Page 49 - Svetilnik_19_2018_001-120

47
Second National contributors, and added that the traditional fields
Conference “India in of interest in Bulgarian-Indian academic coopera-
tion are: nanotechnologies, physics of materials,
Bulgarian Scholarship” laser sciences, cosmic research, solar energy and
biotechnologies.
Organized by the Friends of India Club in co- In his address Mr P. Subhash Nair, Charge
operation with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences d’Affaires, Embassy of India in Sofia, underlined
(BAS), Sofia University (SU) and the Embassy of that Bulgarian and Indian scholars and researches
the Republic of India in Sofia, the Second National contribute considerably to the development of our
Conference “India in Bulgarian Scholarship” bilateral relations.
was the main event in the Friends of India Club’s Prof. Dr Maria Stoycheva, Functional Vice-rec-
programme to mark the 70th anniversary of India’s tor of SU read an address to the conference by SU’s
Independence. It was held at the main building of Rector Prof. DrHabil Anastas Gerdjikov, in which
BAS in Sofia on June 15–16th, 2017. he emphasises the significant place of Sofia Uni-
In1997 Friends of India Club initiated the first versity as a center for researching Indian languages
national conference “India in Bulgarian Scholar- and culture, and the fact that number of Bulgarian
ship”, realised along with BAS, the Centre for indologists work as respected qualified specialists
Eastern Languages and Cultures of SU and Indian in Bulgarian diplomatic missions abroad, as well as
Embassy in Sofia, at which over 50 Bulgarian in local and foreign cultural and scientific institu-
scholars from different academic institutions and tions and prestigious European and American
fields made presentations and the proceedings universities.
were published. The President of Friends of India Club Daniela
Affiliated to: SU “St. Kliment Ohridski” Kaneva expressed her hope that the academic
(Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, cooperation between Bulgaria and India would
Classical East Department, and Faculty of Slavic keep up with the most vanguard developments in
Studies), BAS (Institute of Art Studies, Institute for India and Bulgarian scholars will continue to be
Historical Studies, Institute of Electronics, Institute successful partners in it.
of Solid State Physics, Scientific Archive, and the Acad. Nikola Sabotinov rounded up the
Central Laboratory for Solar Energy and New opening of the conference with his speech “A
Energy Sources), National Academy for Theatre New Stage of the Scientific Cooperation between
and Film Arts, National Academy of Art, “St. St. Bulgaria and India”.
Cyril and Methodius” Veliko Tarnovo Univer- During the days of the conference, the “Signs
sity – Veliko Tarnovo, “Neofit Rilski” South-West on the Path” photo exhibition of Dr Plamena
University – Blagoevgrad, “D. A. Tsenov” Aca- Racheva was displayed at the lounge in front of the
demy of Economics – Svishtov, “Boris Georgiev” conference hall.
City Art Gallery – Varna, University of Montreal
– Montreal, Canada, forty-four Bulgarian resear-
chers of Indian literature, languages, philosophy,
history, culture, arts, traditional medicine as well
as scientists who have worked in joint vanguard
projects with Indian colleagues participated in the
Second National Conference “India in Bulgarian
Scholarship”.
The inauguration of the conference was chaired
by Prof. Milena Bratoeva, indologist and Head of
Classical East Department of SU.
A welcoming speech on behalf of BAS was
given by its Scientific Secretary Prof. DrHabil
Dimitar Ivanov who noted that India is one of
the fastest-growing economies and in the field
of science it is rated among the first ten biggest