India–Kyrgyzstan Tie-up to Study Shared Epic Heritage:
India and Kyrgyzstan have jointly established the International Centre for Civilizational Studies “Manas and Mahabharata” in Bishkek to promote comparative research on the two civilizations’ epic traditions and shared cultural heritage.
- Aim is to strengthen India–Kyrgyzstan cultural diplomacy through collaborative research, academic exchanges, civilizational studies, and preservation of shared literary and historical traditions.
Key Features:
- International Centre in Bishkek: Established jointly by the Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR), New Delhi, and the Manas National Academy as a permanent platform for civilizational research.
- Comparative Epic Studies: The centre will undertake research on the Mahabharata and the Manas Epic, exploring shared cultural values, history, literature, and philosophical traditions.
- Academic Collaboration: Cooperation agreements were signed with seven leading Kyrgyz universities to promote joint research, faculty exchange, publications, and researcher training.
- Hindi Translation of Manas: The initiative witnessed the release of the first Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic Manas, improving literary exchange and public accessibility.
