The India Centre

20/01/2026

Join Dr. Jatin Mohan, Assistant Professor at IILM University, Gurugram for an insightful session hosted by FLAME University’s India Centre.

Titled “The In-Between Notes: Understanding the Subtle Sounds of Hindustani Classical Music,” the session explores how delicate movements within swaras animate musical phrases, shape emotional expression, and create a distinctive aesthetic atmosphere. Rather than approaching microtonality through mathematical frameworks, Dr. Mohan examines it through musical performance and the lived practice of Raags.

Drawing on illustrative examples from Raags such as Yaman, Bhairav, Multani, Miyan-ki-Todi, and Marwa, the session demonstrates how subtle variations, ornamentations, and melodic curves define a Raag’s unique personality—its swarup. These “in-between notes” are so integral that even minor alterations can fundamentally transform a Raag’s character.

This engaging talk offers an accessible introduction to the nuance, creativity, and sonic richness that characterize Hindustani classical music.

January 28, 2026 | 11 AM IST
Join via Zoom: https://flameuniversity.zoom.us/j/91243941412
Passcode: 829298

26/12/2025

Learn from India, Celebrate India with our latest edition of The India Centre newsletter

10/09/2025

🌸 Exciting news! 🌸 My two free online courses are now live on UGC’s SWAYAM portal:
✨ Jainism: History, Philosophy & Practices
✨ Asian Religions: Hinduism (India), Buddhism (India, China, Japan), Jainism (India), Daoism (China), Confucianism (China) & Shinto (Japan)
These courses are designed to make ancient wisdom and living traditions accessible to everyone, whether you are a student, researcher, or simply curious about the rich spiritual heritage of Asia. Both courses are open to everyone — students, teachers, or anyone curious about Asia’s spiritual traditions. 🌏🙏

👉 Enroll here: https://indiacentre.flame.edu.in/e-courses/

Introduction to Jainism By Prof. Pankaj Jain | FLAME University, Pune Join Asian Religions By Prof. Pankaj Jain | FLAME University, Pune Join

22/11/2024

Join Prof. Mrinal Kaul, Assistant Professor of Indian Philosophy, IIT-Bombay, as he delves into Abhinavagupta’s revolutionary concept of ‘absolute non-duality’ (paramādvaita)—a principle that harmonizes the seemingly opposing ideas of duality and non-duality. Discover how this unified meta-category of non-dual consciousness bridges binaries, emphasizing inclusivism and pluralistic forms of singular consciousness.

Explore connections to modern ideas like pluralistic non-dualism and subjective pluralism, and uncover the relevance of Abhinavagupta’s philosophy in today’s world.

FLAME University

18/11/2024

"Congratulations to Prof. Pankaj Jain, Faculty of Philosophy and Religious Studies and Director of the India Centre at FLAME University, on the successful publication of his edited volume, 'Visual Anthropology of Indian Films: Religious Communities and Cultural Traditions in Bollywood and Beyond.'
This insightful book provides a unique insider's perspective on Bollywood, the world’s largest film industry, and challenges common perceptions about Indian cinema. It discusses renowned filmmakers such as Raj Kapoor and Satyajit Ray while presenting a fresh view of hidden gems. The chapters engage with critical themes, including Indian feminism, environmental issues, and the portrayal of religious communities.
Prof. Jain’s work delves deeply into how Bollywood and regional films reflect and shape cultural traditions and religious identities in India, offering pioneering analyses that bridge popular and serious cinema.
We commend Prof. Jain for his hard work and wish him continued success in his academic endeavors!" https://www.routledge.com/Visua.../Jain/p/book/9781032778280

27/10/2024

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220726-how-religious-worship-is-boosting-conservation-in-india

Religious practices have preserved an estimated 100,000-150,000 sacred groves across India, ensuring they remain biodiverse habitats home to an array of endangered species.

15/10/2024

28th Webinar by The India Centre Join us for an insightful India Series webinar Shonaleeka Kaul, Professor at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, presents "In Defence of Sanskrit: The Many Voices and Visions of a Literature" on October 21 at 3 PM IST. Prof. Kaul will challenge misconceptions that associate Sanskrit with narrow obscurantism, highlighting its vast and varied literary repertoire that encompasses virtually all knowledge systems and a multiplicity of voices and visions. She will interrogate modern scholarship's tendency to label Sanskrit as elitist and rarefied, moving towards a greater appreciation of its reach and relevance in early India.

Don’t miss this opportunity to delve into the richness of Sanskrit literature and its significant impact on India's cultural heritage.

Zoom link: https://flameuniversity.zoom.us/j/94362643971
Passcode: 403975

19/09/2024

Join us for an insightful India Series webinar featuring Dr. Bhaskar Kamble, Data Scientist at SEnerCon GmbH, Berlin as he delves into the "Historiography of the Shulba Sutras".

Dr. Kamble will explore the historical treatment of the Shulba Sutras, ancient Indian texts on geometry, and how key figures like Otto Neugebauer and Moritz Cantor influenced their narrative in the Western world.

Don’t miss this fascinating dive into the legacy of these important mathematical texts and their overlooked contributions.

Zoom link: https://lnkd.in/di5AGjiK
Passcode: 940989

26/06/2024

Follow my Spotify podcast for the series on the Bhagavad Gita and other Indology-based topics:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/profpankajjain/episodes/Bhagavad-Gitas-Chapter-1-Arjun-Vishad-Yoga-A-Philological--Philosophical-Analysis-e2kqe3i

The pursuit of wisdom is never-ending. Researchers and scholars have provided their takes on the Bhagavad Gītā for thousands of years. Professor Pankaj Jain is an integral part of this long list of academically and culturally gifted individuals who have shared the knowledge dispersed through the Bhagavad Gītā so that laypeople can understand them. Professor Pankaj Jain is bringing you a weekly linguistic and philosophical analysis aimed at making you better understand and appreciate the nuances of one of the most revered Hindu texts.

Tune in for a new episode of this philological and philosophical analysis of the Bhagavad Gītā.

Texts referenced in the series:

1. Gītā Rahasya by Lokmanya Tilak

2. Gītā Discourses by Osho

3. Gītā Discourses by Rev. Athavale Dadaji

4. Gītā interpretation by Mahatma Gandhi

5. Gītā commentary by Adi Shankaracharya

6. Sargeant Winthrop and Christopher Key Chapple. The Bhagavad Gītā. State University of New York Press 2009.

7. Goldman Robert P and Sally J Sutherland. Devavāṇīpraveśikā : An Introduction to the Sanskrit Language. 3rd ed. Center for South Asia Studies University of California: 1999.

8. The Bhagavad Gītā - Selected Shlokas set to Music (2-CD Set), sung by Ravindra Sathe and team, music by Vanraj Bhatia, album by Music Today, 2009.

The pursuit of wisdom is never-ending. Researchers and scholars have provided their takes on the Bhagavad Gītā for thousands of years. Professor Pankaj Jain is an integral part of this long list of academically and culturally gifted individuals who have shared the knowledge dispersed through the B...