Three-day Fifth Eastern India Oriental Conference Concludes at Fakir Mohan University

Balasore, May 28 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty):
Fakir Mohan University, in collaboration with the Central Sanskrit University, successfully hosted the Fifth Eastern India Oriental Conference (EIOC), a prestigious triennial academic gathering celebrating classical Indian knowledge traditions. Over 200 scholars and students from Eastern and Northeastern India participated in the three-day event, engaging in profound deliberations on India's indigenous intellectual heritage.

Held every three years, the EIOC provides a crucial platform for research on the Vedas, Sanskrit literature, Indian philosophy, grammar, religion, heritage, and literary theories. This year, special attention was given to Odisha’s preserved Atharva Vedic Paippalada tradition, along with the philosophical legacy of two eminent Vaishnava thinkers from Balasore—Shridhara Swami and Baladeva Vidyabhushana.

A special session was devoted to commemorating the literary legacy of Fakir Mohan Senapati, spotlighting his unparalleled contribution to shaping and safeguarding the modern Odia language.

More than fifty research papers were presented at the conference, covering a wide range of topics including Ayurveda, linguistics, dramaturgy, and literary criticism. The conference reaffirmed its commitment to integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) within the framework of the National Education Policy 2020, with a focus on embedding traditional wisdom across all levels of education.

At the valedictory session, Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi, the Chief Guest, delivered an insightful address on the enduring values of Sanskrit and the Vedas, emphasizing their relevance in contemporary scientific discourse.

Distinguished personalities present included Prof. Harekrushna Mishra (Conference Convenor), Dr. Nibedita Pati (EIOC Publication Secretary), Prof. Brajakishore Swain (EIOC Vice-President), and Prof. Prafulla Kumar Mishra (EIOC President). They extended their gratitude to Fakir Mohan University for its effective hosting of the event.

Dr. Debashish Mishra delivered the vote of thanks.
Key resolutions from the conference included:

Institutional inclusion of Sanskrit as a foundational element of Indian Knowledge Systems.

Advocacy for national and state-level policy formulation to promote IKS-based education accessible at all levels.

Preservation and translation of the Paippalada Samhita to safeguard Odisha’s Vedic identity.

Publication and academic integration of works by Shridhara Swami and Baladeva Vidyabhushana.

Special Academic Proposals:
The EIOC placed formal requests before the state and central governments to establish academic Chairs:

A Chair on Shridhara Swami and Baladeva Vidyabhushana at Fakir Mohan University.

A Paippalada Tradition Chair at Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanjdeo University, Baripada.

Concluding on a note of renewed inspiration, the conference reconnected the younger generation with India’s profound intellectual and spiritual currents, affirming a luminous future for its ancient wisdom traditions.