IGNCA in collaboration with Sontheimer Cultural Association, Pune and South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Germany held a Symposium in memory of G.D. Sontheimer (1934-1992). Sontheimer, a multi-disciplinary scholar whose mind was deeply rooted in the Indian tradition, had a rare capacity to co-relate classical (Sanskrit) scholarship with the experience and knowledge of folk religion and culture. He has worked extensively on pastoral, folk and tribal traditions of India with special emphasis on the Maharashtra region.

The Symposium worked towards an integrated view of Indian culture, especially around Sontheimer’s work and vision. The first few sessions held in Pune emphasized Sontheimer’s main regional orientation, that is, Maharashtra. In Delhi the discussions assumed an extraordinary character, taking into view the comparative and contrastive studies. The main contribution of the symposium lay in the critical examination of Sontheimer’s Five Components of Hinduism and their interpretations. This was indeed a departure from the traditional Indologist’s method and approach insofar as the folk aspect was demonstrated as an entry point in the study of Hinduism.

Among the eminent scholars who participated in the four-day long symposium was Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, Prof. Romilla Thapar, Dr. Lothar Lutze of south Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, Shri Dilip Chitre of Sontheimer Cultural Association, Pune, Dr. H. Kutke, Dr. T.S. Maxwell, Dr. S.C. Malik and Prof. D. Conrad and Dr. Kulke discussed the phenomena of oVana and Kshetra in a comparative study of the integrative role of the temple cities of Puri and Chidambaram, while Prof. B.N. Saraswati talked about the Cosmic panorama of Kashikhetra. Dr. Aditya Malik dwelt on the nature of Hinduism from the perspective of the oral epic of Devnarayan in Rajasthan, and E. Schombucher reflected on Sontheimer’s view of five components in the light of the religious practice of a South Indian fishing community. In short, the Symposium generated interactions among the scholars in methodological and academic approaches towards the understanding of folk religion and culture.

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