Professor Nilakanta Sasthri Memorial Endowment Lecture

NATIONAL COLLEGE (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli – 620 001

Professor Nilakanta Sasthri Memorial Endowment Lecture

Prof. K.A. Nilakanta Sasthri, Memorial Endowment Lecture was held in National College, Trichy on 03-09-2018. Prof. Dr. N. Rajendran, Vice Chancellor, Alagappa University delivered  the lecture entitled Indian Knowledge system – A Historical Perspective. Principal Dr. R. Sundararaman, Welcomed the gathering. Shri. K. Raghunathan, Secretary, Presided over the function and honoured the chief guest Prof. Dr. N. Rajendran, Vice Chancellor, Alagappa University, Karaikudi.

In the first part of the endowment lecture, recounted the personal history of Prof. Nilakandt Sasthri, who went on to become the head of the department of History, Madras University. He also recounted the fact that had a short stint at National College, Trichy for a period of 10 months. He pointed out how Prof. NS compares with Great Historians like Vincent A Smith, Perceval Spear  and D.D. Kosambi. Prof. Nilakanta Sasthri was recruited to Madras University by none other than J.D Sarkar another great historian. Prof. Nilakanta Sasthri's contribution to the writing of the history of Sangam Age and the Age of Pandias was immense and his books continue to be the source of reference for the later day historians.

Continuing the lecture on knowledge systems of India he pointed out how the literature of the past served as the source for historians and others who were interested in the past history of this great nation. He told the audience that in Mohanjadaro only 2000 seals were excavated which helped us to reconstruct the history of Pre Arian Indian, but the rich literature of Kalidasa, Valhimiki and other literary texts from the Tamil country even today help  us to understand the rich cultural heritage of our country.

Knowledge systems concerning building of dams, temple architecture, medicine and even metallurgy are not available to us though the artifacts survive.  He gave the example of Japanese who after Meiji Restoration integrated the western Knowledge system with the native Japanese system and created a new knowledge system. However, he bemoaned the fact that no such effort towards integration took place and our knowledge system lagged behind the western system.

Dr. P. Parimalasekar, Associate Professor and Head, department of History proposed Vote of thanks and Prof. R. Vidhya, Department of History was the master of ceremony.