The 32nd Session of the Indian Art History Congress (IAHC) will be held from February 8 to 10, 2025, at the Indian Institute of Heritage, Noida. Organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Culture, the conference will focus on the theme “Rendering of Indian Epics in Art and Culture”, exploring artistic interpretations of India’s ancient epics across various mediums.
Conference Highlights
The Indian Art History Congress, headquartered in Guwahati, is a leading institution for the study and preservation of Indian art heritage. The upcoming session in Noida will serve as a significant platform to discuss the visual, oral, and textual representations of Indian epics and their enduring influence across historical and contemporary artistic expressions.
The conference will be inaugurated by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Tourism and Chancellor, Indian Institute of Heritage. Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Member of Parliament and Former Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture, will attend as the Guest of Honour.
Significance of Indian Epics in Art and Culture
The Rāmāyana and the Mahābhārata, India’s most revered epics, have shaped the nation’s cultural fabric for centuries. Their numerous regional adaptations and interpretations have enriched India’s artistic traditions, reinforcing moral, spiritual, and aesthetic values across communities.
According to Prof. (Dr.) B. R. Mani, Vice Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Heritage, these epics serve as universal guides on dharma, influencing people in India and beyond. Prof. (Dr.) Maruti Nandan Prasad Tiwari, Chairman, IAHC, and Prof. D. S. Somashekhar, General Secretary, IAHC, emphasized the Congress’s commitment to art preservation, research, and education, continuing the legacy of eminent scholars such as Prof. K. D. Bajpai and Dr. R. D. Choudhury.
Interdisciplinary Scholarly Engagement
The conference has received over 200 abstract submissions, highlighting diverse academic inquiries spanning mythology, history, aesthetics, statehood, identity, cultural exchanges, diplomacy, modernist reinterpretations, and regional influences. Researchers from fields including art history, archaeology, epigraphy, numismatics, and ancient Indian history will contribute to interdisciplinary dialogues on the epics’ representation in Indian art and culture.
The Indian Institute of Heritage is proud to collaborate with the Indian Art History Congress in hosting this landmark conference, fostering a deeper understanding of India’s rich artistic traditions and their evolving interpretations.
For more information, contact: pibculture@gmail.com
