The Tran Nhan Tong Institute (Vietnam National University - VNU) recently had a meeting to discuss the prospect of promoting cooperation in science between Vietnam and India.

The working session was co-chaired by Vice Director of VNU Tran Nhan Tong Institute, Lai Quoc Khanh and President of the Scientific Council of the Centre for Indian Studies, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Le Van Toan.

Meeting overview (source: VNU)

The event brought together Indian scholars, representatives of the Centre for Indian Studies, Library-Information Center (University of Social Science and Humanity, VNU).

In the past years, the cooperation between Vietnam and India in various spheres have been widened and deepened intensively.

This progress has laid a solid foundation for Vietnamese educational institutions, including VNU's members and those in India to foster their collaboration, fully tapping onto both countries' potentials.

At the meeting, two sides were briefed on the strengths of each other, as well as cooperation prospective of Vietnam and India, in terms of joint scientific projects, students, lecturers exchange programmes, etc.

According to Vinod Annand, senior researcher at Swami Vivekananda Cultural Foundation (New Delhi), key mission of the Foundation is to conduct research on the civilization of India. He expressed his hope to work with VNU Tran Nhan Tong Institute to carry out research on the Eastern civilization and communication of religion.

Dr Sonu Trivedi speaks at the meeting. (source: VNU)

Meanwhile, Dr. Sonu Trivedi (Zakir Husain Delhi College), honored president of the Centre for Vietnam Studies showed keen interest on South East Asia study. According to Dr. Trivedi, the Centre is working on research on the influence of French and Indian culture in Vietnam and the views of Ho Chi Minh on nationalism.

According to Prof. Dr. Rajaram Panda, former senior specialist at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (New Delhi), while conducting research on Japanese study, has noticed the shared attributes of the East Asia and South East Asia culture in terms of Buddhism. On the occasion, he expressed his hope that two sides would increase exchange on the diffusion and influence of Buddhism on the political system of certain Asian countries.

Regarding prospect for students exchange, Dr. Faisal Ahmed (Jawahalal Nehru University), noted that the university possessed strengths in South East Asia and Asia Pacific studies and would love to sign Memorandum of Understandings with VNU to reinforce collaboration in these fields.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Chintamani Mahapatra, Rector of Jawahalal Nehru University expressed his wish to broadcast the views and life of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong to more people in India.

Other scholars suggested further cooperation between Vietnam and India on economics, security, defence study, maritime security.

Speaking at the event, Vice Head of VNU Tran Nhan Tong Institute, Lai Quoc Khanh said, the meeting opened lots of opportunities for two sides to reinforce cooperation. Vice President Khanh acknowledged the potentials for cooperation in Buddhism communication and research on the comparison of two countries’ culture.

According to Khanh, VNU Tran Nhan Tong Institute will hold an international conference on King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong and Truc Lam Zen Buddhism sect, in late 2018, with the participation of credible Vietnamese and Indian scholars.

King Tran Nhan Tong was born in 1258 and passed away in 1308. He was known as one of the most intelligent and humane kings in Vietnamese history. He contributed significantly to expanding the country’s territory, sweeping away riots, strengthening security in the northwestern region, and leading the resistance war against the Yuan invaders to success.

King Tran Nhan Tong founded and developed the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist sect in Vietnam, which made him the only king to be respectfully called King-Monk. Vietnamese people have set up a number of temples and statues nationwide to worship King Tran Nhan Tong and have named streets after him.

Established in 2016, the VNU Tran Nhan Tong Institute's key mission is implementing training and research activities not only on Tran Nhan Tong’s Buddhist Studies but also on the Trần dynasty, Buddhism, Vietnamese Buddhism and its impact on Vietnam’s socio-political life./.

( Translated by Phi Yen )