The International Centre for Civilizational Studies “Manas and Mahabharata” was recently inaugurated in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to strengthen the historical, cultural and strategic ties between India and Kyrgyzstan.
The initiative brought together government representatives, academic institutions and cultural organisations to promote cooperation in civilizational studies and cultural diplomacy.
A major highlight of the event was the release of the first-ever Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz national epic Manas, marking a significant milestone in India–Kyrgyz cultural engagement.
The Centre has been established by Kyrgyzstan’s Manas National Academy in collaboration with the New Delhi-based Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR).
It aims to institutionalise research on the shared civilisational traditions of India and Kyrgyzstan, with a special focus on the Mahabharata and the Kyrgyz national epic Manas.
The inauguration also witnessed the signing of trilateral cooperation agreements between the Manas National Academy, CSIR, and seven leading universities of Kyrgyzstan.
These agreements seek to expand academic collaboration in the fields of civilizational studies, history, culture and humanitarian diplomacy.
The Hindi translation of the epic Manas has been prepared by noted scholars Prof. Hem Chandra Pande and Prof. Ramakant Dwivedi.
The translation is based on the Russian poetic rendition by renowned Kyrgyz writer Mar Baizhiev and includes all three parts of the epic—Manas, Semetey and Seitek.
The initiative is expected to deepen people-to-people ties, promote cultural exchange, and strengthen the long-standing civilizational relationship between India and Central Asia.
Source: News18
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