The Assam Royal Global University (RGU) celebrated the beginning of the Hindu Lunar New Year on Thursday with a thought-provoking discourse on “The Concept of Time,” beautifully highlighting the harmony between science and culture while emphasising India’s rich astronomical heritage.
The event featured a special address by eminent astrophysicist Dr. Kishor Kumar Baruah, former in-charge of the Tezpur University Observatory, Department of Physics, Tezpur University. Organised by the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems and the Department of Physics, in association with the IQAC, the programme was graced by RGU Vice Chancellor Prof AK Buragohain, apart from other dignitaries and students.
Delivering his address, Dr. Baruah elaborated on the astronomical significance of this time of the year. He noted that March 19 falls very close to the Vernal Equinox—a major celestial event when the Sun is positioned directly above the equator, resulting in nearly equal durations of day and night across the globe.
Highlighting on the concept of time in different religions and cultures, he said that ancient cultures such as Incan, Mayan, Hopi, Native American Tribes, Babylonians, Ancient Greeks and the Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and others have a concept of a wheel of time.
“The Vedas, the earliest texts on Indian philosophy and Hindu philosophy, describe ancient Hindu cosmology, in which the universe goes through repeated cycles of creation, destruction and rebirth”, he added.
Dr. Baruah said that such observances are not merely cultural traditions but are deeply rooted in precise astronomical observations made by ancient Indian scholars, reflecting the scientific temper embedded in India’s traditional knowledge systems.
Earlier, welcoming the distinguished guest and the gathering, Prof. Aniruddha Chatterjee, Dean of the Royal School of Applied and Pure Sciences, remarked that Assam’s historical identity as Pragjyotishpur reflects a long-standing tradition of advanced understanding of celestial phenomena.
“Carrying forward this rich legacy, RGU places strong emphasis on integrating Indian Traditional Knowledge Systems with modern scientific approaches, fostering a culture where ancient wisdom and contemporary science complement each other,” he stated.
