LU to start optional courses based on Bhagwad Gita & Natya Shastra | Lucknow News

Lucknow: The academic council of Lucknow University on Saturday approved the proposal of the Abhinavagupt Institute of Aesthetics and Shaiva Philosophy under which new value added optional courses will be started from the next session. Under this, the students will get an oppotunity to learn creativity skills through Natya Shastra, classical philosophy through the Indian knowledge system, and ways to manage mental health through the Bhagwad Gita.According to the university officials, the lessons based on Bhagwat Gita will be offered as co-curricular course at undergraduate level in semester I and III. In semester I, the topics will be Bhagwat Gita for holistic well being, while for semester III it will Bhagwat Gita for navigating challanges.Natya Shastra will be offered as a vocational course in semester II and IV at the undergraduate level. In semester II, the topics will include leadership development while the topics in semester IV will deal in aseasthetics. The third one – perspective of Indian knowledge traditions based on 11th century philosopher, mystic and aesthetician from Kashmir Abhinavagupt – will be offered at the postgraduate level.The Abhinavagupt Institute, which was established study of Acharya Abhinavagupt’s life and works, proposed these courses after Bhagwat Gita and Natyashastra were enrolled in UNESCO’s memory of the world register in 2025.“These courses are designed to help students understand Indian philosophy in a practical context and apply its principles in daily life,” said dean of the Institute, Prof Bhuvneshwari Bharadwaj.