I was determined to start something academic about India, and found to my utter surprise that there was no other academic institution or University in Thailand offering the Master Degree Program in Indian Studies. Yet, in Thailand, most of the Thai institutions offer Chinese courses, but nothing about India. I foresee the regional trend where India and China would be more powerful. If we do not prepare ourselves for learning more about India, our Thai people would hardly know and understand the Indians people better.

I showed my interest to draft the curriculum of the Indian Studies Program to my Indian friend, Assoc Prof. Dr. Amarjiva Lochan, who was the organizer of the Conference in Delhi, and President of the SSEASR. I had to work with him for our official requirements. He was also the main organizer of the Delhi Conference which had allowed me to go to see India. He responded very positively by giving me many attractive ideas and advices for moving further ahead on this mission. I also contacted the Embassy of India, met the Ambassador including the Counselor Mr. Rajiv Kumar for showing them our interests and plans. They were forthright to support our intention. Dr. Amarjiva Lochan (who originally hails from Delhi University) and I helped each other to draft the curriculum together.  Meanwhile, on the 18 August 2006, the Institute of Language and Culture for Rural Development, Mahidol Univeristy collaborated with the Embassy of India to organize a Workshop on "Gateway to India" including the Exhibition on "Buddhist Photo Arts from India". The Embassy also provided us the first lot of about 100 books on Indian culture. It took us about two years to get the curriculum of the Indian Studies Program approved by the university and other higher authorities. In October-November 2007 and February-March 2008 the 1 st and 2nd rounds of admissions would look forward to starting  the Course.  
 
[TI] Are there any other such courses in Thailand?

[SS] Our Course on the Indian Studies at Mahidol covers the fields of Social Sciences and Humanities in a holistic way. We try to highlight some outstanding points of India as the courses on "Film, Ayuraveda, Trade and Tourism…" There is no any Thai institutions providing such holistic courses like ours.

[TI] What's the vision's like? How do you see the response to this course in future? To what level would you like to take it?

[SS] The Master Degree Program is the graduate level which focuses on research. Later on, we would like to introduce Ph.D. program too. We would like to develop Mahidol as the hub of India related academic activities in real sense. Such Porgram would mutually provide the correct and innovative knowledge to the Thai and Indian publics. Better creating understanding between the Thai and Indian peoples are the aim of the curriculum after that other collaborations will not be difficult. I would like to urge the Thai society that we should wake up and realize that the future trend of  CHINDIA which has China and India as the big powerful countries in the region and the world  is going to be true. If we don't know these two neighboring countries well, we will lose many things. The course encourages the students to do their fieldwork in India or the Indian communities in Thailand or neighboring countries.

The response to this course is positive from some groups of people. But we need wider advertisement to the larger target groups as this curriculum is new.  
 
[TI] What got you interested in India?


[SS] "Indian culture" made me interested in India from my short visit as told earlier. I had a second visit to India( Mumbai) last March 2006 for a conference. I visited Ajanta and Ellora Hindu-Buddhist caves which are the most marvelous example of the Indian architecture. I also met kind-hearted rich Indian man, Dr S.K. Somaiya who runs Dr. K.J. Somaiya Centre for Buddhist Studies, Mumbai who has supported many charitable activities to various target groups. I was also impressed by the deep knowledge of many Indian scholars in the philosophical and religious fields. The growth of economy of India including the advancement of technology and education also attracts me to India.
 
[TI] What's your gut feeling about the whole debate about India and China? Who do you think will be the winner in the long run?

[SS] Thailand is a small country as compare with China and India. We realize that the next era will be CHINDIA. As a small country with the policy "Look West" of the government of Thailand, we focus on how the academic institution like us will be able to help this policy implementation effectively and understandably.
I do not believe in a win or loss, therefore, no such guess. I stand for the victory of both as we all three nations (India, Thailand and China) share same heritage in many ways. Your question sounds like talking on the economic performance, and according to our experience, economics is not only the absolute answer or indicator of the successful development and the real happiness. Development should be able to keep the balance of life along with morality and happiness.

[TI] Diwali-Hindu's biggest festival-is just round the corner. Is there any significance of this day for Thai's also?

[SS] I think there are many Thai people who follow Hinduism and go to the Hindu temples. Hindu-Buddhist legacy of Thailand cannot be ignored. Any big event featuring Hinduism is attended by all. Similarly, I have seen many Indians joining Buddhist ceremonies and festivals. This is a system where all such practices are equally respected by us. May be, in general many Thai people may not know the details and inner core of such events or festivals of the Indian people in Thailand.

[TI] Any message you would like to give to the Indian Community in Thailand?

 

[SS] First of all, I'd like to express my gratitude to the government of India and the Embassy of India who have supported us academically in various aspects.

My thanks also go to many Indian businessmen who are very helpful to me for the Indian Studies Program advertisement. We need your support such as encouraging your descendants in your family or staff in your office to pursue their MA. majoring in Indian Studies Program, Mahidol University, to help academic collaboration, information center for our colleagues and students for their further research, keeping us informed of any Indian activities and events, etc.

For the Indian descendants, the young generation will understand their ancestral land and maintain the valuable heritage among Thai society harmoniously. We would soon launch many short term courses on India which would help the third-fourth Indian generation living here to know their motherland better. The Western Press has been very biased in showcasing India in a very bad light. We would like to show the real India not only for us but also for the Thai Indian community too!

I’d like to inform you that there are 2 tests for the Indian Studies Program entrance examination: 1) English Proficiency Test 2) Country analysis and Awareness Test in English or Thai.

Let us hope, we have several Thai as well as Indians taking up this Course. Thank you very much.
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Following are the contact details of Dr.Sophana Srichampa
  Tel:(662)-800-2323
  Fax:(662)-800-2332
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