Dr R Ramanand

Scholar | Author | Visionary | Cultural Bridge-Builder

Dr. R. Ramanand is a rare confluence of modern public health science and ancient Indian wisdom traditions. Trained at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, he earned his Doctorate in Public Health, while simultaneously immersing himself in the profound philosophical and esoteric currents of Kashmir Śaivism and Tantra.

He presently serves as the Director of the Abhinavagupta Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS), Vagamon, a premier research institution under the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Under his leadership, AIAS has emerged as a vibrant hub for contemplative studies, living traditions, and interdisciplinary research connecting philosophy, ritual, aesthetics, health, and consciousness.

Dr. Ramanand is internationally respected for his work on Kashmir Śaiva Tantra, maintaining close intellectual dialogue with leading scholars across the globe. He played a pivotal role in reviving the historic Rajanaka Puraskar, an honor once lost to time, restoring its prestige by facilitating its conferment upon eminent scholars such as Dr. Mark Dyczkowski and Prof. Navjivan Rastogi, presented by the Hon’ble Vice President of India (2023).

Beyond academia, Dr. Ramanand is also a creative contributor to contemporary culture. He has written for the Malayalam magnum opus Kathanar—one of the most ambitious cinematic projects in Indian film history—bringing metaphysical depth and traditional insight into popular storytelling.

At the heart of his work lies a single vision:
to reawaken India’s civilizational knowledge as a living, breathing force—relevant to modern life, inner transformation, and collective well-being.

“Tradition is not memory—it is continuity of consciousness.”