International Scientific Conference on Nationalism in India

Attendees included Dr. GB Harisha (Director of the Swami Vivekanandam Cultural Centre, Embassy of India in Vietnam), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Toan (Director of the Center for Indian Studies, Ho Chi Minh Academy of Politics), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Hoang Long (Vice Director of the Institute for Indian and Southwest Asian Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities). The workshop also included online participation from foreign scholars from India and Thailand such as Prof. Dr. NC Panda (Silpakorn University, Thailand) and Dr. Amrita Dey (University of Calcutta, India).

The workshop is part of a series of activities celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Faculty of Oriental Studies. The workshop aims to contribute new research findings on Indian studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, while also promoting academic exchange between Vietnam and India.

At the conference, scholars and experts on India discussed and exchanged views on different perspectives of nationalism in India. The main ideas of Indian national leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, as well as national perspectives linked to culture, economics, philosophy, and religion, were analyzed, compared, and clarified within the historical context of India and in relation to other countries. Through this, lessons were drawn and recommendations were proposed to harmonize and develop nationalism in Vietnam.

On behalf of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities' leadership, Associate Professor Tran Thi Minh Hoa shared that the scientific exchanges in the conference will contribute to clarifying the meaning of nationalism, helping to distinguish between genuine nationalism and narrow-minded nationalism, thereby promoting dialogue, understanding, and limiting conflict and confrontation between nations in the context of globalization. In addition, the conference is significant in promoting the peaceful, compassionate, empathetic, and non-violent Indian culture, while further strengthening the cultural and educational cooperation between Vietnam and India in general, and between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam in particular.

Some photos from the workshop.

Conference scene

Alongside the conference was a photo exhibition showcasing activists in India's Nationalist movement.

Welcome performances by students of the Department of Indian Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies.

Dr. GBHarisha presents books to Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Minh Hoa.

The delegates took a commemorative photo.

Dr. GBHarisha (Director of the Swami Vivekanandam Cultural Centre) presented the report "Indian Cultural Nationalism - Planning New Directions".

Dr. Amrita Dey (University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India) presented remotely the report "Nationalism and Internationalism in India".