Prof. V Kutumba Shastry - Member Trustee

Educational Qualifications: Born on 12.08.1950 at the village Gudlavalleru, in the Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh, India, Vempaty Kutumba Sastry had his Rigveda adhyayana at Tirupati. He has qualified in the oriental title examination vidyāpravīṇa (M.A) from Andhra University, Waltair and another oriental title examination śirōmaṇi (M.A) from the University of Madras. He received vidyāvāridhi (Ph.D.) degree from the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi. He has also qualified in M.A. (Philosophy) and P.G. Diploma in Yoga from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati.

Work Experience:
I. Lecturer in Sri Narasimha Samskrit College, Chittiguduru, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, from 1974 to 1978.
II. Lecturer in the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi from 1978-1987.
III. Reader, in the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi from 1987 to 1990.
IV. Professor and Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Pondicherry Central University from 1990 till November, 2004.
V. Director, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (under Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India) since November, 1999 till May, 2003.
VI. First Vice-Chancellor, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Deemed University (Ministry of Human resource Development, Govt. of India), New Delhi from May 12, 2003 till May 11, 2008.
VII. Vice-Chancellor, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi from 2003 to 2008.
VIII. Holds permanent position of Principal in the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi from 04.11.2004 till date.
IX. IN addition, held the position of Director, Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, Agra (under Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India) for about 6 months during his tenure of Vice-Chancellorship of Rastriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhli.

Specialization:
His specialization is in Advaita-vēdanta, darśanas, Poetics, Sanskrit Literature and Spoken Sanskrit.

Distinction :
I. Has been elected as President of International Association of Sanskrit Studies, Paris during 13th World Sanskrit Conference held in Edinburgh in 2006.
II. Presided over 14th World Sanskrit Conference held in Kyoto, Japan in 2009.
III. Presided over 15th World Sanskrit Conference held in Vijnanabhawan in New Delhi in 2012. IV. President elect for 16th and 17th World Sanskrit Conferences to be held in Thailand and Canada in 2015 and 2018 respectively.

Research Experience:
Sāhityaratnakara of Dharma Suri, a work on poetics of 17th century was critically edited basing on various manuscripts and studied critically and comparatively under the guidance of eminent international scholars in Sanskrit, Padmabhushan, Dr. V. Raghavan and Dr. M.D. Balasubrahmanyam.

A study of the Problem of Tatparya Indian Philosophy is in progress. Offered guidance to nine research scholars (both in Advaita Vedanta and Sanskrit Literature) for their Ph.D. degree. Offered guidance to seven students for their M.Phil degree.

Publications and Academic Activities: He has eleven books and more than 30 papers, published in various reputed journals to his credit. He has participated in about 150 (National and International) Seminars/Conferences, quite often chairing some sessions, delivering Key-note addresses, inaugural/valedictory addresses etc. He has delivered around 100 invited lectures in various Universities and Institutions of National reputation.