India and Kyrgyzstan Launch 'Manas and Mahabharata' Civilizational Studies Centre

India and Kyrgyzstan have jointly inaugurated the International Centre for Civilizational Studies "Manas and Mahabharata" in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to strengthen academic, cultural, and civilizational cooperation between the two countries.

The Centre has been established through a collaboration between the Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR), New Delhi, and the Manas National Academy, Kyrgyzstan.

The initiative aims to promote comparative research on the Indian epic Mahabharata and the Kyrgyz national epic Manas, while deepening people-to-people ties and cultural diplomacy. During the inauguration, the first Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic "Manas" was also released.

About the International Centre for Civilizational Studies:

Location: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Collaborating Institutions: Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR), New Delhi, and Manas National Academy, Kyrgyzstan.

Focus Areas:

Comparative study of the Mahabharata and Manas epics.

Civilizational history and cultural heritage.

Intercultural dialogue and humanitarian diplomacy.

Academic collaboration and researcher training.

About the Epic "Manas":

National epic of Kyrgyzstan and one of the world's longest oral epics.

Narrates the life and heroic deeds of Manas, the legendary founder and unifier of the Kyrgyz people.

Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Traditionally preserved through oral recitation by Manaschis (traditional epic narrators).

About the Mahabharata:

One of the two great Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana.

Traditionally attributed to Maharishi Ved Vyasa.

Contains over 100,000 verses, making it one of the world's longest epic poems.

Includes the Bhagavad Gita, a key philosophical and spiritual text of Hinduism

About Kyrgyzstan:

Capital: Bishkek.

Currency: Kyrgyzstani Som (KGS).

President: Sadyr Japarov.

Region: Central Asia.

Borders: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China.

India–Kyrgyzstan Relations: Both countries are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and cooperate in areas such as culture, education, defence, and connectivity.

Exam Focus Points:

Countries Involved: India and Kyrgyzstan.

Centre Launched: International Centre for Civilizational Studies "Manas and Mahabharata".

Location: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Indian Partner: Centre for Studies of International Relations (CSIR), New Delhi.

Kyrgyz Partner: Manas National Academy.

Major Objective: Promote comparative civilizational studies and strengthen cultural diplomacy.

Additional Achievement: First Hindi translation of the Kyrgyz epic Manas released.

UNESCO Link: Manas Epic is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.