Professor Vinay Kumar Rao, faculty at the Special Centre for the Study of North East India, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, delivered a series of three special lectures in the Republic of Kalmykia, Russian Federation, highlighting his extensive fieldwork and research on Buddhist art and cultural linkages between India and Southeast Asia.

The first lecture, titled “Depiction of Nibbāna Scenes: Comparative Study between India and Myanmar”, was presented at the State University of Kalmyk State University, Elista. The second lecture, “The Splendor of Buddhist Sculpture at Sāñcī”, was delivered at the Kalmyk Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Elista, on 16 October 2025.

Professor Rao delivered his third special lecture on “Bodwins from Burmā and its Predecessors in Bhārat” on 17 October 2025 at the National Museum of the Kalmyk Republic.

The lecture series attracted a large gathering of scholars, researchers, and members of the public interested in Buddhist archaeology, philosophy, and cultural heritage. The sessions witnessed vibrant discussions on the shared spiritual and artistic traditions of India and the Buddhist world, reflecting the continuing civilizational dialogue between India and Russia through the medium of Buddhist studies.

These lectures formed part of the broader academic and cultural exchange initiatives accompanying the exposition of Buddha’s Holy Relics from India at the National Museum of the Kalmyk Republic.

***

Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2180971) Visitor Counter : 96