Who are Arvind Sharma and Ramesh Rao? Indian-origin scholars to be honoured with prestigious INDICA award on Guru Purnima
By recognising these thought leaders, INDICA upholds the spirit of Guru Purnima, a day dedicated to showing reverence toward spiritual and academic mentors. This recognition highlights not only the scholars' individual achievements but also the continuing relevance of the Guru-Shishya Parampara in today's global intellectual landscape.
Arvind Sharma: From IAS officer to Padma Shri-winning scholar of religious studies
Arvind Sharma, currently the Birks Professor of Comparative Religion at McGill University, is internationally acclaimed for his contributions to religious scholarship and interfaith dialogue.
Born in Varanasi, Sharma began his academic journey with a B.A. in History, Economics, and Sanskrit from Allahabad University, followed by an M.A. in Economics from Syracuse University. He later transitioned into religious studies, earning an M.T.S.
and Ph.D. in Sanskrit and Indian Studies from Harvard University.
Before his academic career, Sharma served in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), eventually moving into teaching roles across India, Australia, and the US, before joining McGill in 1987.
He has authored over fifty books and five hundred academic articles, with notable works like The Hindu Gita and The Experiential Dimension of Advaita Vedanta. Sharma is also known for his role in organizing three global conferences on 'World's Religions After September 11,' which culminated in the creation of a Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the World's Religions.
In recognition of his profound impact on the field, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2025 by the Government of India.
Ramesh Rao: Scholar, author, and cultural Commentator bridging dharmic thought with modern media
Ramesh Rao is a communication scholar and cultural commentator whose work brings Dharmic perspectives into contemporary discourse on media, politics, and society. Since 1987, he has taught in the US, currently serving as a professor at Columbus State University. Prior to his academic career, Rao worked in India as a banker, teacher, and copy editor. He holds a B.A. from Bangalore University, a Diploma in Journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, an M.S.
in Mass Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Ph.D. in Communication from Michigan State University.
Rao is the author of several books including Communicating Across Boundaries: The Indian Way and Coalition Conundrum, and has contributed over fifty scholarly articles and more than a hundred op-eds in outlets such as The Washington Post and The Guardian. His work critically examines the portrayal of Hinduism in global media and defends nuanced understandings of Indian society.
As editor of India Facts, Rao has been instrumental in promoting Dharmic culture and challenging misrepresentations of Hindu traditions.
He will be honoured by INDICA on September 6, 2025, at the Abhyudaya Retreat Center in Willowbrook, Illinois.
Grateful2Gurus: Honouring the eternal bond of knowledge
Launched in 2016, INDICA's Grateful2Gurus program has so far recognized over 130 scholars worldwide, including leading thinkers like David Frawley and Subhash Kak.
The initiative serves as a contemporary expression of Guru Dakshina, a way for the community to acknowledge the wisdom and dedication of those who preserve the teachings of Dharma for future generations.
'INDICA felicitates Dharmic scholars to recognize and publicize their works within the Dharmic communities,' said Nishant Limbachia, INDICA's national coordinator. 'It is a sort of Guru Dakshina from the community as appreciation of their scholarly work in support of Dharma.'
'At INDICA, honouring Gurus is not merely tradition; it is a heartfelt offering to the Parampara itself,' added Ramsundar Lakshaminarayanan, co-national coordinator.
As INDICA prepares to honour Arvind Sharma and Ramesh Rao this Guru Purnima, the occasion stands as a powerful reminder of the enduring role of teachers, scholars, and cultural stewards in shaping the spiritual and intellectual legacy of Indian civilization.
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