Abstract:
The exploration of religion in India is as old as that country, as it has been depicted in various religious texts, such as the Upanishads, the Vedas, the Manusmritis, the Sutras and the Epics. During various social developments through several centuries the importance of religion as a key social institution was widely understood but more recently a host of scientific advances have impeded its prominence. This notwithstanding, the impact of the 9/11 attacks, the Taj massacre in Mumbai, the Babri Masjid demolition, the Khagragarh issue in Bengal have created a new awareness of the importance of religion among people in India and around the world. This awareness has brought to limelight the importance of the the academic study of religion, which studies among other areas the risk of shattering of communal unity and solidarity, the phenomenon of provoking/entertaining fundamentalism, etc. – phenomena that could be destructive for mankind and were least anticipated by mainstream sociologists. Thus, considering the significance of this field for academic studies and its prime value in societal life, an initiative has been undertaken by the presenter to promote the study of religions in all its multifarious dimensions at Jadavpur University in Kolkata.
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