Pavan K. Varma presents the first copy of ‘Adi Shankaracharya’ to President Ram Nath Kovind

Team Udayavani, Apr 25, 2018, 12:27 PM IST

National: On Saturday, the 21 April,  on the birth anniversary of the 8th century seer-philosopher, Adi Shankaracharya, former diplomat, Rajya Sabha MP and author, Pavan K.Varma presented the first copy of  his latest book, ‘Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker’ to President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Also in attendance were the senior leader of the BJP, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and D.P. Tripathi of the NCP. During the ceremony, all speakers, including President Kovind spoke about the sheer brilliance of Adi Shankara and the timely release of the book, as a work of great importance. 

The book is a well-researched account of the life and times of the child-saint Adi Shankaracharya, who travelled across India to set up of monasteries or mathas, even while giving a form and structure to Hinduism. The book includes a select anthology of Shankaracharya’s seminal writing; and most importantly, examines the startling endorsement that contemporary science is giving to his ideas today. It reminds readers about the remarkable philosophical underpinning of Hinduism, making it one of the most vibrant religions in the world. 

Speaking about his meeting with the President, Pavan K Varma said, “I am deeply honoured to present the first copy of my book ‘Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker’ (Westland) to Hon’ble President, on the Jagad Guru’s birth anniversary. The President spoke eloquently, as did Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, and Shri D.P Tripathi.”

Speaking of the book ‘Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker’, President Ram Nath Kovind said, “Adi Shankaracharya’s imprint is still apparent in contemporary India. He remains among the most influential personalities in our history. I am glad Shri Varma has found time to write such a book. When political functionaries undertake such activities, it raises calibre and quality of public debate. I urge political friends to undertake their intellectual pursuits at all times and not just on prime time.”

About Book: Jagad Guru Adi Shankaracharya (788–820 CE) was born in Kerala and died in Kedarnath, traversing the length of India in his search for the ultimate truth. In a short life of thirty-two years, Shankaracharya not only revived Hinduism but also created the organisational structure for its perpetuation through the mathas he established in Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri and Joshimatha.

Written by noted writer-diplomat Pavan K. Varma, Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism’s Greatest Thinker chronicles the journey of a seer who gave Hinduism a definite form, and also propounded the Advaita philosophy. Most importantly, Adi Shankara’s sheer audacity and thought in establishing significant scientific principles, which even modern science endorsed centuries later, is magnificently documented by the author.

Highly readable, including a select anthology of Shankaracharya’s seminal writing, this book is a must-read for people across the ideological spectrum. The reason is that it reminds readers for the first time ever what truly is the remarkable philosophical underpinning of Hinduism, making it one of the most vibrant religions in the world.

About Pavan K Varma: Pavan K. Varma is a writer-diplomat and now in politics, where he was till recently an MP in the Rajya Sabha, and earlier Advisor to the Chief Minister of Bihar. Author of over a dozen bestselling books including, Ghalib: The Man, The Times; The Great Indian Middle Class; The Book of Krishna; Being Indian; Becoming Indian; and Chanakya’s New Manifesto, he has been Ambassador in several countries, Director of The Nehru Centre in London, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, and Press Secretary to the President of India.

Pavan K. Varma was conferred an Honorary Doctoral Degree for his contribution to the fields of diplomacy, literature, culture and aesthetics by the University of Indianapolis in 2005. He lives in Delhi.