Nalanda Diary
Quarterly Newsletter of Nalanda University, Bihar, India
School of Historical Studies
School of Historical Studies
The School of Historical Studies continues to lead in advancing academic excellence, with its faculty and researchers making substantial contributions to diverse scholarly discourses.
Prof Abhay Kumar Singh
Dean& Professor | SHS
- Participated and presented in the international symposium on “Diplomacy and Buddha’s Teachings: A Path to Global Peace and Sustainable Development” held on July 27-28, 2025, at Lumbini Buddhist University in Lumbini, Nepal.
- Invited as Co-Chair, Textbook Development Team (Social Sciences) by the NCERT, Ministry of Education, New Delhi.
Dr. Kashshaf Ghani
Assistant Professor
Publications
- “Dramatic War, Fabulous Stories, And Legendary Kings: Persian Adaptation of Mahabharata as Razmnama” in Anirban Bhattacharjee and Dhrubajyoti Sarkar (eds.), Contemporaneity of the Mahabharata Narrative: Epic of the Moment, Routledge: Abingdon and New York, 2025.
Reviews
- Professor Brian A. Hatcher, Packard Chair of Theology at Tufts University, Massachusetts, reviewed Dr. Ghani’s monograph Sufi Rituals and Practices: Experiences from South Asia 1200-1450 (Oxford University Press, UK, 2024) for The Medieval History Journal, Sage Publishing,
- Manuscripts reviewed for South Asian Studies, Taylor and Francis, International Journal of Islam in Asia (Brill)
Dr. Elora Tribedy
Assistant Professor
Publications
Tribedy, E. (2025). Infinite compassion: The evolution of Kuan Yin as embodiment of karuṇā in Buddhist practices. In T. D. Thien & T. Nhat Tu (Eds.), Mindfulness in education for a compassionate and sustainable future, pp. 1– 18 Hong Duc Publishing House. (Book-Chapter).
Visiting Position
Dr. Elora Tribedy was a visiting fellow at the Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Institute of Archaeology, Archaeological Survey of India, Greater Noida for art and iconography in the Postgraduate Diploma in Archaeology course, engaged in taking lectures, question paper Setting and associated work; April, 2025
Invited Talks/ Conferences
Chairperson of Session, ‘Youth, Education and Dhamma’ at the 3 International Conference for Young Buddhist Scholars on ‘Wisdom Transmission in the 21 Century’, August, 2025
Associated Activities
- As part of the joint academic efforts of Nalanda University and the American Centre, U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata, Dr. Elora Tribedy organized the broadcast of the session on ‘Preserving Heritage, Designing the Future by Julie Foster’ for the students of history and archaeology of School of Historical Studies on 18 September, 2025
- As the Faculty Coordinator of Nalanda University Students’ Cultural and Film Club, ‘Abhivyakti,’ Dr. Elora Tribedy organized screening of art-films followed by coordinated discussion on 17th August, 2025 and 31st August, 2025 as well as a number of cultural events which saw large participation from Indian and International students
Dr. Garima Khansili
Post Doctoral Fellow
She was invited as a Resource Person to conduct a workshop on stone tool knapping at the PG Department of History and Archaeology, Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Odisha, introducing students to the experimental reconstruction of prehistoric technologies.
Dr. Tosabanta Padhan
Teaching Fellow
Lectures/ Workshops/ Conferences/ Seminars
- Invited as Resource Person for the National Workshop on Stone Tool Knapping: An Experiential Learning in Prehistoric Technology, organised by the Department of History and Archaeology, Fakira Mohan University, Balasore. 18th-21st July 2025.
- Padhan, T. 2025. Fort Architecture and Military Structure of Ancient Rajgir. National Seminar on Indian Warfare, Strategies and Peace through the Ages, organized by Bihar State Archives Directorate, 23–24 July 2025.
- Padhan, T. 2025. Poompuhar: A Submerged Ancient Port City on the Tamil Nadu Coast, Underwater Archaeology Training Programme, 1st to 4th July 2025 at Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology, Greater Noida.
- Speaker, East Asia Summit (EAS) 2025, Special Session, Nalanda Panel on Research Collaborations regarding Archaeological Research.
Underwater Training Programme | 1-4th July, 2025
- Under the Underwater Archaeology wing, Archaeological Survey of India, at Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology, Greater Noida.
- Trainees with ASI DG, ADG, Director, and officials from the Underwater Archaeology Branch, Archaeological Survey of India.
Glimpses from
Archaeology Programme
Dr Tosabanta Padhan presenting a paper on the Underwater Heritage of Tamilnadu coast at the Institute of Archaeology, Greater Nodia.
Visiting faculty Professor Vijay Sathe teaching methods of classifying animal fossils to 1st Semester MA Archaeology Students (2025-2027 batch) of Nalanda University.
Field Training in progress for MA Archaeology Students on Digital Archaeology on 23 August, 2025.