French was among nearly 1,000 scholars from India, the United States and Europe who wrote, edited and compiled the encyclopedia, which provides the first standardized and objective presentation of the panorama that is Indian culture.

Monday's event marks the launch of the international edition of the encyclopedia. Dalai Lama launched its Indian edition in April 2010 in Rishikesh, India.

The daylong launch conference will feature some of most prominent Indian scholars, who will discuss the significance of the encyclopedia and the richness and diversity of Indian culture that binds more than one billion people worldwide.

Among the speakers will be Indian social activist Anna Hazare and Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, president of Parmarth Niketan Ashram in India and founder of the India Heritage Research Foundation.

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, president of Divine Shakti Foundation and managing editor of the encyclopedia, said the conference, like the encyclopedia, aims to deepen a conversation among cultures as part of India's quest for spiritual unity.

At the launch event, the University will announce another India project called "CarolIndia", a celebration of India through a series of fall and spring events.

Led by the College of Arts and Sciences' Walker Institute, CarolIndia aims at elevating campus and community understanding of India's growing importance as the world's largest democracy and a rising global economy, the university said.

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