India-Kyrgyzstan tie-up to study shared epic heritage

NEW DELHI: The Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR), New Delhi, in collaboration with the Manas National Academy, has established the International Centre for Civilizational Studies “Manas and Mahabharata” in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, marking a new academic and cultural bridge between India and Central Asia.The centre was inaugurated during the July 4-7 visit of an Indian delegation to Kyrgyzstan. The ceremony also saw the release of the first Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic Manas, one of the country’s most important cultural texts.Trilateral cooperation agreements were signed between the Manas National Academy, CSIR and seven leading universities of Kyrgyzstan, including KNU, BSU, AUCA and Ala-Too. The centre is expected to focus on comparative civilisational studies, epic traditions of the Mahabharata and Manas, shared cultural heritage, humanitarian diplomacy and training of young researchers.RSS national executive member and media head Sunil Ambekar, who attended as chief guest, said India and Kyrgyzstan shared long-standing cultural relations rooted in common human values. He said the Mahabharata had deeply influenced Indian civilisation, while Manas had shaped Kyrgyz cultural consciousness for centuries.CSIR honorary director Dr Punit Gaur said the centre would promote scientific, educational and cultural cooperation between the two countries and was aligned with India’s wider civilisational dialogue outreach across Eurasia.The Indian delegation included scholars Hem Chandra Pande and Ramakant Dwivedi, who translated Manas into Hindi. The delegation also held meetings with senior Kyrgyz officials and visited key cultural sites in Bishkek.