Events and Awards

November 30, 2022 New York

The Honorable Consul-General of India Mr. Randhir Jaiswal attended the book launch event of German Jews and the University by Monika Richarz, translated by philosopher Prof. Joydeep Bagchee. The event was hosted by the Leo Baeck Institute, New York. The book is an important study of the discrimination Jewish intellectuals faced in German universities in the period preceding the Holocaust. The eighty-five year old author Monika Richarz joined by Zoom from Berlin and Prof. Shmuel Feiner of Bar-Ilan University flew from Israel to attend. Prof. Bagchee obtained his PhD from the New School for Social Research in New York, and is a professor at the Hindu University of America where he teaches Western and Indian philosophies and the Sanskrit epics. He translated the work over a period of four years at his own expense. His intellectual passion and industry produced this elegant and beautiful translation of this ground-breaking work. Dr. Bagchee is a well-published author of several works including The Nay Science and Philology and Criticism (on the Sanskrit epic, the Mahābhārata), and recently published a translation of Heidegger’s post-doctoral thesis on Duns Scotus.The Hindu-Jewish Coalition honored Dr. Bagchee’s efforts with an award presented by Mark Citron and Dr. Urmila Shivram. In Mr. Citron’s words “Others build walls; Dr. Bagchee builds bridges. I can think of no more deserving recipient of this award.” The Honorable Consul-General Jaiswal graced this occasion to encourage upcoming intellectuals of Indian origin.