By N. Nagaraja Rao
Pragna Bharati, Andhra Pradesh?an intellectual forum based Hyderabad awarded ?Aurora Pragna Puraskar-2005 jointly to Shri J.S. Rajput ex-director NCERT and Shri M.V.R. Sastry, Editor, Andhra Bhoomi on September 10, 2005 at a function held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Hyderabad.
Speaking on this occasion eminent educationist academician and former director NCERT Dr. J.S. Rajput called for education rooted in culture and committed to progress. He recalled Shri C. Rajgopalachari'sstatement: ?I shudder to think what will happen to this country when the present generation in schools take over. This being the state of affairs in the educational field Dr. Rajput said, ?Education should be committed to culture, Vedas and our ancient language Sanskrit should also be encouraged.?
The type of work that he was involved in during his tenure as director culminated in a nation wide debate and was also endorsed by the Supreme Court.
Dr. Rajput stressed that values must become an integral part of every educational institution not only in learning but also teaching. He emphasised that truth, peace, non-violence, love and dharma should be the core of any curriculum and no country, no religion, rejects these values. He said the Chavan Committee report endorsed education based on religion. There is nothing wrong in teaching basics of all religions and that does not go against any article enshrined in our Constitution, he said.
He lamented that in the present dispensation languages are vanishing, transplanted modules are inserted and even writings on our national icons like Aurobindo, Swami Vivekananda, and Tagore are omitted as they are dubbed as ?Hindutva agenda?. Prof. Kothari had submitted a report way back in 1964 on national policy on education and national development. Dr Kothari said that if he were to write a report today he would title it as education for character building.
?Education should be committed to culture, Vedas and our ancient language Sanskrit should also be encouraged.?
He said that this award encourages him to be more committed and he would endeavor to do his best in future and re-dedicate himself to the cause.
Shri M.V.R. Sastry in his acceptance speech called for exposure of political hypocrisy and compared the events that occurred recently in the US (Katrina crisis) and India (Tsunami). Keeping with our tradition our response was a compassionate one where as in the US, which is a materialistic society, there was looting, rape and plunder.
Balbir. K. Punj the chief guest talked about ?Security and state of governance in the country?.
Shri Punj congratulated the award winners and began his lecture by quoting Sun Tzu, a Chinese military strategist who said: ?To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence?. He was referring to the security scenario in the country. He called for skillful leadership. He said supreme excellence consists in breaking enemy resistance without fight.
Shri T. H. Chowdary, Chairman Pragna Bharati, Governing Council presided over the function and Shirish Dopeshwarkar, President Pragna Bharati proposed the vote of thanks.?
