mergers & acquisitions lawyer at an international law firm based in the City of London. Dhruv was included in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2020 and was presented with a Medal of the Order of the British Empire in London. He was also presented with the Bharat Gaurav Award in 2016 in Delhi by Indian federal and state politicians. He has spoken on Hinduism at the British Army, House of Commons, House of Lords, Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Metropolitan Police, BT, PricewaterhouseCoopers, EY, Nomura International Bank, Barclays Bank, Macquarie Bank Group, EDF Energy, State Bank of India, CMS Cameron McKenna, Mayer Brown, Intercontinental Hotel, AasthaTV channel, Zee TV, BBC nationwide television, BBC radio, the Commonwealth Journalists Association, Nusoundradio, TeluguVani radio, Kings College London, and at community halls in Central London, North London, Croydon, Leyton, Kingston, Luton, Nottingham and Ipswich. A live Yoga session by Dhruv Chhatralia in the City was televised nationally on BBC national television. Dhruv wrote the longest ever English commentaries on the great Indian works the Bhagavad Gita, the Hanuman Chalisa and the Shree Suktam in history, between them comprising over 3,467 pages, over 2.4 million words and over 10.5 million characters

Prof. Eugen M Manole, Phd Portugal

Dhruv Chhatralia BEM London, UK



between them. All the proceeds from these books went to charity. He then created a programme of over 180 Bhagavad Gita, Hanuman Chalisa and Shree Suktam classes in English to educate youngsters about the Eastern scriptures.

Associate Professor Sajal Palit worked as a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Electronics Engineering, Banares Hindu University, Varanasi, India from 1980-82, and thereafter worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics Engineering, Dhaka University from 1983-84, prior to joining the Department of Microwaves and Radar Engineering. Higher Institute of Electronics, Libya as an Assistant Professor, where he was promoted to Associate Professor in 1990 for his outstanding professional achievements.

Dr Palit migrated to Australia with family in 1992 and joined the University of Technology, Sydney as an academic staff. He also worked at the University of Canberra; Monash University, Melbourne; and Massey University, wellington, New Zealand as a senior academic staff. As a Principal Telecommunication Consultant with Ambidji Telecom, Melbourne, he designed in-building mobile coverages of several tall buildings in Sydney and Melbourne. His outstanding professional achievements were to design radio coverage systems for the Hong Kong International Airport and Hong Kong Western Metro Railway networks. He received several research grants, supervised many master’s and PhD students, designed, and supervised several large commercial projects and published a large number of research papers in the International Conference Proceedings and refereed Journals.

Dr Palit has been very active in community welfare works since 1996. He served the Bangladeshi Community as a President (1997-1999) of Bangladesh Samity, Melbourne. Dr Palit also worked as a President (2013-2015) of Bengali Association of Victoria whose members are mostly Indian Bengalees. He is an active member and founder of Bengali Senior Club, Victoria and a member of Vedanta Society, Melbourne and a life member of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Kolkata. Dr Palit is a devotee of both Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna since both are the same in unmanifested form. At present, Dr Palit is a Director of Australian Research Centre for Human Development and Spirituality (ARCHDS) and President of Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation (BGRF), Australia Chapter. Dr Palit believes that all people by birth are the followers of Sanatan Dharma since Parameshvar (Lord/Purush/male) and Prakriti (nature-Shakti/female) created all the living entities in this world. His strong conviction is that it is not very far away when ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna …’ Mahamantra will be chanted at all villages and cities around the world as predicted by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and thus humanity will prevail, and mankind will experience peace and happiness worldwide.

______________________________________________________________________________________________ ICHMP-2021 SESSION CHAIRS

Dr Narottam Das (S’97, M’01, SM’05) received his B.Sc. degree (Hons.) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh; M.Sc. degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from Yamagata University, Japan in 2000. His PhD research project was funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan (Japanese Government. Dr Das has about 3-decades experience as an academia and industrial Engineer in Australia and overseas. Prior to join at CQUniversity as a Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, he worked at USQ as a Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Research Fellow/ Lecturer at Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, and Monash University, Australia. Also worked at Curtin University Sarawak, Malaysia as Associate Professor and American International University-Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh as Professor. Earlier, he worked at NEC Yamagata Ltd., Japan as a Senior Design Engineer.

Associate Professor Sajal Kumar Palit President, BGRF, Australia Chapter

MSc (Applied Physics & Electronics Eng, Dhaka University), MBA (Canberra University, Australia), MEd (Monash University, Melbourne), PhD (Electrical Comm

Eng, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India)



Dr Das is the author/co-author of 8 book chapters, over 180 peer-reviewed journal and international conference papers. Dr Das is a senior member of the IEEE PES and PHS, USA; Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia; CPEng, NER, and Life Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. Currently, Dr Das is an Executive Committee Member of Electrical College Victoria Branch (ECVB), Engineers Australia, IEEE PES and IEEE IAS, Victorian Section, USA. His research interests include in Power Systems Communication (Smart Grids) using IEC 61850, Multi-junction Solar (PV) cells, modeling of high efficiency solar cells (renewable energy), and high-speed communication devices. Dr. Das served as the program committee member of several IEEE conferences nationally and internationally as well as presented as an invited and Keynote speaker. Dr. Das is the editor of the books Nnao-structured Solar Cells, Advances in Optical Communication, Optical Communication, and Optical Communication Systems. He is also a Guest Editor of the Journal “Energies” Special Issue on “Nano-structured Solar Cells”, Editorial Board Member of “Energies”, Topic Editor of “Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Systems”.

Prof. (Dr.) Srinivasan. R. Iyengar is the Director of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai University and visiting faculty at IIM Indore and Sambalpur.

He holds in PhD degree in Management from Mumbai University. His areas of interests, inter alia, Strategic Management, International Business, Retail Shoppers behaviour. He has more than 20 years of experience in corporate and academics. He is a member on the Advisory Board of Journal of Business Retail and Marketing Business Management (JBRMR), Journal of Development Research (JDR). He is editor in chief of Journal of Indian Retail (JIR). He has received many awards in recognition of his academic excellence from Higher Education Forum, Rajiv Gandhi award from Indian Solidarity Counsel. He has also authored five textbooks, few are Mall Management, Strategic Retail Management and Cases in Retail Management. He is consulted by few organisations in the area of strategy as an independent director

Nityananda Chakravorty President, Sree Sree Geeta Sangha Bangladesh

Dr P R Datta Executive Chair, Centre for Business & Economic Research (CBER), UK Director of Research, Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation (BGRF), UK



Praṇamyā Bhat 6 years, Mumbai, India

Praṇamyā Bhat is a bright girl studying in 1st standard in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mumbai, India. Along with the ability to converse fluently in Sanskrit, she can recite many stotras, bhajans and songs melodiously which she has developed from her parents. In recognition of her talents, she has received prizes in many national and international events. She has been learning classical music (Karṇāṭaka-saṅgīta) and dance (Bharatanāṭyam) as well.

Special thanks to the following individuals for their unwavering support in the planning, implementation, and success of this conference: 1. Prodip Das 2. Dr. Bonya Chakraborty 3. Sujata Dey 4. Shila Rani Das 5. Ujjal Saha 6. Neelima Das 7. Sojoy Saja 8. Mondira Saha 9. Anjana Saha 10. Samir Saha 11. Anindya Dasgupta

1.

CHANTING GITA MANTRAS AT THE CONFERENCE



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3rd International Conference on Hinduism, Management & Philosophy (ICHMP)

13th November 2021, from 8.30 am to 17.30 pm (London Time)

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

SCHEDULE FOR THE CONFERENCE -13th NOVEMBER 2021

8.30 AM -9.00AM Registration & virtual networking

SESSION 1: INAUGURAL SESSION 9.00 AM-9.45 AM

Session Chair: Dr P. R. Datta, Executive Chair, Centre for Business & Economic Research (CBER), UK & Director of Research, BGRF, UK

Location: Virtual Platform

9. 00 AM-9.10AM: Opening address & Introduction Dr P. R. Datta, Conference Chair & Executive Chair, Centre for Business & Economic Research, UK

9.10 AM -9.15AM: OM Chanting & Gayatri Mantra Anjana Saha, Scotland, UK

9.15 AM-9.20 AM: Message of welcome & About BGRF Santosh C Sarker, President, Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation (BGRF), UK

9.20 AM -9.25 AM: Message of welcome Nityananda Chakravorty, Conference Chair & President, Sree Sree Geetasangha, Bangladesh

9.25 AM -9.30 AM: Welcome message from Chapter president-India Dipendra Narayan Singha-Chapter president, India; Chief Executive, Shree Gouri Shankar Jute Mills, West Bengal, India

9.30 AM -9.35 AM: Welcome message from Chapter president-Australia Prof. (Dr.) Sajal Palit, Australia

9.35 AM -9.45 AM: Chanting Mantras Praṇamyā Bhat, 1st standard in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mumbai, India

SESSION 2: PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION, MIND, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES 9.50AM-11.10. AM (Break & virtual Networking: 11.05am-11.15 am) Session Chair: Dr Narottam Das, Central Queensland University, Australia

Location: Virtual Platform

9.55 AM -10.15 AM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS Prof. (Dr.) Sajal Palit, President, BGRF Chapter in Australia

Theme of the presentation: Analysis of the Basic Concepts of Hinduism, Spirituality and Hindu Philosophy

Brief synopsis

The Holy Vedas and Vedic philosophy are the backbones of Hinduism which are analysed in this paper. There are widespread misconceptions about the faith and philosophy in Hinduism. This paper discusses the nature (Prakriti) and attributes of Hindu gods and goddesses, and the philosophy of Vedas, Upanishads and later on, Vedanta which had significantly enriched the



foundation of modern Hinduism. It is found that the Vedanta philosophy deals with differing relationships between Atman (Self) and Brahmman (universal Self). Advaita Vedanta teaches the non-dualism of Atman and Brahmman, whereas Vishishtadvaita Vedanta finds Atman and Brahmman both different and non-different, while Dvaita Vedanta finds dualism of Atman and Brahmman as its essence. Research has found that Hinduism is both monotheistic and henotheistic but not polytheistic. ‘Ekam Sat Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti’ – call Him by whatever name you like, worship Him in any form you like, it all goes to that one Brahmman, the Almighty, Ultimate, Infinite, Supreme Godhead. This paper discusses the spiritual meaning of Moksha, and the nature of conditioned and liberated souls in the context of Vedanta philosophy. Research has concluded that the core beliefs of Hinduism are (i) Truth is eternal (ii) Brahmman is Truth and Reality (Supreme Godhead), (iii) the Vedas are the ultimate authority (iv) Purpose of life is to attain self-realisation (v) individual souls are immortal and (vi) the goal of individual soul is liberation from life-death cycle (Moksha). The methodology applied in this paper is a comprehensive study of Vedic scriptures; books on Hinduism and Hindu philosophy; journal articles, and spiritual lectures. The findings of the study are analysed and presented in this paper. Due to page limitation, the significance of Vedas in Hinduism has been presented brifly. Author recommends that further research should be done on Hinduism and Hindu philosophy to derive a general unified code of conduct for all Hindus irrespective of castes, sects, and Hindu traditions so as to make Hinduism easy to understand and practice worldwide. Keywords: Atman, Brahmman, Bhagavad Gita, Moksha, Upanishad, Vedanta

10.15 AM -10.25 AM: A few words from a distinguished guest Virendra Sharma MP (Ealing, Southall), Chair of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)

10.25 AM -10.45 AM: PRESENTATION Prof (Dr.) Sukanta Saha, Queensland, Australia

Theme of the presentation: Is Sanatan Dharma monotheistic? If yes, why worship 330million gods and goddesses?

Brief synopsis There is a misunderstanding among the general population whether Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) is monotheistic or pluralistic. Followers of other religions often cite that Hindus worship 330 million gods and goddesses (i.e., demigods), implying that Hinduism is pluralistic. The main objectives of this paper are to gain greater insight into whether Hinduism is monotheistic or pluralistic, do Hindu’s worship millions of demigods, is there any necessity to worship demigods, and finally, who the ‘supreme divinity’ is? In order to identify various constructs related to the above objectives, an extensive literature search was performed based on the main scriptures of Hinduism, with various information systematically collated and presented.

Collating multiple layers of citations from various scriptures there is substantial evidence that Hinduism is monotheistic that the supreme divinity (Brahman) is One. According to Vedic sages, there are 33 types of demigods based on a belief system that demigods are the natural expansion of the supreme divinity. The converging evidence from various scriptures shows that Lord Sri Krishna is the supreme divinity, as Bhagwan to whom to worship for final liberation. This review found strong and consistent evidence that Hinduism is monotheistic, and that there are 33 types of demigods. The supreme divinity is Lord Krishna. Whilst diversity is the essence, according to Bhagavad Gita, there is no requirement of worshipping any demigods—although followers can traditionally worship various gods and goddesses for their own spiritual satisfaction. These findings help to enhance the understanding of the fundamental questions of Hinduism and provide a better spiritual journey towards final liberation. Keywords: Hinduism, Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, demigods, Brahman, Bhagwan

10.45 AM -11.05 AM: PRESENTATION

Prof (Dr.) Sukanta Saha, Queensland, Australia; Prof. (Dr.) Nemai Chandra Karmakar, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Theme of the presentation: How Atman (Soul) carries Karma to next life and beyond

Brief synopsis Background and Aims: Vedic scriptures dictate that every living being goes through a cycle of birth and death until final liberation, and this very process is governed by the inner spirit of life called Atman (Soul). Scholars and scientists have across eons of time, tried to extrapolate an answer as to how this process happens, and whether there is any scientific basis to this process. This quest, the acquiescence, and the transmigratory process has been challenging and has not been described in great detail. The aim of the article is to review the main Vedic scriptures defining Atman and how it determines the process of cycle of birth and death.



Methodology: The main scriptures of Sanatan Dharma were systematically searched, collated, and presented. Findings and Conclusions: Evidence from the various Sanatan Dharma scriptures provide an understanding that Atman, as a spiritual power, determines the cycle of birth and death. Whereas, past karmas proceed through Atman, and this eternal power ultimately merges with the supreme divinity (the Super Soul). Anecdotal evidence suggests in favour of this transmigratory process of human life and the eternity of Atman as the quest for perpetuity.

SESSION 3: HINDUISM OUTSIDE INDIA, TRANSLATION AND CORE ETHICS Session Chair: Dr P. R. Datta, Director of Research, BGRF & Executive Chair, Centre for Business &

Economic Research, UK 11.15 AM-13.15. PM (BREAK & VIRTUAL NETWORKING: 13.30 PM: 14.00 PM)

Location: Virtual platform

11.15 AM -11.20 AM: A condemnation message Dr Bonya Chakraborty, Vice President, BGRF, UK

A MINUTE OF SILENCE

11.20 AM -11.25 AM: Recitation of poetry The poem's title: May humanity triumph! Recitation by Samar Saha, London, UK The poem is written by Mondira Saha, London, UK

11.30 AM -12.05 AM: EXTENDED EXPOSITION Gauranga Das Prabhujee, Divisional Director of ISKCON (Govardhan Ecovillage) in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Theme of the extended exposition: Bhagavad Gita and the 17 SDGs – A Case Study of Govardhan Ecovillage

Brief synopsis All real social and environmental problems are due to a spiritual crisis. The Bhagavad-Gita is a sacred dialogue between Krishna, the Divine Personality and his close familial confidante, the great warrior-prince Arjuna. Krishna makes this connection as he teaches Arjuna:

śrī-bhagavān uvāca kāma eṣa krodha eṣa

rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ mahāśano mahā-pāpmā

viddhy enam iha vairiṇam “It is selfish desire, it is anger, arising from the 'quality' of rajas (passion). All-consuming and greatly calamitous, know it to be the enemy in this world...” (BG 3.37) The senses, the mind, and the faculty of discernment are said to be the resting place of this [enemy]; Through these it bewilders the embodied, obscuring knowledge.” (BG 3.40) This kama (selfish exploitative desire) is rooted in the fundamental extensive destructive selfishness which emanates from our existential misidentification with the ahankara (the ego/self in illusion).

Acknowledgement of the presence of kama within the existential substance of our being can lead us in either an Earth-honoring or Earth-exploiting direction. When lust is unsatisfied, it turns into wrath; wrath is transformed into illusion...Wrath is the manifestation of the mode of ignorance (tamas); these modes exhibit themselves as wrath and other corollaries. If, therefore, the mode of passion (rajas), instead of being degraded into the mode of ignorance, is elevated to the mode of goodness by the prescribed method of living and acting, then one can be saved from the degradation of wrath by spiritual attachment.

The acknowledgement of the presence of kama in our existential experience, as a primary expression of rajas, can either lead to a further degradation into tamas, the mode of nature primarily responsible for pollution and exploitation of the Earth, or, through a resistance against this degradation through the development of spiritual wisdom, can lead to the development of sattva, which inculcates in the living being a

realization and practice based in “sincerity, nonviolence, truthfulness...relinquishment...compassion for all beings, freedom from longing...freedom from envy, absence of excessive pride.” The development of sattva eventually leads to the complete transcendence of the gunas themselves, and the practitioner enters into the state of suddha-sattva, or pure goodness, in which one's existential identity is completely and irrevocably linked to one's actual identity as atma. The core identity of atma, is a space of existential formation which actively resists any form of exploitation or marginalization of the other, whether that other is a fellow human being, fellow living being, or Earth herself



Therefore, the Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV) is an anticipatory community which was set up

1. To create communal examples forged and formed in the foundation of the earth honoring values of the tradition against the influence of turbo-capitalism which conditions so many of us, despite our spiritual intention, to live and relate to Earth in an exploitative fashion

2. To provide a suitable environment to grow spiritually by facilitating a lifestyle which does not damage, pollute, and exploit Earth.

Located in the foothills of the Sahyadri mountains in the state of Maharashtra, India, approximately 108 km north of Mumbai, the GEV project began in the year 2003 and has developed into a comprehensive model of sustainable and inclusive Earth-honoring village community life, based on traditional Vedic practices and ideals, carefully and mindfully responding to the reality of our changing planetary spaces.

GEV in its formation has established various initiatives in its campus and in the villages around covering all the 17 SDGs. Unlike the modern-day resource-to-trash systems, GEV was modelled to provide a nourishing quality of life by meeting the basic requirements for living like food, shelter, water, waste management, energy etc, through integration of various symbiotically dependent systems. GEV uses specially designed green technologies to ensure comfortable living while maintaining symbiotic harmony with nature. GEV works with over 78 villages and help the people there, 50% of whom are below poverty line, through various interventions including farmer’s empowerment, women empowerment, water resource development, health care, skill development, rural education, free food distribution, micro-enterprises for landless laborers, etc.

12.05 PM -12.30 PM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS Swami Sarvasthananda Minister-in-Charge, Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, Bourne End, Buckinghamshire SL8 5LF, U.K

Theme of the presentation: The essence of the Bhagavad Gita in the light of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda

Brief synopsis The Bhagavad Gita is considered to be the essence of Vedanta or the Upanishads which form the core of Hindu spirituality. Swami Vivekananda who first introduced Vedanta and Yoga to the Western Civilization spoke extensively both in the UK and USA between 1893 and 1901 on several aspects of the Gita through his highly inspirational utterances based on direct spiritual experience. However, the importance of Swami Vivekananda’s interpretation of the Gita seems to be more relevant today than ever before. Though it is important to understand the message of the Gita through our intellect after a deep study of all the chapters, but it is imperative for its students to absorb and assimilate its eternal life-giving message in their own lives. The transformative value of the Gita is thus more important than a mere academic study of the scripture. This paper discusses the light Swami Vivekananda has shed on some of the most practical teachings of the Gita and its capacity to culminate in transformation of the personality as a result of direct experience of the truths contained therein.

12.30 PM -12.55 PM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS Nityananda Chakravorty, President, Sree Sree Geetasangha, Bangladesh

Theme of the presentation: Secularism in Gita

Brief synopsis Religious diversity has essentially been a common feature of majority of population in the world since millennia. Many socioeconomic and technological dynamics have been casting enormous influence on the gap between religions. Human qualities like tolerance of each-other’s faiths and their culture, dogma, rites, traditions etc. have proved to diminish gradually, raising the frequency of clashes or Social Hostility Index between faiths in many countries. From mid twentieth century, Classical secularisation thesis (Jasper, Karl, 1953) in its axial -age hypothesis expected that “religion will lose its public influence as the forces of modernity advance”. But “straightforward narrative of progress from the religious to the secular” proved no longer viable in the context of apparent resurgence of publicly influential religion (Benjamin Schewel, 2018). In France (proponent of freedom from religion) and America, (proponent of freedom of religion), their sociological ideal- type presumptions about secularism could not produce much positive results (Modood 2019a, pp. 125–26). There are more recent instances explaining the weaknesses of secularism as a state policy or practice.

Undoubtedly, it is an obstinate social disease. So, we have to look for a relatively sustainable solution. Modernity, science, constitutional provisions, or any other external measures have the basic lacuna of undermining the personal instincts (Swabhaba) and inner dictates (Swadharma) which are emphasized by the holy Gita. Many invaluable instructions came from Lord Sri Krishna there for the global population for developing a secular character. A relatively sustainable solution is, therefore, considered to be in developing a character of tolerance in the people of any nation- state, irrespective of faith (s) they do have, who can sacrifice their ego and embrace other faiths with due respect. Gita provides the rules of building a free-agent character of human beings through sacrifices of egos, perseverance, meditation, interpersonal communications, and many other doable



practices on personal levels as a process of self-realization, the cumulative impact being the flower of tolerance blossomed at national level into secularism.

Keywords: secularism, religious diversity, freedom from/of religion, Swabhaba, Swadharma, interfaith tolerance, Gita, personal, ego, self-realization, free-agent character

12.55 PM-13.20 PM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS Pawan Sethhi, A writer, poet, spiritual practitioner, and orator, Mumbai, India

Theme of the presentation: Shree Krishna- Person, Personality, Psychology, and spiritual psychotherapy

Brief synopsis Shree Krishna is an incarnation of Vishnu for a devotee, a Hero of Dwapar for a rationalist, a Purushottamm (Perfect human being) as depicted in ancient scriptures because he mastered the ‘16 arts’, and a Supreme God in his own words in Bhagwad Gita when he motivated Arjun. A charismatic personality - he is a great lover for some and a warrior for others. On one hand he is Yogoeshvar (Supreme Yogi), on the other he is Karmveer (Great Doer) with absolute detachment. Some see him as a playful naughty boy of Gokul, others see him as slayer of evils. He appears as the dancing god, Natvar and also remains in eternal meditation as he looks at life with equanimity. Krishna’s actions reveal his personality.

Think about the circumstances under which Krishna was born. He grew up under the constant threat for his life and was pushed into turbulence, deprived of all his rights and possessions. For a normal person this would have been a life of fear, depression, and anxiety. But what were the traits in Krishna’s personality that motivated him to remain cheerful and stay course? One is intrigued by Krishna’s psychology, which is quite mystical and paradoxical. The Bhagwad Gita provides these answers, when Krishna, a representation of darkness himself, encourages Arjuna a symbol of light to step out of his dilemma and depression. Thus, Krishna plays his part as the first psychotherapist. The Mahabharata can be seen as a metaphor for our inner conflicts and Krishna, the consciousness within that guides us to victory.

13.30 PM-14.00 PM BREAK & VIRTUAL NETWORKING

SESSION 4: HINDUISM, BHAGAVAD GITA, AND EVERY DAY’S LIFE 14.00 PM-15.30. PM (TEA BREAK & NETWORKING: 15.30 PM-15.45 PM)

Session Chair: Prof. (Dr.) Srinivasan Iyanger, Director at JBIMS, University of Mumbai, India Location: Virtual platform

14.00 PM -14.25 PM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS Prof. (Dr.) Prashant Salwan, Indian Institute of Management, Indore, India

Theme of the presentation: Decoding leadership for reinventing the business model, lessons from Hindu philosophy

Brief synopsis An enterprise creates and capture value through developing strategies that help the firm increase profitability through differentiation and cost leadership and profit growth through entering new markets and increasing consumption in current markets. Industry factors which are underlying economic structure of an industry and firm factors which are the actions managers make, effect the performance of a firm. Astute managers create superior performance by showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage. Firms have the same resources, but the differentiation and reason for heterogeneity is the leadership. Pandemic situation has brought into fore the unique leadership traits required by firm leadership and managers to maneuver themselves to come out of uncertain situation. My research is based on multiple case study analysis wherein we found that the best leader is the person who has the capabilities of Hindu trinity, who creates the future like Brahma, learn from the past, change the processes, disruptive innovation like Shiva and managing the present like Vishnu. We will be discussing how the reinventing the business model four pillars customer value preposition, profit formula, key resources and key capabilities are influenced by the Hindu trinity leadership lessons and are replicable in any firm. Our research will help the leaders to cultivate the capabilities of Hindu trinity for creating and sustaining the competitive advantage.

Keywords: Reinventing Business Model, Enterprise value, Hindu Trinity, Leadership, Hindu Philosophy of leadership and sustainability



14.25 PM -14.50 PM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Prof (Dr.) Saurabh Todaria, SRM University Amravati, Andhra Pardesh, India

Theme of the presentation: Bodily and Mental Well-Being in Bhagavad Gita: A Critique of Rule- based Moral Reasoning

Brief synopsis Recent advances in cognitive science have shown that the moral reasoning is not the abstract, formal process requiring rule following but is based on the agent’s experience of bodily and mental well-being. Moral life is accompanied by the feeling of pleasantness and harmony and as such it endorses the notion of ‘good life’ or eudemonia. Therefore, unlike the claim of deontologists like Kant, moral reasoning is not the abstract process independent of the feelings and the context. The paper would argue that Bhagavad Gita fundamentally upholds the ‘virtue ethics’ by upholding the idea of manah prasadam, happiness of mind as spiritual virtue. Gita does not uphold Kantian principle of ‘duty for duty’s sake’ but asks us to do work for chit shuddi purification of mind, so that one can enjoy the bliss arising out of the equanimity of mind. The idea of nishkam karma in Gita is fundamentally derived from the notion of Yajna. The actions should be done for the sake of Yajna which means for the well-being of the whole world. Gita therefore asks us to develop the certain dispositions which is called as the Saatvic qualities These dispositional attitudes produces the certain mental and bodily pleasant/unpleasant states by which agent can intuitively know whether s/he is acting morally or not. Therefore, unlike the popular conception, Gita does not uphold the ‘duty ethics of Kant which does not have any place for the feelings.

Keywords: Virtue ethics, Gita, Yajna, dispositions, well-being


Dr Bal Mukund B Bhala, MBBS, DA, MD Anesthesiology (Nagpur), FFARCSI, MBA(Open), LLM in Medical Law (UNN) Consultant in Anaesthesia, Resuscitation & pain management, UK

Theme of the presentation: Impact of Bhagvadgeeta on the European Soil

Brief synopsis First, I will discuss the culture change in Europe & how I witnessed it first-hand in various countries I worked in, at Civilian, Private & Army Hospitals in the last 40 years. From my own knowledge of Bhagavad Gita, I looked at how Hinduism has sprouted in Europe through the efforts of very famous personalities like Swami Vivekanand, Swami Prabhupada, Maharshi Mahesh Yogi, Swami Chinmayanand & others in the soil of Europe from the First World War onwards in which British & Indian Armies were heavily involved. In addition to these famous people, seeds of Geeta culture were brought in by Hindus from India, Africa, West & East Indies. From this soil, we then look at what was watering it so the Lotus could grow in the Mud created for it, along with challenges it faced.

Integral Humanism provided the organic fertilisers in the form of Dedicated Hindu individuals, through Family units, Communities & various Organisations. Through immigration, growth continued in various sectors in the UK & Europe, mostly with a positive impact from different organisations competing & complementing the growth. Then we will look at the challenges of negative impacts on the growth & how we can learn to minimise this impact by following the practices described in Geetaji. That way not only our future but the future of Humanity will be brighter! We will look at the Legal framework & its development to Human Rights Act applicable all over Europe & globally.

Further growth of this plant of Bhagavad Gita in Europe is in the hands of our next generation under our guidance. For this, organisations like BGRF & multiple Study Groups locally will be essential, if we don't let this great Spiritual knowledge disappear with time, as it has happened many times & perpetually revived by individuals & organisations. Arise, Awake & stop not till the Goal of spreading the knowledge of Geetaji to entire humanity is completed!



SESSION 5: MINDFULNESS, PRACTICE AND PHILOSOPHY & CONCLUDING REMARKS 15.45 PM-17.00. PM

Session Chair: Nityananda Chakravorty, President, Sree Sree Gitasangha, Bangladesh Location: Virtual platform

15.45 PM -15.50 PM: A reflection on BGRF from Chapter president, Canada Shubhra S. Saha, President, BGRF chapter in Canada

15.50 PM -15.55 PM: Few words and message

Dr Arun Kumar Saha, President, BGRF chapter in Bangladesh

16.00 PM -16.25 PM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS Stephen Silver, School of Philosophy and Economic Science, London, UK

Theme of the presentation: The Positive Power of Desire

Brief synopsis Everyone knows that desire is a barrier to realization. Krishna calls it the enemy of the wise. But what about the desire for liberation? Or even the simple desires to help others, to serve society, to care for the planet. Is this desire also enemies to the wise? And without desire how would any action be performed? How can the Gītā help guide us through this apparent contradiction.

Keywords: Desire; Identification; Guna balance; Detachment; Practice

16.25 PM -16.50 PM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS Dhruv Chhatralia BEM, London, UK Theme of the presentation: The Bhagavad Gita for the Modern Times: the difference between Spirituality and Materiality

Brief synopsis The session will give an introduction to the Bhagavad Gita and explain its importance of ShreeKrushna’s teachings in modern times. The Bhagavad Gita will be taught in a rational, scientific, and practical manner so that you can apply the teachings to create a beautiful, enriching, and powerful life for yourself.


Engr. Ranjit K. Roy, Director and Former President, SriKrishna Bhakta Shangha, USA, Inc

Theme of the presentation: Inner Engineering Using the Practical Tools from SriMadbhagvadgita Gita

Brief synopsis Engineering is a process for creating and managing machines and infrastructure, as well as for solving problems. The human body is one such complicated machine. It is a composite structure created and maintained through the application of medical science and various fields of engineering, such as civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics, chemical, fluid mechanics, environmental, and waste management. The brain of this machine consists of billions of neurons that enable our thoughts, memories, emotions, physical sensations, motor skills (movements and action of the muscles), vision, breathing, temperature control, hunger, and every other process that regulates our body. This machine is considered dead or out of order when it cannot breathe, eat, or think.

According to Srimadbhagavad Gita (Gita), Bhagavan Srikrishna is the creator of the universe and all human beings. As such, some scholars consider the Gita a "user manual" for being human, although others may disagree with this statement. The goal of this presentation is not to debate but to try and answer the following question: How can the Gita guide us to manage ourselves appropriately? Most of us think there are two worlds- a material world and a spiritual world. Many of us also believe that religious practice is for the benefit of our spiritual world after death. However, this presentation will show that by allowing the Gita to be our "user manual," our body and mind can also benefit in this material world. In sum, the Gita can better our material and spiritual existences.

17.20 PM CLOSING REMARKS

Anindya Dasgupta, London, UK Sarat Das, Bucks New University, UK



Santosh C Sarker, President, Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation (BGRF), UK Nityananda Chakravorty, Conference Chair & President, Sree Sree Geetasangha, Bangladesh Dr P.R. Datta, Centre for Business & Economic Research (CBER), UK

Feedback from the audience

Conference closes



Call for Papers

International Journal of Hinduism & Philosophy (IJHP) IJHP is a peer reviewed journal and is a research platform for international scholars and those interested in Hinduism and Philosophy. The journal addresses the need for critical discussion on issues appertaining to the Hindu faith, its development, core tenets and teachings, and various developments and manifestations down the ages. Equally, the journal is a scholarly platform for those seeking to offer fresh analysis and discussion that advances the appreciation and understanding of various schools of philosophical thought. IJHP serves as key research and learning platform of Bhagavad Gita Research Foundation (BGRF). The journal aims to target a worldwide readership through electronic format. Although the primary focus of the journal is concerned with Hinduism and Philosophy, it also interested in aspects that relate Hinduism and Philosophy to Business, Management and Economics.

IJHP - Subject Coverage Hinduism

• History of Hinduism; Ancient India

• The Concept of Dharma, Karma, Samsara, Moksha, astika and nastika

• Yoga: Paths to Moksha; Hindu Concepts of God

• Schools of Thought

• The idea of the guru in Hindu worship; Hindu domestic rituals

• Ashramas; Sacraments; Hindu lexicon & iconography

• Holy Days/Festivals; Time in Hinduism; Science in Hinduism

• Sacred Architecture and Arts; Women in Hinduism

• Caste; Hindutva; Hinduism and India; Hinduism outside India

• Hinduism and the Environment; Hindu philosophy

Philosophy • Vedanta Philosophy; Philosophy of Hinduism; Epistemology; Meta-philosophy.

• Metaphysics

• Philosophy of Action; Philosophy of Language

• Philosophy of Mind; Philosophy of Religion

• Indian Philosophy; Environmental Philosophy

• Teaching Philosophy

Preference will be given to papers which are conceptually and analytically strong and have empirical & theoretical relevance. All papers will be reviewed according to the Journal’s criterion. The Journal’s website is www.bgrfuk.org/ijhp

For further information, please write to Managing Editor via [email protected]

http://www.bgrfuk.org/ijhp






Samir Kumar Das Director, Principal Solicitor & Commissioner for Oath

Best wishes for the International Conference on Hinduism, Management

& Philosophy

Specialising in: Litigation, Immigration, Family Law,

Employment, EU applications and Asylum/Human Rights

SD Solicitors is the trading name of SD Solicitors Ltd registered in England under number 11338330. The registered Office is at 249-251 Mile End Road Stepneys Green London E1 4BJ. The firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under firm SRA number648787



Our Mission To work to help others appreciate the special place that the Bhagavad Gita has in Hinduism, and the lessons that it has for the wider world.

BGRF has been established with the express purpose of ensuring a wider understanding of a supremely holy text of Hinduism. It seeks to ensure a wider understanding of one of the most influential texts in Eastern Philosophy, as well as bringing people together who have a wish to appreciate life's spiritual essence. We all need to seek and be prepared to question and learn in a spirit of mutual respect, tolerance, and humility.

BGRF is a spiritual platform of human excellence, love, unity & universal Tolerance

• Bhagavad Gita for Nuance Reading

• Bhagavad Gita Provides Guidelines for leading a balanced life

• Bhagavad Gita Demonstrates the Righteousness of Nature

• Bhagavad Gita has the relevance of well-being for the family, society & for the contemporary world at large

www.bgrfuk.org [email protected]

http://www.bgrfuk.org/










Documents

3 International Conference on Hinduism, Management