INDICA announces the elevation of Dr. Nagaraj Paturi as Kulapati, and he will henceforth lead all its activities. Since joining INDICA in 2018, he has played a key role in curating conferences and symposiums, mentoring research fellows, and delivering unique courses.
During his career, he has contributed to bridging Shaastric knowledge with contemporary academia, serving on advisory boards of multiple universities, mentoring civil service aspirants, and authoring over 120 publications on Indian Knowledge Systems, Linguistics, Cultural Studies, and Indian Philosophy.
As part of this transition, Hari Vadlamani, founder of INDICA, will be stepping aside to focus on building a corpus, securing necessary approvals for INDICA to become a university, and leading the Friends of IKS initiative to build a global community of Indophiles.
INDICA looks forward to Dr. Paturi’s leadership in this next phase and remains committed to expanding its work in Indian Knowledge, Culture, and Traditions.
About Dr. Nagaraj Paturi
Bhaarateeya Vidyaa Vibhuutih Dr. Nagaraj Paturi is a polymath and thought leader who has played a pivotal role in advancing Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). His contributions have shaped academic programs, research collaborations, and dialogues between traditional Shaastric scholars and contemporary academia, ensuring their continued relevance in both academic and policy-making spaces.
Trained at home in Sanskrit and Advaita Vedanta by his father, the late Sri Paturi Sitaramanjaneyulu Garu, Dr. Paturi cultivated deep expertise in classical Indian knowledge traditions from an early age. His work represents a rare synthesis of traditional wisdom and modern scholarly inquiry, making him a vital bridge between ancient and contemporary thought. His focus has been on reviving, preserving, and contemporizing Indian traditions, guiding scholars and institutions toward authentic Indian perspectives.
As Senior Director and Dean at INDICA, he has spearheaded mentorship programs, research fellowships, and curated diverse conferences and symposiums. These initiatives have brought together distinguished scholars to explore domains such as Vedic mindfulness, yoga, Hindu aesthetics, environmentalism, polytheism, meditation, Hindu ethics and law, and various Indic traditions, including Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Tantra, Bhakti, Jainism, and Buddhism. His ability to integrate Shaastric and contemporary academic frameworks has expanded INDICA’s impact, making Indian knowledge accessible to scholars, students, professionals, and homemakers alike.
For over three and a half decades, Dr. Paturi has mentored thousands of Civil Services aspirants, equipping them with logical rigor, historical clarity, and a profound understanding of Indian culture and governance. His contributions have influenced intellectual and administrative spaces, challenging colonial frameworks and restoring an authentic Indian approach to policymaking.
Dr. Paturi serves on boards of studies and advisory councils of multiple universities and is a leading figure in Bharatiya Vidvat Parishat, a prestigious body of traditional scholars dedicated to Sanskrit and Shaastric studies. His academic positions include:
- Distinguished Professor and Curriculum Designer at the MIT School of Vedic Sciences
- Board Member at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, and Veda Vijnana Gurukula
- Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Studies in Public Leadership
- Academic Board Member in the Departments of Sanskrit and Dance, as well as the School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad
His PhD from the University of Hyderabad is a pioneering study applying Vedic parallels to Anthropology, Psychology, Philosophy, and Aesthetics, establishing deep connections with classical Telugu poetry. His MPhil research introduced Paniniyan Linguistic Theory, establishing Vakyapadiyam as the theoretical foundation of Ashtadhyayi and unveiling its universal linguistic principles.
Dr. Paturi has authored over 120 publications on Indian Knowledge Systems, Linguistics, Mythology, and Cultural Studies, along with 60+ conference papers on Vedic Sciences and Folk Culture Studies. He has provided consultancyfor cultural research projects in theatre, dance, and literature and contributed to creative works, including scriptwriting for Classical Dance and Modern Theatre. Additionally, he is a distinguished Telugu poet, renowned for performing Ashtavadhanams, a rare literary and intellectual feat.
His institutional impact includes co-founding the Maharshi Veda Vyas MIT School of Vedic Sciences at MIT ADT University, Pune, where he designed UG, PG, and research programs that set benchmarks for IKS education. His work has influenced the expansion of IKS studies across institutions, shaping initiatives under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
As Senior Professor at FLAME University, he pioneered courses in Comparative Religion, Law and Justice, Historiography, and Media Research. He has also served as faculty at:
- DJ Academy of Design (Coimbatore)
- NID (Bengaluru)
- MIT Institute of Design (Pune)
where he developed specialized courses in Design Ethnography, Semiotics, Research Methodology, and Indian Design Aesthetics.
As a Visiting Faculty at the University of Chicago, he introduced Indian traditions and linguistics to a global audience. At the University of Hyderabad, he has led extensive research on:
- Religious transgenderism
- Ritual-officiating sub-castes
- Yogic mystic folk songs
- Bonalu festival
- The folk-classical interface
- Inter-traditional studies
Through his extensive research and teaching, Dr. Nagaraj Paturi continues to bridge ancient Indian wisdom with contemporary academia, policy, and governance. His work revitalizes and strengthens Indian sciences and cultural traditions, ensuring that Indian Knowledge Systems remain dynamic, evolving, and integral to India’s intellectual and governance framework.
