Collaborative Milestone: The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda Signs MOU with Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Dr.) Vijay Kumar Srivastava, and Professor (Dr.) Dhanesh Patel, Director of the Office of International Affairs, from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, embarked on a visit to the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS) at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. This visit, part of their trip to the United Kingdom, aimed to foster collaborations and exchange knowledge in the field of Hindu Studies.

During their visit on May 9, 2023, the Office of International Affairs at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. The primary focus of the MOU revolves around Hindu Studies, while also encompassing areas of shared interest between the institutions.

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS) stands as an esteemed academy dedicated to the comprehensive study of Hindu cultures, societies, philosophies, religions, and languages throughout history and across the globe. Committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and excellence, OCHS aims to preserve the cultural heritage of India and Nepal. Through a multifaceted approach encompassing education, publishing, and research, OCHS strives to promote a better understanding of Hinduism.

The MOU signing ceremony brought together Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) V. K. Srivastava from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and Shaunaka Rishi Das, the Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, representing OCHS. Shaunaka Rishi Das has been serving as the Director of OCHS since its establishment in 1997. In addition to his role as a lecturer and broadcaster, he holds the position of Hindu Chaplain to Oxford University. Shaunaka Rishi Das’s areas of interest encompass education, comparative theology, communication, and leadership. He has also served as a member of The Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life, which was convened in 2013 by the Woolf Institute, Cambridge. In recognition of his expertise, the Indian government appointed him to sit on the International Advisory Council of the Auroville Foundation in 2013.

Dr. Bjarne Wernicke-Olesen, a Research Lecturer at the centre, and tutor in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sanskrit at the Faculty of Theology and Religion at Oxford University, plays a crucial role in fostering academic pursuits. He conducts courses, seminars, and tutorials covering subjects such as Sanskrit, Pāli, Indian religions, manuscript reading, and theory and method in the Study of Religion. Dr. Rembert, the Librarian and Fellow at OCHS, also serves as an Associate Faculty Member at the Theology and Religion Faculty at Oxford University. He holds the position of an editor for the Journal of Hindu Studies, published by Oxford University Press. Both Dr. Rembert Lutjeharms and Dr. Bjarne Wernicke-Olesen were present during the MOU signing ceremony, representing OCHS.

From The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Prof. (Dr.) Dhanesh Patel, the Director of the Office of International Affairs, attended the event, further solidifying the collaboration between the two institutions.

Institutional Cooperation Explored in Various Fields of Study

Both institutions have mutually agreed to explore cooperation opportunities in the following areas:

• Exchange of information in fields of mutual interest
• Joint research activities
• Invitations to scholars for lectures, talks, and experience sharing
• Participation of scholars in conferences, colloquia, and symposia
• Exchange of faculty members, postgraduate, and undergraduate students for study and research.

Before the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the team from MSU visited the Library of OCHS and engaged with staff and student members, fostering a productive interaction between the institutions.