RSS Takes India’s Civilisational Outreach To Central Asia With New ‘Manas-Mahabharata’ Centre

Last Updated:July 10, 2026, 08:09 IST

The centre aims to institutionalise research on the shared civilisational traditions of India and Kyrgyzstan, with focus on the Mahabharata and the Kyrgyz national epic Manas

India has expanded its civilisational diplomacy footprint in Central Asia with the inauguration of the International Centre for Civilizational Studies “Manas and Mahabharata" in Kyrgyzstan, bringing together governments, academia and cultural institutions to strengthen historical and strategic ties. The initiative also saw the unveiling of the first-ever Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz national epic Manas, marking a new chapter in India-Kyrgyz cultural engagement.

In a significant step towards deepening India’s civilisational outreach in Central Asia, an Indian delegation led by RSS national executive member and Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh (national spokesperson) Sunil Ambekar inaugurated the International Centre for Civilizational Studies “Manas and Mahabharata" in Bishkek during a four-day visit to Kyrgyzstan from July 4 to 7. Apart from inaugurating the India-Kyrgyz civilisational centre, Ambekar also unveiled first Hindi translation of ‘Manas’ unveiled.

The centre, established by Kyrgyzstan’s Manas National Academy in collaboration with New Delhi-based Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR), aims to institutionalise research on the shared civilisational traditions of India and Kyrgyzstan, with a particular focus on the Mahabharata and the Kyrgyz national epic Manas.

The inauguration coincided with the signing of trilateral cooperation agreements between the Manas National Academy, CSIR and seven leading Kyrgyz universities, expanding academic collaboration in civilizational studies, history, culture and humanitarian diplomacy. One of the biggest highlights of the visit was the release of the first-ever Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic Manas by noted scholars Prof Hem Chandra Pande and Prof Ramakant Dwivedi. Based on the Russian poetic rendition by Kyrgyz writer Mar Baizhiev, the translation brings together all three parts of the epic—Manas, Semetey and Seitek—for Indian readers.

Addressing the gathering, Ambekar described the initiative as a historic milestone in India-Kyrgyz cultural relations, saying both civilisations are bound by shared human values reflected in their great epics. While the Mahabharata has shaped India’s civilisational consciousness for centuries, Manas occupies a similar place in the cultural memory of the Kyrgyz people, he said.

The event was attended by senior Kyrgyz government functionaries, including Deputy Minister of Science, Higher Education and Innovation Durusbek Kozuev, Deputy Minister of Culture Salkyn Sarnogoeva, senior presidential administration official Oktyabr Kapalbayev and Indian Ambassador Birender Singh Yadav. The Indian delegation also held discussions with Kapalbayev on expanding bilateral cooperation.

CSIR honorary director Dr Punit Gaur said the new institution aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Civilizational Dialogue Forum connecting Eurasian cultures. Besides comparative studies of the Mahabharata and Manas, the centre will promote academic exchanges, humanitarian diplomacy, international research collaborations and training of young scholars, positioning civilisational diplomacy as a growing pillar of India’s engagement with Central Asia.

About the Author

Madhuparna Das

Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has co...Read More

News india RSS Takes India’s Civilisational Outreach To Central Asia With New ‘Manas-Mahabharata’ Centre

Read More