Contemporary education is impulsively vibrant as it is dynamically evolving with the effervescent needs of the changing times in the fast-paced twenty-first century. The history of Bharat has been replete with various events, both fortunate and unfortunate, which impact how we engineer our education system to adapt to the demands of the time.
The colonial era, which was a vestigial consequence of the Renaissance, has elevated English to the status of lingua franca, allowing people from diverse backgrounds to understand each other better. This linguistic hegemony of the English language is now perceived as an international norm. It serves as the primary medium of expression which governs the digital realm. The West’s preponderant influence in this virtual milieu of the internet era constitutes a novel paradigm, known as a fourth industrial revolution.
The behemoths of the global economy, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Meta (formerly Facebook), Amazon, and Tesla, are progenies of the Western world. These global companies exert a profound influence on the planetary stage as they establish an elevated benchmark for technological and economic advancement. Bharat which is recently burnishing its identity to be acknowledged as a Vishwa Guru by presiding events like G20, projecting itself as the leader of the global south and by negotiating non-nuclearisation and cessation of wars, is well poised for a developed nation also known as the ‘Viksit Bharat’ status by 2047, must accelerate its trajectory to harmonise with the elevated standards of being developed Nation, already benchmarked by the West. A delicate equilibrium between the East and the West is imperative to bridge the developmental divide and to ensure egalitarian global co-existence to be able to share resources and knowledge in the era of globalisation in a more civilized manner.
A pervasive inclination exists to prioritise Western culture over the indigenous value system. Bharat is renowned globally for its ethical compass of Dharma & righteousness, dependability, spiritual depth and culinary exuberance as it is the spice capital of the world. It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of ‘Hinduism’ as the most ancient and morally awakened religion and is the cradle of the most ancient civilizations of Harappa and Mohenjodaro. The misconception of the Crown Rule that the East was inherently barbaric and that Western governance was necessary to civilise it was a gross misconception. The antiquity of Bharat as a powerhouse of knowledge was exemplified by Universities like the Nalanda, Taxila, and Vikramashila. The harmful undercurrent of racism perpetuates a global developmental disparity, categorising populations into hierarchical tiers based on skin colour where the light shades are labelled as developed, and the darker ones are still either developing or under-developed.
By what metric do we assess the degree of development or progress? Is it solely economic prosperity that is earmarked as progress or does moral evolution and social harmony hold equal sway? Bharat, as a crucible of
conscience, exhibited profound societal, moral and ethical development millennia before the Christian era, during the times of the ephemeral avatars of the eternal Brahm – Bhagwan Ram and Krishna, respectively termed as the Treta and the Dwapar Yugas. Fortuitously, the divine Avatar Bhagwan Rama has been able to get a temple built after a long-drawn legal battle, at his birthplace ‘Ayodhya’ during the tumultuous Kali Yuga. Analogously, it is anticipated that Bhagwan Krishna, the celestial charioteer, will similarly triumph in his legal odyssey to reclaim the sacred ground of his birth in Mathura within this present, challenging era where atheists and materialists question the need to build temples over machines. The materialists feel, that huge bank balances are the only reason for the existence of humanity and so they do not believe in gaining knowledge of the self, life after life and spiritual awakening.
Today, Bharat stands as a global beacon of spirituality, illuminated by the timeless wisdom of the Ramayan and Mahabharat, which are texts that proclaim divine knowledge as the ultimate erudition. This paradigm, once revered, has been eclipsed by the contemporary ethos of materialism and hedonism, catalyzed by a burgeoning atheistic culture. The ancient ideal of “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam,” the one Earth, one family, all encompasses the cacophony of self-serving philosophies and ephemeral deities, that proliferate almost every day with the emergence of a new religion, a new school of thought or a new God as the Hindu Dharma believes that all rivers (religions) ultimately reach the same ocean (God).
Tolerance, fraternity and secularism are intrinsic to the Sanatan Dharma as it is believed that even divine incarnations happen, for the preservation of,
the cardinal moral and ethical principles of Dharma. Thus, moral discipline should be the paramount metric of societal progress which must eclipse the barbarism of lawless societies. Morally impoverished societies are breeding grounds for criminals that ultimately impede the advancement of a Nation. To witness this situation, the immediate neighbourhoods of Bharat, Bangladesh and Pakistan would be the ideal examples of anarchy and lawlessness. Unfortunately, both are non-secular and Islamist States. Peace undoubtedly, is an indispensable precursor to prosperity and it can co-exist only with the knowledge of Dharma.
‘Dharma’ is an ontological principle of profound import within the Indian philosophical tapestry which explains the fundamental questions of existence and reality. It encapsulates a multifaceted essence, encompassing cosmic law, moral principles and the path to spiritual liberation. As a primordial cosmic order, Dharma is the undergirding force that orchestrates the harmonious symphony of existence. On a personal level, it manifests as one’s sworn duty and an ethical compass guiding actions as per one’s station in life. Transcendentally, Dharma is the luminous path towards liberation from the bondage of the material world. It is, in essence, the harmonious alignment of the individual with the cosmic order, a dynamic equilibrium between the self and the supreme reality.
The corpus of Hindu wisdom should transcend the confines of Sanskrit textbooks and supplant Western philosophical thoughts in the English curricula. Sanskrit is known as the progenitor of languages and was the medium through which Hindu Rishis pioneered diverse intellectual disciplines. Their profound insights, rooted in spiritual illumination, laid the groundwork for contemporary research. However, the frenetic pace of modern existence has attenuated the human capacity for contemplation and divine inquiry. To rectify this, seminal texts such as Chanakya’s Arthashastra, Manu’s Manusmriti, Charaka’s Charaka Samhita, Sushruta’s Sushruta Samhita, and Aryabhatta’s Maha-siddhanta, along with the core tenets of the Vedas, should be rendered accessible through the easily understandable English curriculum.
I do not impugn the efficacy of contemporary pedagogy. However, a reclamation of our curricular framework necessitates a reverent introspection into our resplendent past, building upon the foundational knowledge bequeathed by our sage progenitors. Uncritical emulation of Western paradigms in development, technology, engineering, and space exploration risks a myopic focus on material advancement. Will an expansive road network facilitate spiritual pilgrimage? Can a celestial habitation assure salvation or alleviate terrestrial suffering? Will material opulence prepare the soul for its ultimate journey? Bharat, though perhaps overlooked in terms of conventional metrics, stands as a preeminent exemplar of Dharma and human welfare.
Just like fast food needs to be made nutritious and healthy by adding more vegetables, material education also needs to be made morally strong to make our society healthier and ultimately help promote world peace and harmony, which is slowly and gradually diminishing with the frequently emerging instances of domestic strifes and international wars.
We must not change our textbooks to start teaching robot sciences to the kids of the first standard and overburden them to suit the needs of the market, we must devise an education system that generates a race of socially productive individuals who prove to be an asset for the entire human race and are not mere race horses. Each individual is different and is gifted with some special qualities, the idea should be to nurture one’s interests rather than to be the run-of-the-mill. Education only if made interesting can yield dividends otherwise it would be another means of harassing young minds into studying disciplines which they would never choose in their higher studies or which would never suit their caliber.
An intricately complex scenario of higher education which is multi-disciplinary is only good for the emerging education industry which is essentially fuelled by diverse exams and related coaching classes which monetise on exam-related fears, such that it is never good for specialisation and related research which could ultimately help professionals by adding some value to the existing knowledge. Rather than being mechanical, being human should be the ultimate aim of education. Learning should be like a nutritious balanced diet that is practically sound and at the same time useful in overcoming problems which a well-groomed individual may confront during the journey of life.
The situation may change every time, it is how we react to it, that determines our calibre and potential. Tides are inevitable but our consistent efforts to swim can help us survive. Similarly, our education should be such that our ability to comprehend is sufficiently developed for all the possible areas for which a citizen of Bharat should be well-read, to be able to understand his position as the sovereign person in a vibrant and largest democracy, who can decide his government, demand services from the public servants and is at the same time duty bound to give back to the society, such that he is conscious of both his rights as well as duties.
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