Pondicherry University launches PG diploma courses in rock art, Agamic studies

Pondicherry University has launched one-year PG diploma courses for rock art and Agamic studies offered by its History Department.

Launching the courses run by two newly launched research centres on these respective areas, P. Prakash Babu, Pondicherry University Vice-Chancellor, said the two centres were “unique and socially relevant in the present-day materialist world”. Admissions to the two diploma courses will commence very soon, he added.

The Center for Agamic Studies and Indian Knowledge systems aims to study the dynamic role of temple in the medieval Indian society and the role of Agamic texts in the growth and expansion of the professional arts and crafts of the lower sections of the society. The Agamic texts also help in unravelling their role as contributors to sustainable development in the medieval times which can provide lessons to learn in the implementation of SDGs in the contemporary times.

The diploma in rock art and cognitive studies is a field based discipline with the curriculum designed to provide a wide knowledge of the global as well as Indian rock art traditions. The programme will equip the students the necessary skills to get employed in eco-tourism, adventure tourism as well as making them qualified site managers of the rock art locations.

According to the Vice Chancellor, this vital pictorial evidence of the prehistoric times helps us to understand the evolution of the cognitive capabilities of the human species and their manifestation in the form of paintings and engravings. In fact, the prehistoric paintings acted as teaching aids for the adolescent hunters in understanding the behavioural patterns of the wild animals.

N. Chandramouli, Head, Department of History said idea for these centres were sown during a 2023 international seminar led by the University on tantric religion that saw enriching contributions of several Indian and foreign scholars.

Madhu Khanna, exponent of tantric studies and founding Trustee of Tantra foundation, New Delhi, conveyed her felicitation message to the University leadership. Ruman Banerjee, Assistant Professor, Department of History, said a comprehensive curriculum had been developed for the rock art diploma programme. Students would be initiated into methodologies of rock art documentation and conservation, theoretical frameworks of cognitive archaeology and cutting-edge research on the neurological underpinnings of artistic expressions. They will not only learn from leading scholars but also gain invaluable hands-on experience in the field, contributing directly to our ongoing research projects.

G. Chandhrika, Dean, School of Social Sciences & International Studies, highlighted the spiritual aspects of the Agamic temples. Kishor Kumar Tripathy, Member Secretary, Sri Aurobindo Society, expressed the SAS’s readiness to collaborate with the two research centres. Apart from Ruman Banerjee, Assistant Professor, Department of History, the heads of the departments and centres, Deans, faculty, research scholars and statutory officers participated.