The 19th World Sanskrit Conference (WSC), a prestigious international event dedicated to Sanskrit language, literature, philosophy, and related disciplines, was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from June 26 to 30, 2025. This global forum brought together scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts from around the world, fostering vibrant academic exchange and cultural celebration.
This edition of the conference featured a rich program of keynote lectures, panel discussions, and scholarly presentations, offering participants the opportunity to engage with leading voices in the field and explore diverse perspectives on Sanskrit studies. Delegates from over 50 countries participated, with approximately 1,200 attendees present. Selected scholars presented their research papers, contributing to the depth and diversity of the discussions. The galaxy of Keynote speakers included Prof. Mei Yang, Queli Academy, China, Prof. Sthaneshwar Timalsina, San Diego State University, USA, Prof. McComas Taylor, Australian National University, Australia, Prof. M.P. Pokhrel, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, Prof. Luigi Miraglia, Accademia Vivarium Novum, Italy, Prof. Bell Mak, Needham Research Institute, UK, Prof. Amba Kulkarni, University of Hyderabad, India and Prof. F.M.N. Pathak, SLBS National Sanskrit University, India.
The Special Panels included Atharvaveda Studies: Featuring M. Benedetti, Beatrice Grieco, K. de Joseph, Oliver Hellwig, and P. Widmer and Sanskrit and Computational Linguistics: With contributions from Ganesh P.K.S., Stemit Saxena, Madan Mohan Thapa, Anketa Bhargava, Yuzukė Trukegoshi, among others.
Dr. Biraj Krushna Mishra, Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Sanskrit at KISS Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, presented a paper titled:“Vedantic Model of Consciousness as Reflected in the Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad: A Study”. His paper was selected for presentation in the Veda Panel, where he was formally certified and honored by the panel chairperson for his scholarly contribution.
