Hainan University (HNU) held its 7th Luminaries Lecture in Humanities & Social Sciences in the auditorium of the Tin Ka Ping Building on the afternoon of October 28. The featured speaker was Prof. Bali Ram Deepak, an esteemed member of HNU’s International Advisory Board (IAB) and Director of the Center for Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. He delivered a lecture titled “Engaging with China for Forty Years: Civilizational Connections Must Pave the Way for Future Cooperation”. Vice President Chen Jun presided over the event and other senior HNU leaders were in attendance, including Gao Diangong, Li Buhong, Tan Yong, and Yang Zhixin.

Lecture venue (Photo by Wang Chaomiao)

Prof. Deepak shared his experiences in China, reflecting on the cross-cultural exchanges he encountered while studying for his Ph.D. in Peking University, and how he was inspired to explore China-India civilizational dialogue and further his research by incorporating translation as a means to study China from fresh perspectives.

Bali Ram Deepak delivering the lecture (Photo by Wang Chaomiao)

In his presentation, Prof. Deepak emphasized the importance of mutual learning in civilizational exchanges and analyzed both the challenges and opportunities in today’s global context. He explained how the cyclical flow of ideas, technology, goods, and people between China and India fostered a robust translation industry, which encompassed the translation of Buddhist texts, Indian classics, and various fields of knowledge like phonology and philosophy across various dynasties. An analysis of ancient epics and modern academic studies can show China and India have long valued cultural exchange and dialogue, first unconsciously and then purposefully and systematically. Besides, Deepak reviewed the challenges facing Indian Sinology, the cultural capital exchange between two sides, and the opportunities presented by China’s global rise.

The auditorium was fully packed and the audience was deeply engrossed. There was enthusiastic interaction in the Q&A session, with Prof. Deepak giving detailed and insightful answers to the questions concerning China-India relations and the use of AI in Sinology.

The audience interacting with Prof. Deepak (Photo by Wang Chaomiao)

Representatives of faculty members and students from all the campuses and science & education parks of HNU, as well as the heads of relevant departments, attended the event in person or virtually.

Source from HNU News

Translated by Han Yunsheng

Proofread by Kuang Xiaowen, Yang Jie