Prof. Dr Shashi Bala : A renowned Delhi-based Indologist, promoting ancient Indian culture through various platforms

Prof. Dr Shashi Bala, renowned Indologist (Scholar of Indian Studies), Dean of K.M. Munshi Centre for Indology under Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and on Chair- Acharya Raghuvira at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi, has been actively promoting Indian culture and ancient Indian sciences through multiple platforms. Here’s a brief overview of her vast body of work and contributions.

Special Column

The sacrifice by the soldiers and generals for the Hindavi Swarajya as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is supreme. Similarly, in the present times, many devout Hindus and patriotic citizens of this country have been striving to protect the Nation and Dharma. The ‘Warriors of Hindutva’ is a series of articles that sheds light on their life and their struggle to protect Hindu Dharma. We hope that it serves as a catalyst for the mission of establishing Hindu Rashtra and inspires many others. – Editor

1. Positions held by Prof. Dr Shashi Bala

A. Member, International Advisory Committee of C20 / G20 (G20 comprises 19 countries and the European Union’s 27 nations, represented by finance ministers and central bank governors)

B. Editor, Raghuvira’s 9-Volume English-Sanskrit Dictionary

C. Former Member – Mission High Level Committee, Indian Knowledge Systems, Ministry of Education

D. Member, Society of Makayas, Kolkata

E. President – International Council of Cultural Studies, India

F. Executive Member at the International Academy of Indian Culture, New Delhi – founded by Late Prof Raghu Vira and directed by Prof Lokesh Chandra

G. Advisor, Bharatiya Sanskriti Vaishvik Nyas (Global Trust for Indian Culture)

H. Executive Member, Indian Education Board (for school education)

I. Member – AnusandhanPrakoshtha, BharatiyaShikshan Mandal

J. Founding member – International Buddhist Confederation and various other institutions

K. Former Visiting Professor, National Museum Institute

L. Guest Professor at University of Bristol, UK; Ural Federal University, Russia; and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi

2. Contributions by Prof. Dr Shashi Bala

A. She has worked to highlight India’s cultural contributions at the global level, promoted Sanskrit from a global perspective, and strengthened cultural ties across political boundaries through Indian art history and Buddhism.

B. She taught ‘History of Japanese Art and Southeast Asian Art’ for fifteen years at the National Museum Institute, a deemed University, New Delhi.

C. Dr Shashi Bala has authored 25 books and published 110 research papers on diverse subjects. She organises conferences and exhibitions, documents Indian cultural artifacts abroad, travels extensively to spread Hindu culture, drafts and presents academic syllabi, and gives interviews on television. She has designed courses for Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on topics such as ‘Integrated Science and Indian Knowledge Traditions’ in Sanskrit, which have been approved by AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education).

3. Honours and Awards

Dr Shashi Bala has received numerous national and international awards and honours. She was awarded ‘The Order of the Polar Star’, Mongolia’s highest civilian award, by the President of Mongolia.