There are two unique and distinguishing characteristics of Indic Culture and Civilization. First, it is the only LIVING civilization in the modern world which still has a living connection to its past, and we do not have to visit museums to get a glimpse of its past life. Howsoever broken and wounded, it still survives in the ways of worship, rituals and ceremonies in the lives of ordinary people. Second, when anyone, anywhere in the world,faces the eternal questions of life, death, meaning and purpose of existence, and wants to experience the eternal truth embodied in life and living, in most cases they choose to come to India. There are numerous instances of rich and prosperous men and women leaving everything and coming to India and settling here in their attempts to get eternal peace and joy. Francis Lucille, quoting Osho, says that wherever in the world, people sit and discuss about Truth and the means of realizing it, that place is India.

It is this search for eternal truth which inspired our ancient and modern rishis like Sri Aurobindo, Ramana Maharshi, Anandmayi Maa and Sri Ramakrishna Parahamsa.

Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi, born in Bharuch and a student of Sri Aurobindo, who established the Bhartiaya Vidya Bhavan in 1938, looked upon the Bhartiay Vidya Bhavan as an ‘Adventure in Faith’, a faith in India’s past, present and future, is our inspiration in this endeavour.

In the present turbulent times, what really matters are the spirit, willingness and confidence of our youth for building a new India. This effort not only requires a deep thinking and reflection on all matters related to life and living but it is essential that we acquire a clear overview of ourselves and of our situation in the world of today, and evolve a consensus for understanding and restructuring the Indian reality which in essence is Dharma in its triple aspects of Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram – Truth, Goodness and Beauty. It also requires an abiding faith in India’s people who have a rich and unbroken cultural heritage.

heritage.To make a small effort in this direction of understanding and interpreting the vast intellectual knowledge of our seers and sages, CHITI is functioning as an Indic Research Study Centre at the Narmada College Campus.