Vandana Sharma
Dr. Vandana Sharma ‘Diya’ (born 8 June 1981) is an Indian philosopher, academician, and author currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi. A scholar specializing in Darśanśāstra, Advaita Vedanta, and Upanishadic thought, her academic work investigates the intersection of classical Indian knowledge systems with contemporary environmental ethics, social philosophy, and modern intellectual discourse.
| Dr. Vandana Sharma ‘Diya’ | |
| |
| Born | 8 June 1981 |
| Birthplace | Army Base Hospital, Chandigarh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater |
|
| Academic disciplines | Advaita Vedanta, Darśanśāstra, Upanishads, environmental ethics |
| Current designation | Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi |
| Other appointments | Advisory Member, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) |
| Key honours |
|
She is a former research fellow of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), and the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla. Dr. Sharma has twice received the Swami Pranavananda Philosophy Book Award (2019 and 2025) and has represented India at multiple editions of the World Congress of Philosophy in Greece (2013), China (2018), and Rome (2024). In public administration, she serves as an Advisory Member of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Early life and lineage
Vandana Sharma was born on 8 June 1981 at the Army Base Hospital in Chandigarh, India. She was born into a Brahmin family to Sudha Sharma (Prashar Gotra) and the late Subhash Chandra Sharma (Vashishtha Gotra). She was brought up under the care of her mother and maternal grandparents—Colonel Tribhuvan Nath Sharma (Spolia), a career military officer, and Kamla Sharma (Spolia), a journalist.
Her traditional upbringing instilled values of discipline, social engagement, and an interest in Indian heritage. She has served as an Executive Member of the Brahman Samaj of India.
Educational background
Sharma completed her early matriculation and senior secondary schooling at Rukmani Devi Jaipuria Public School in Civil Lines, Delhi. She first completed undergraduate studies in hospitality management, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Hotel Management and Tourism from Surya Institute of Hotel Management and Technology, Pondicherry.
She later redirected her academic focus toward Indian knowledge traditions and philosophy, earning both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Philosophy, Religion and Culture from the Department of Philosophy at Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu.
Doctoral and postdoctoral research
Sharma obtained her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Annamalai University with a doctoral dissertation titled "Adi Shankaracharya’s Advaita Vedanta: A Viable Solution to Environmental Disharmony". Her research investigated the application of Advaitic non-dualism (*Ekatmavāda*) to modern ecological and climate concerns. For this work, she was awarded the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) by the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), Ministry of Education, Government of India. The dissertation was later adapted into a research monograph published by Motilal Banarsidass and formally received by the former Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu.
Following her doctorate, she conducted postdoctoral research at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (now Central Sanskrit University) in New Delhi, focusing on the *Prakaran Granthas* of Adi Shankaracharya, supported by a Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF) from the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).
Specialized studies
- Diploma in Advanced Advaita Vedanta: Chinmaya Mission Foundation, Ernakulam, Kerala.
- Upanishadic Certifications: Modular credentials in the *Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad* and the *Īśā Upaniṣad* from Chinmaya Mission Foundation.
- Yoga Studies: Certificate course in Yogic Sciences from the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, New Delhi.
Academic and research career
Dr. Sharma serves as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi.
She previously served as a Residential Researcher for the Atharvaveda at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) at Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla. Under the Government of India's *Dwadash Jyotirlingam Project*, she conducted academic field research on the civilizational, cultural, and spiritual documentation of Kedarnath Dham.
International conferences and visiting lectures
Dr. Sharma has presented papers as an Indian delegate at three editions of the World Congress of Philosophy:
- XXIII World Congress of Philosophy – Athens, Greece (2013)
- XXIV World Congress of Philosophy – Beijing, China (2018)
- XXV World Congress of Philosophy – Sapienza University of Rome, Italy (2024)
She has also delivered guest lectures and talks on Vedantic metaphysics, environmental ethics, and Indian philosophy at international and domestic institutions, including the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (USA), the White Tower academic forum in Greece, and Amity University.
Institutional inclusion of scholarship
Dr. Sharma's scholarly volume Environmental Consciousness and the Nine Schools of Indian Philosophy, published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing (London), has been indexed in research libraries worldwide, including those at Yale University, the New York Public Library, and Hong Kong Baptist University.
The volume has also been incorporated into university curricula across India:
- **Central University of Gujarat:** Included in the Essential Readings for the Master of Arts (M.A.) program in Sociology.
- **University of Delhi:** Included in the Essential Readings syllabus for the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Social Work.
Her biographical and philosophical contributions were documented in The Panorama of Indian Philosophers and Thinkers (ISBN: 9788180431722, pp. 447–455), published in April 2023 by Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies, Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Mentorship and personal philosophy
Dr. Sharma identifies Adi Shankaracharya as her primary spiritual guide and is dedicated to the study and propagation of Advaita Vedanta. Within formal academia, she completed her early philosophical orientation under the mentorship of Prof. S. R. Bhatt, former Chairman of the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR). She also regards Prof. Anurag Mishra as a long-standing academic counselor.
Dr. Sharma attributes her specialized understanding of Advaita Vedanta and formal textual scholarship to her guru, Prof. Ram Nath Jha of the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), describing her pursuit of knowledge under his guidance as a continuum across lifespans. Additionally, she studies traditional Indian Jyotisha, citing the personal influence of Jyotishacharya Mrityunjay Sharma. Outside academia, she advocates for animal welfare, ethical compassion, and the rights of street animals.
Publications
Dr. Sharma has authored and edited over eight scholarly books and published more than 38 research papers in peer-reviewed and Scopus-indexed academic journals.
Books
- Śani: A Comprehensive Study of Saturn in Global Traditions (2025). Delhi: Original Publishing. ISBN 978-1527541122.
- Environmental Consciousness and the Nine Schools of Indian Philosophy (2023). London: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1527541122.
- Nature's Wisdom: Indian Philosophical Insights (2022). Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Prakashan. ISBN 978-819274434.
- Śaṅkara Vedānta for Environmental Harmony (2021). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. ISBN 978-9391759698.
- Ādi Śaṅkarācārya’s Praśnottara Ratna Mālika (2020). Delhi: Original Publishers LLP. ISBN 978-8184542240.
Fellowships and honors
Academic fellowships
- **Junior Research Fellowship (JRF):** Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), Ministry of Education, Government of India (2017).
- **Post-Doctoral Fellowship (PDF):** Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Ministry of Education, Government of India (2020).
- **Residential Research Fellowship:** Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla (2022).
Awards and recognitions
- **Swami Pranavananda Best Book Award (2019–20):** Conferred for Praśnottara Ratna Mālika by the Indian Philosophical Congress and Asian-African Philosophical Congress.
- **Swami Pranavananda Best Book Award (2024–25):** Awarded for contributions to Indian philosophical literature.
- **Shri K. S. Nagar Puruskar (2024–25):** Conferred by the Akhil Bhartiya Darshan Parishad at Aryabhatt Sabhagar for the book Nature's Wisdom: Indian Philosophical Insights.
- **Dharmic Leela Committee Letter of Appreciation:** Conferred for contributions to *Bharatiya Gyan Parampara* and community animal welfare (*Pashu Seva*).
Related links
References
- First Academic Research Book on Shani Released, Business Up2Date.
- Shankara Vedanta for Environmental Harmony Book Launch, Ten News.
- The 2013 Kedarnath Tragedy and Post-Calamity Development, India Foundation.
- Association of Indian Philosophers International Webinar, Ten News.
- International Webinar on Sri Aurobindo's Vision, Ten News.
- Research Book on Shani Scheduled for Release, Fox Story India.
- Beyond Religious Boundaries: The Need for a Uniform Civil Code, India Foundation.
- Dr. Vandana Sharma Highlights Vedanta's Role at UMass Dartmouth, Ten News.
- Scholar Dr. Vandana Sharma Diya to Represent Bharat in Rome, Sangri Times.
- Dr. Vandana Sharma 'Diya': Scholar in Advaita Vedanta Darshana, Business Up2Date.