About the Centre for Ancient History and Culture (CAHC)

The Centre for Ancient History and Culture (CAHC) at Jain University is a premier research institution dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of India’s ancient cultural and intellectual heritage. Established in 2011, CAHC has been recognized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, as an Indian Knowledge System (IKS) center following a competitive national evaluation.

IKS Certificate

Mission

CAHC addresses the significant gap in Indian historical scholarship by presenting ancient Indian history in an objective fashion, avoiding ideological extremes. Our mission is to conduct primary research that:

  • Chronicles cultural, scientific, and social intellectual traditions beyond political history
  • Presents ancient history free from Eurocentric viewpoints
  • Connects modern education with intellectual traditions rooted in ancient India
  • Preserves and studies unpublished manuscripts and ancient texts

Research Areas

Our center specializes in several interconnected fields:

  • Intellectual History - Tracing the development of ideas and knowledge systems
  • Cultural History - Understanding societal practices and cultural evolution
  • Pre-Siddhantic and Siddhantic Astronomy - Ancient Indian astronomical sciences
  • Shilpashastra - Traditional architecture and engineering texts
  • Sanskrit Literature, Poetry and Poetics - Classical Sanskrit literary traditions, kāvya, and alaṃkāraśāstra
  • History of Music - Ancient musical traditions and theory
  • Manuscriptology - Study and preservation of ancient manuscripts

Publications & Impact

CAHC actively disseminates research through:

  • Academic papers published in peer-reviewed journals
  • Scholarly books on ancient sciences and culture
  • International conferences and workshops
  • Educational outreach programs

Leadership

The center is directed by Dr. Shankar Rajaraman, a Sanskrit poet, scholar of Indian Knowledge Systems, and researcher in Sanskrit poetics and psychology of emotions. He received the Maharṣi Bādarāyaṇa Vyāsa Sammān from the President of India for his contributions to Sanskrit language and literature.

The center was founded and continues to be guided by Prof. R. N. Iyengar (Distinguished Professor and Mentor of CAHC), a renowned scholar in ancient Indian sciences and history of astronomy, whose research has significantly contributed to understanding India’s scientific and cultural heritage.

Contact Information

For research collaborations, manuscript access, or academic inquiries:

Address:
Centre for Ancient History and Culture
319, 25th Main, KR Layout
JP Nagar 6th Phase
Bengaluru - 560078

Contact:
Tel: +91 80 43430400 extn 237
Email: rn.iyengar@jainuniversity.ac.in