INDIAS CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD

On the occasion of the inauguration of the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial in 1970, the Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan Trust published a book, India’s Contribution to World Thought and Culture, that contained about 70 articles by well-known experts of Indian history and culture on India’s cultural footprints in Asia and other parts of the world. However, since then, this subject has remained generally neglected. Recognizing the need to revive this topic in public and academic discussions, Vivekananda International Foundation decided to bring out an abridged version of the original volume. As India begins to reengage with the world, it is essential to conduct deeper research on the spread of India’s cultural influence in various parts of the world. It was felt that the volume, in this abridged and revised form, will serve the great purpose of highlighting the importance of India’s contribution to global thought and culture which is often either not known or deliberately ignored. It will especially make the present generation aware of what India was and enable them to relate it with the India of today and will serve as a resource book for lay readers and young students alike. It will also enable scholars to identify the quantum of research already done on the subject and include that in university curricula, and will revive scholarly interest in pursuing further research to add to the existing body of knowledge. The volume will also be of great use to the diplomatic community in India and abroad. It is hoped that the present volume will successfully highlight the importance of similar studies that help us assess India’s seminal role in world civilization.