Dr Indulata Das, a brilliant student throughout her career, completed her post graduation and PhD from the Banaras Hindu University and joined the Odish Education Service in 1979. Having served in various Government colleges, she opted for voluntary retirement in 2007. She heads an organisation named Academy of Yoga and Oriental Studies (AYOS), which conducts a research-based lecture on Indian culture every second Saturday and has completed 107 lectures by now. The AYOS has also been organising an annual two-day National Conference on various aspects of Indian culture since 2007 and has completed eight conferences. It has also been holding an annual two-day Yoga-Ayurveda Seminar since 2009. The AYOS is running a PG course in Yoga, affiliated to the Utkal University of Culture. It also brings out various publications like books and research journals on Indian culture.
Dr Das is a Sanskrit scholar and an expert in traditional yogic knowledge. She has authored many books on Indian culture. Hundreds of her articles are published in various journals, magazines and newspapers. She is also a fiction writer. An unofficial ambassador of Indian culture, she is entirely devoted towards the dissemination of this tradition of excellence. In an interview to The Pioneer, she spoke to Sugyan Choudhury from her College of Yoga at Ratha Road, Bhubaneswar.
Why did you leave your job much before your retirement and engage yourself in other activitiesIJ
From my childhood, I am a great devotee of Indian culture. Because of my love towards my culture, it was my dream to serve my culture in every possible way. But towards the later part of my life, I observed that I could not render desirable service to the country and its culture because of filial and professional responsibilities. So, I decided to leave the job and do something different to repay the debt I owe to my country and its culture.
Do you love Indian culture just because you happen to be an Indian or there is any special reason behind itIJ
I consider it to the fructification of some good deeds of my past births that I am granted a human birth in this sacred land Bharat. I pay profound gratitude at the feet of the divinity for giving me this opportunity to be born in this land of Rishis, Munis and Yogis. I love Indian culture not because it is my own culture but because it is a grand culture based on spirituality and lofty human values. It is a culture which does not run after material prosperity only but looks much beyond that. Therefore we believe in four goals of life known as four Purusarthas, Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksa. Dharma is right conduct of a man. Artha is material prosperity. Kama is fulfilment of various desires of life. And Moksa is to be liberated from all kinds of sorrows for all time to come. We start with Dharma or right conduct and head towards the unending happiness which is final aspiration of every living being. We require Artha and Kama no doubt. But those should be based on Dharma or righteousness. We sandwich Artha and Kama between Dharma and Moksa. Thus, Indian culture is a grand culture for which people with high moral values from all parts of the world are always attracted towards India.
You have much love for Sanskrit. WhyIJ
It is not possible to understand Indian culture without sufficient knowledge of Sanskrit. Therefore, I pursued the learning of Sanskrit when I was a student in high school. Many people have a wrong notion that students with poor intelligence go in for subjects like Sanskrit. It is not true at least in my case. In fact, all through my student career I was considered to be a brilliant student. I was the best graduate at the Sambalpur University and awarded two gold medals in graduation level. I had always secured high percentages in all the subjects in my school, college and university careers. I could have opted for any other line or could have done my post-graduation in any other subject. But since childhood, I have been pursuing the knowledge of Sanskrit only to have a profound understanding of my culture.
Do you think learning Sanskrit is necessary for every IndianIJ
Mahatma Gandhi said, “Without the knowledge of Sanskrit no one can become a true Indian or a truly learned man.” Every letter of this sentence is true. Just as the descendant of a royal family should not be deprived of access to the treasure of the family so also no Indian should be deprived of access to the great literary, cultural and spiritual treasure that India owns for millennia. And the key to that treasure house is Sanskrit. I think living in India without access to the great knowledge of the land is like living on the bank of Ganga and yet remaining thirsty. So, Sanskrit is necessary for the exploration of knowledge of philosophy and mythology etc.
What about other branches of learningIJ
Many branches of learning will remain incomplete without desirable knowledge in Sanskrit. For example, the history of India cannot be correctly written or understood by ignoring the evidences stored in our old literature like Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas, etc. In fact, Ramayana and Mahabharata are not mere epics but are called “Itihasas” in Indian tradition. The word “Itihasa” (history) was coined to mean these two books only. And it is clearly written in both the books that the stories are narrations of past happenings. But our historians do not know it. They rather prefer to depend on imaginations to write history than to explore such great books for historical evidences. This is because of their non-access to Sanskrit.
Ayurveda is the indigenous medical science recognised throughout the world. All the authentic books are written in Sanskrit. But most of our Ayurvedic students and doctors do not have access to the original texts but are depending upon the translations to read these books. What a plight! Reading Ayurveda without the knowledge of Sanskrit is like studying MBBS without the knowledge of English. Similar is the case of yoga. Now, yoga is a worldwide phenomenon. But the knowledge is written in Sanskrit. Because of ignorance in the language, dilutions and misinterpretations are taking place in yoga which is very dangerous.
What are the activities you are doing through the Academy of Yoga and Oriental Studies to serve Indian cultureIJ
We are trying our best to bring various aspects of our culture to limelight and acquaint common people to the vast and deep knowledge of our land. This we are doing through regular lectures, seminars, conferences and publications, etc. I am happy that many people who are genuinely interested in our culture are associating themselves with this mission.
Do you think your endeavour will bring about some change in the societyIJ
Action is within my reach not the result. When there is thick darkness all around, it is better to light a lamp than to curse the darkness. And I am exactly doing the same. If I don’t do it, I shall be failing in my duty. Rest is left to the providence.