Pune: Vishwakarma University’s Dr. Ujjaini Chakrabarty Joins Prestigious Oxford Research Project on Bhāgavata Purāṇa
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Pune, 8th September 2026: Assistant Professor in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Vishwakarma University, Pune, Dr. Ujjaini Chakrabarty, has been selected to join an international research team for the prestigious Bhāgavata Purāṇa Research Project spearheaded by the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Chakrabarty brings specialised academic expertise to the Oxford-based initiative. She received her PhD from Tezpur University in Assam, where her doctoral research focused on Oral Tradition of Śrīmad Bhāgavata Kathā and its Contribution to the Cultural Memory of India. Her research explored the oral transmission, cultural significance and societal impact of the foundational Hindu text.
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is regarded as one of the most significant and diverse works in Hindu sacred literature. Known for its coherent narrative structure, poetic richness, philosophical depth and development of bhakti theology, the text comprises more than 14,000 Sanskrit verses and occupies an important position in the Sanskrit sacred tradition alongside epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
The global research initiative aims to deepen both academic scholarship and public engagement with the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. The project includes the production of peer-reviewed academic publications, documentation and archiving of rare manuscripts and regional texts, as well as contemporary translations and critical analyses of Sanskrit verses.
The initiative will also focus on educational outreach and international collaborations, seeking to bridge scholarly research with wider public discourse and encourage greater global engagement with the ancient text.
Dr. Chakrabarty’s selection marks a significant academic achievement for Vishwakarma University and highlights the growing contribution of Indian scholars to international research initiatives focused on India’s literary, cultural and philosophical traditions.
