Dr. Ujwala Chakradeo : Education is the means to bring about social change. Need to bring about social revolution in Bharat is becoming pressing day by day. The chaos in social order of Bharat is evident.
Many a times, we are forced to take decisions which our conscious does not permit us to take. Our behavior in public is much different than what we are inside. The reason for this is due to contrast between social demands and the way we think. Education system that we have adopted in Bharat has much to contribute to this situation.
Our thought process has been installed within us because of our cultural heritage and
traditions. Deeper insight into our thought process reveals the fact that it is very much
sustainable- Our thoughts are governed by the kind of relations we want to develop
between ‘man and man’, ‘man and society’ and ‘man and nature’. The ideal relationship
can be termed as sustainable relationship.
Word ‘sustainability’ is very much in fashion these days- Everything can be justified under
the umbrella of sustainability. Have we really tried to understand what its real meaning is
Synonym for sustainability in Hindi is ‘Dharma’. Sustainability means to be able to sustain and Dharma means dhaaran karne ki kshamata rakhne wala. Two words are actually the same.
Thus, sustainable education is Dharmanusari education. It’s been seventy years that we have not been able to take conscious and unanimous decision of changing the education system, the way we want it. Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal exists only to make this happen.
To put it in simple and contemporary language, we need ‘Sustainable Education System’ in Bharat. Sustainability at present is being tried only at financial level. Most vital aspect of sustenance is ‘social’ and ‘environmental’ sustainability. Education has to be economically viable, that means financially independent and should be able to make students financially independent ater taking education, To become socially viable, education has to be contextual and rooted to the ground. The education has to impart knowledge about immediate context first and then expand the context as one grows; ultimately to the level of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. Education has to teach to live happily in the society.
We owe our existence to Mother Nature. We need to learn to respect her. Scientific facts are important. Those should definitely be the part of curriculum. However, to make education environmentally sustainable, an attitude of respect and love towards Mother Nature is important. Dharmanusari education shall be able to cater to all the three aspects in an integrated manner. Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal is commited to change the present Bharatiya education according to Dharma.
Source : Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal