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Indian American professor shares ancient Indian wisdom with Dartmouth students
Indian-American scholar Pradeep Deshpande blends science and Indian philosophy, urging emotional excellence for personal and societal transformation at Dartmouth.
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Staff Reporter
- Fri, 18, Apr 2025
- 10:46 EDT
- 119
Prof. Deshpande with Dartmouth Hindu Community on April 12, 2025. / Courtesy- Pradeep Deshpande
Indian American scholar Pradeep Deshpande, Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering at the University of Louisville, delivered a thought-provoking presentation to Dartmouth College’s Shanti Hindu Students Association last week.
Blending science with ancient Indian philosophy, Deshpande guided students through a journey that explored the origins of the universe, the evolution of life, and the importance of emotional excellence in personal and societal transformation.
His presentation began by connecting ancient Puranic stories with modern scientific theories, suggesting that both consciousness (Shiva) and energy (Shakti) are essential for creation . He referenced the work of science writer Amanda Gefter who argued that the universe emerged from "nothingness, and physicist Dr. Jim Kowall, who explained that the "nothingness” of the void cannot be anything else but undifferentiated consciousness—a concept echoed in Vedantic philosophy.
Deshpande explained that while evolution helps describe physical development, ancient Indian wisdom like the Saamkhya philosophy and teachings from the Bhagavad Gita offer insights into societal growth and decline. According to this view, all creation comprises five elements and three gunas (qualities): Sattva (truth and equanimity), Rajas (ambition and desire), and Tamas (negativity and inertia). Societies rise and fall over centuries depending on the dominant Guna.
The professor emphasized that human emotions—measurable and influential—are linked to these gunas. Cultivating positive emotions such as empathy and compassion, and reducing negative ones like anger and fear, leads to “internal/emotional excellence.”
Deshpande highlighted studies with Tibetan monks, including the meditative state of Thukdam, where practitioners remain physically preserved after death—suggesting a deep mastery over internal energy. He also discussed how emotional excellence boosts health, creativity, performance, and even democracy.
Using real-world examples like the Mumbai Dabbawalas and the Kumbh Mela, Deshpande showed how emotional excellence can enable extraordinary performance. He concluded that true progress requires both reason and transcendence through practices like meditation.
The presentation ended with a one-minute meditation practice and live demonstrations measuring participants’ stress and energy levels. Students responded with enthusiasm, and Deshpande expressed gratitude to the Shanti student team and faculty for their support.
He concluded by saying, “Ultimately, peace and progress—personal or global—begin within.”
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