Seminar with Dr. Prashant P. Dharmadhikari, Central University of Gujarat

Guru-Śiṣya Paramparā: The transformative potential of pedagogical love in fostering inclusiveness, drawing inspiration from Indian culture

My talk will focus on transformative potential of pedagogical love in fostering inclusiveness, drawing inspiration from Indian culture and tradition. It explores how ancient scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagvadgeeta emphasizes pedagogical love. The role of 'guru-shishya Parampara' i.e. (teacher-pupil relationship) is highlighted. The talk will also highlight the need of integrating traditional and modern pedagogical practices to create inclusive learning environment.

About the speaker

Dr. Prashant P. Dharmadhikari works as Assistant Professor in English at the Department of English Studies at Central University of Gujarat, Vadodara Gujarat, India. (A Central University established under the Act of Parliament and Funded by Government of India). He is a recognised research supervisor (Ph.D. Guide) of Central University of Gujarat. He teaches subjects like Literature of Neo-classical Period and Victorina Period of English Literature, Indian Knowledge System, Society and Literature. He also teaches Western Methods of Understanding Discourses at the Centre for Hindu Studies and Centre for Holistic Education and Personality Development. He is an Expert member on the Borad of Studies of Dept of Chinese Studies and Dept of German Studies. He is a Master Trainer of IKS recognised by UGC and IKS Division Govt of India.

Having Masters in English and Sanskrit to his credit, he is a creative writer, poet, and translator. He completed his Ph.D. research on the post-millennial Indian mythological fiction in English at Pune University. He is the recipients of the Prestigious “Vasudevshastri Abhyankar Award” for ranking first in M.A(Sanskrit) from Tilak Maharashtra University, Pune for the academic year 2009-10. He has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Comparative Mythology from University of Mumbai. He has also completed Intensive Certificate course in French from Ranade Institute, SPPU, Pune. He has published a variety of research papers on Indian English Literature and mythological fiction. Research Associate on the UGC sponsored Major Research Project entitled ‘The Influence of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata on Indian English Literature’ at Bharati Vidyapeeth,Pune.

He participated in Educational Visit to Oxford, Cambridge and London organised by Vidya Prasarak Mandal Thane, in 2014,2026 and 2019. He was invited by Maharashtra Mandal, London to perform a literary event on the Poetic Genius of Veer Sawarkar to mark his 136th Birth Anniversary on 28 May, 2019. He delivered a lecture on ‘Western Scholars of Upanishads’ at HSS, Edgware, London.

He gave lecture on “Japanese Haikus about India’ at Kyoto Sangyo University, Japan during Cultural Exchange Programme to Japan in September 2019. He visited Kyoto Sangyo University and Osaka University Japan. He was course instructor of Conversational English to the Students of Kyoto Sangyo Unviersity. He has edited a book entitled “Higher Education in India: Retrospect and Prospect”. His three entries on Booker Award Winning English novels have been published by Marathi Vishwakosh. He was felicitated at the hands of His Holiness Shankaracharya of Shringeri Peetham for Complete Recitation of Bhagavad-Gita with the award of Rs.21, 000 on 20th January 2008. He was interviewed by DD Sahyadri. His five speeches on Communication Skills in Dnyaneshwari were broadcasted by All India Radio, Mumbai.

He was invited by Rashtrapati Bhavan to attend Book Release Function on 14 April 2018 at Darbar Hall. The book titled “Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Vyakti Nahi Sankalp” was authored by Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and was released at the hands of Hon. President of India Shri Ramnath Kovind and Hon. Vice President of India Shri. Vainkayya Nayadu. He was invited by the Consular General of India, Brazil and The Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre, Sau Paulo, Brazil ,The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to deliver a virtual lecture on “Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj” to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the coronation of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on 6th June 2023.

He knows 7 languages (English, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, French and Urdu).