The United Service Institution of India was founded in 1870 by a soldier scholar, Colonel (later Major General) Sir Charles MacGregor. The story of its growth is the story of the growth of the Indian Armed Forces. It was founded for ‘furtherance of interest and knowledge in the art, science and literature of the Defence Services.’
Report
On 20th July 2023, the Center for Strategic Studies and Simulation (CS3), United Service Institution (USI) of India organised a Scholar’s presentation by Shri Tarun Vijay, Former Member of Parliament of India on “India-China Civilisational Connect”. He has been awarded the MEA Chair of Excellence, on the above-mentioned topic. Maj Gen RPS Bhadauria, VSM (Retd), Director CS3, delivered the Introductory Remarks. Lt Gen SL Narasimhan, PVSM, AVSM**, VSM, PhD (Retd) Former Director General CCCS, was the External Discussant. Following the session, an interactive Q&A round was held to allow the participants to further delve into the topic. Mr. Tarun Vijay dwelled upon a lot of civilisation linkages between India-China in his presentation. The concluding remarks were given by Maj Gen BK Sharma, AVSM, SM and Bar (Retd), Director General USI. The event was attended by distinguished serving and retired officers of the armed
forces.
Shri Tarun Vijay’s presentation, MEA Chair of Excellence
Key Take Aways
· Indian Influence on Chinese Mind: Shri Tarun Vijay dwelled upon how there remains a lack of acknowledgment in Chinese textbooks about the influence of Indian monks on the Chinese mindset and this reflects the view that every good influence comes from the western countries. He pointed out the significance of Kumarajiva, an Indian monk who became China's national teacher (Raj Guru).
· Indian Cultural Influence on Ancient China: The speaker discussed how even the literature of the Chinese Communist Party mentions the names of Kashyap and Matanga, showcasing the deep-rooted cultural connections between India and China. He pointed out references to China, in the Indian epic Mahabharata and drew parallels between the Hindu concept of Purusha and Prakriti and the Chinese concept of Yin and Yang.
Opening Remarks by Director CS3
· Influence of India's Music on China: Shri Tarun Vijay emphasized the significant influence of Indian music on China, with the 'Pipa' being the most important musical instrument transmitted from India. He explained the different types of 'Pipa' that became popular in China during the Han and Tang dynasties. The ?rst one was called ‘Qin Han Zi’, this has some similarity with ‘Xian Gu’, China’s original musical instrument. The other two kinds of ‘Pipa’ were ‘Qu Jing Pipa’ and ‘Wu’.
· Impact of India's Literature on China: The speaker drew parallels between Chinese literature and Indian classical literature, noting similarities in structure and content. He highlighted how the introduction of epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata infused imagination into the Chinese literature.
Discussion
· Influence of India's Architecture on China: Shri Tarun Vijay discussed the resemblance between the architecture of ancient China, particularly the construction of Buddhist monasteries, and that of Indian architecture. The impressive and magnificent structures in China reflected the influence of Indian architectural concepts.
· Tagore's Friendship with China: The speaker also spoke about Rabindranath Tagore's deep love and great friendship for the people of China, which was evident during his historic visit to China in 1924.
In summary, Shri Tarun Vijay's presentation emphasized the rich and longstanding civilizational connections between India and China, encompassing various aspects like culture, literature, music, and architecture. These historical ties have left a lasting impact on both nations and continue to shape their relationship today.
Concluding Remarks
Report by Ananya Tomar
Research Intern
CS3, USI