Education for National Reconstruction

Mehsana: Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSM) has demanded inclusion of Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts on education in the education system. “It is a well-pondered opinion of the ABRSM convention that Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts on education are excellent and very relevant to the individuals, society and the long term well being of the nation. The Mahasangh believes that the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is an opportune and appropriate time to adopt his thoughts. The convention of the Mahasangh expects from the government that Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts on education should be incorporated in our education system in a thoroughly organised way,” the ABRSM said in a resolution adopted at its national convention held from November 8 to 10. Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Vijay Rupani inaugurated the convention.

 

 

The resolution further said the present education system has not been able to incorporate Gandhiji’s significant ideas like the importance of mother tongue, physical labour, craft education or character building. A distance has increased from own language, culture, tradition, moral and spiritual values among the educated classes. Education has become a resource to find job and earn money, instead of holistic development. There is a talk of European American models in our education but ‘Bharat’ is missing.

 

 

In another resolution, the convention stressed on working for safeguarding, nourishing and cultivating an environment in every way life. “The Mahasangh believes that if we pay attention to small things by living according to our environment loving culture, we will be able to leave behind basic elements like earth, water, sky and air clear and pure for our next generations by adapting ourselves to a sustainable development,” the resolution on environment protection said.

 

 

In the third resolution, the convention urged the central and state governments to give justified rights of teachers to them and resolve their issues at the earliest. The major issues included the implementation of Seventh Pay Commission, revision of pre-1st January 2004 pension scheme and its extension to all schools, colleges and universities, 65 years of age for superannuation of teachers throughout the country, regular and permanent appointments of teaching positions, etc.

 

 

Addressing the delegates at concluding session Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi called upon the teachers to set new paradigms in the field of education. He said reconstruction of the nation through education should be the objective of all activities of the Mahasangh.

 

 

Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhariyal ‘Nishank’ said the new education policy would pave the way for a stronger nation in all respects. Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Nitin Patel provided information about the steps being taken in the field of education in Gujarat.

 

 

President of the Mahasangh Prof JP Singhal called upon the delegates to work for the betterment of the education, nation and the teachers. A total of 1800 delegates from 22 states of the country joined the convention. On November 7, MP from Mehsana Shardaben Patel inaugurated an exhibition, Sangathan Gaurav Yatra. Different issues pertaining to education were discussed in 12 different sessions of the convention.

 

 

During the convention fifth ‘Shiksha Bhushan Samman’ was also presented. This year this Samman has been presented to three educationists—Prof Govind Prasad Sharma from Madhya Pradesh, Sushri Nivedita Raghunath Bhide from Tamil Nadu and Prof Ravindra Ambadas Mule from Maharashtra. The Puraskar consisted of Rs one lakh, a citation and memento to each. Education Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Chudasama and Siddheshwar Mahaswamiji from Siddheshwar Math, Kaneri, Kolhapur presented the Puraskar.

 

 

The convention particularly witnessed four ideological sessions. The first session on the topic of “Women: Indian View and the Future” was addressed by Sushri Indumati Katdareji from Punrutthan Vidyapeeth, Gujarat. The second session was dedicated to the topic of “Education of Future Bharat”.

 

 

Prof Nand Kishore Pandey from Kendriya Hindi Sansthan spoke on this topic. The third session was dedicated to environment protection and it was addressed by Vice Chancellor of Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida Prof Bhagwati Prakash Sharma. The fourth session was addressed by Prof Ashok Modak on the Concept of Nation.