The Ānvikshiki School of Law, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya, organised a guest lecture on Polar Law, International Relations and the Himalayan “Third Pole”. The session was delivered by Ms. Kanagavalli Suryanarayanan, Polar Law and International Relations Scholar at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway.

The programme commenced with the Welcome Address by Dr. Nirmala Kumari, Dean. The speaker discussed the legal frameworks governing the Arctic and Antarctic, including the role of the Arctic Council and the Antarctic Treaty System, and highlighted the need for international cooperation in protecting fragile ecosystems.

The lecture focused on the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau as the “Third Pole”, emphasising its importance to South Asian water security and climate balance and the need for transboundary cooperation among India, China, Nepal and Bhutan.

The speaker also connected the subject with Indian thought through Kālidāsa’s description of the Himalaya in Kumārasambhavam as the “king of mountains” and the measuring rod of the earth. The lecture concluded with an inspiring reflection on the true meaning of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and humanity’s shared responsibility towards nature.

The programme concluded with the Vote of Thanks proposed by Dr. Priyadharshini, Head of the Department. The session provided students with an insightful interdisciplinary understanding of environmental law, international relations and the significance of the Himalayan region.