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On April 20th 2005, Dr. Demetrios Vassiliades, President of
the Indo-Hellenic Society for Culture and Development (ELINEPA),
submitted to the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and to the Embassy
of Greece in New Delhi, ELINEPA’s proposal on the courses and the
function of the “Demetrios Galanos” chair for Greek Studies at the
School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies,
JNU.
The
Greek Chair was established in 1998 with the financial support of the
Greek Government, after the state visit of H.E. the President of the
Hellenic Republic Mr. Constantinos Stefanopoulos to India.
However, it has not been able to function so far despite the school’s
plans to
enrich its programme by introducing progressively Greek, Hebrew and
Latin studies.
In
his letter to Dr. Karan Singh, the New Chancellor of JNU and
well known philosopher and
philhellene
scholar, Dr. Vassiliades
expressed his
confidence that he would implement, in
conformity with the inter-disciplinary ethos of JNU, a broader
academic vision by sharing full-fledged dialogues in the areas of
Classical, International and Inter-Cultural Studies.
ELINEPA’s Proposal
includes, a three-year B.A. degree course, a post-graduate diploma
course and part time certificate and diploma courses. Besides, there
are provisions for the development of research programmes, a library,
publications and grants. The
main objective of introducing Greek Studies in JNU is to enhance
comprehension of Greek language, history, culture, society and economy
among the students and scholars of the University.
The interdisciplinary syllabus focuses on six major papers: 1.
Modern Greek Language; 2. Greek History (from the earliest times up to
the present); 3. the Greek Spirit (philosophy, arts, sports, politics,
theatre and literature); 4. Relations between Indian and Greek
Languages and Ideas; 5. Greece Today (education, economy, tourism,
etc.); and 6.Greek International Relations (E.U., Balkans, Asia,
etc.).
We
do hope that the Greek Studies Programme will serve as a bridge and a
constant source of interaction for developing mutual relations between
the people of India and Greece in the near future.
With the application of the submitted proposal, The School of
Language, Literature and Culture Studies of JNU is expected to emerge
as a major centre for the teaching and research in Greek languages and
culture in South Asia. An important international input to the
School's academic and research activities could also be initiated with
the study of the relations between the languages and the ideas of the
two earliest and most significant Indo-European Civilizations.
It
is understood that many research scholars would like to join the
course in order to attain not only a higher efficiency in Greek
studies, but also a wider understanding of Indian culture
within the framework of the comparative socio-historical contexts and
conditions.
In a parallel
development, ELINEPA has submitted an application to the Greek
Ministry of Education and to the Chancellor of the University of
Athens, Dr. Giorgos Babiniotis, for the introduction of a
course in Indian Studies at the newly established Department of
Turkish Studies and Modern Asian Studies at the University.
The inauguration
of the Greek Chair at JNU, along with the introduction of the Indian
Studies in Athens, would be seen as a move to boost educational and
cultural relations between India and Greece -- two nations whose
cultures are among the world's oldest and longest lasting.
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