Amity School of Sanskrit & Indic Studies, and Amity Academic Staff College, Amity University Haryana organized National Conference on National Education Policy 2020 Human Values and Indian Knowledge System on 23rd and 24th November 2021. The programmed was sponsored by Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR).
National Conference's Program started with a beautiful Sanskrit rendition by Dr Supriya Sanju.
Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Sanjana Vij, program Director, Amity Academic Staff College, Amity University, Haryana stating that Attainment of Highest Education is not merely getting information but learning to balance harmony with existence, she said recalling the famous words of Rabindranath Tagore.
Dr. Sanjay K. Jha: Director Amity School of Liberal Arts welcomed Chairperson of ICPR Ramesh Chandra Sinha, Rajyogini Brama Kumari Asha Didi, Professor Ramesh Kumar Pandey, Dr. Shashi Bala, Dr. Anamik Sah, Dinesh Chandra Sastri.
Vice Chancellor, Prof P. B Sharma said that purpose of education should not be to create an army of degree holders but people who can co-exist with nature in a sustainable way and take care of nature as well. Education system of today's teaches us only how to fill our bellies and not how to live and coexist in harmony with people and our surroundings.
Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Padmakali Banerjee, Amity University Haryana congratulated the team for taking up such a great and relevant topic, i.e NEP2020. According to her, the emphasis on ethical values and reasoning in the NEP 2020 that is also a part of our ancient learning system is already being focused upon by Amity University, Haryana. In Behavioral Science every student that passes from Amity is taught these human values, she added.
She asked the audience to draw their attention to our ancient texts like Bhagwat Gita to understand the human values better. It teach us about spirituality to lead a good life. Even the teachings of Shankaracharya and Swami Vivekananda teach us about how one can lead a good life. In any human being's life two things are important at the end..1)whether they had a happy life. and 2) whether they will attain moksha or enlightenment. Attainment of these two aims is of utmost importance to any person, she added.
Prof. Ramesh Kumar Pandey VC, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University , New Delhi who was the Guest of Honour. "Our Indian Knowledge System is known for 'gyan' knowledge and 'vigyan' science." said Prof. Pandey. Our teachers gave us knowledge that helped us build our character...Veda created the world full of knowledge. In Gurukul, our teachers during the 'dikshanta samaroh' used to give order that truth, and dharma be followed. He added that our Prime Minister's idea in NEP is that we should all become global citizens. Education would only mean education for animals if the teachings are not able to guide us towards freedom from lack of knowledge and wisdom. Udhisthira asks Yaksha and receives the answer that one who takes no loan and stays in their own house are truly happy human beings. so it is easy to remain happy. Rishis have given us knowledge for which we should be grateful. Our knowledge system has created a path already and we have to go forward with that knowledge.
Human beings should seek true knowledge.
Gurus should give 'gyan parampara' to students, or proper path to be followed by students. Knowledge of vedas would make us a better person. Be it teachers or students, in the NEP we should try to follow the path of truth. With belief 'shraddha' and 'vishwas' will make our country a guide for rest of the world.
SHASHI BALA, Dean Centre for Indology , Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, New Delhi
NEP aims at preparing students to become ideal students, ideal human beings and citizens. We should maintain a world more livable full of ethics and philosophy. Our forefathers were richly respected...'shresthis' or traders were respectfully received all through the world. Indian culture was dominating the hearts of the world...nature has been exploited for money. We in the past worshipped religion...it was "naturalistic". Exploitation of nature has caused more unhappiness, betrayal, treachery, misery. Our greed has fed 'paap'/wrongdoing. She emphasized on Collective approach, ideals of togetherness, freedom from confrontation and coordination and harmony for all. Sense of oneness will create harmony , according to Dr Bala. Cooperation and hard work is the key to success in any organisation. like Krishna who did not gain anything in Mahabharata but lastly the larger goal was the victory of adharma over dharma.
Professor DINESH CHANDRA SHASTRI, director Haryana Sanskrit Academy described Through the use of 10 to 15 sanskrit shlokas good information can be sent to the students..so that special books will not be required if we take sanskrit shlokas and teach good values to our students. We sould teach the students from the very beginning simple values like to speak the truth, and not to eye others wealth and women. The fact that Vedas have never changed shows its resilience. Jahaan Niti ki shiksha deta hai Barat, vahaan Nnaitik shiksha ka kya kaam hai" ...was his key words.
Rajyogini Brahma Kumari ASHA DIDI director, Om Shanti Retreat Centre, Vilaspur, Haryana. We pray that God please take us from darkness to light and from untruth towards truth. i.e "andhkar se prakash ki or, asatya se satya ki or"..that should be the purpose of education.
when we were kids , our elders were not that educated but had knowledge..the foundation of our life with an invisible energy that still fills up our lives, making us more peaceful in todays world. The basic difference between a human and a devil is character and values. Gurukul...were princes as children used to go and after completion of examination , they entered their kingdom...Sukumar's guru tortured him , was made to do difficult work. Prince had to work in really bad conditions. When raja's mantris came to take him, the guru did not send him back...He said the education was still incomplete. Prince was made to suffer even more. Guru said tomorrow when he sits on the seat of rajas, he should feel that his unjustified actions could have a bad impact on commoners. he should have to understand that. Even for us it is true. We have to cherish the values that our teachers have given ..."values are never taught but caught". According to her, at times top class students come to us but are depressed over others doing well, this shows inner weakness. "vidya se abhimaan nai ana chahiye," she added.
. Anamik Shah, President Indian Society of Chemist and Biologist, Lucknow, Former VC and Trustee of Gujarat Vidyapeeth.
The challenge before NEP is whether what we are going to inculcate, truth non- violence, compassion, communal harmony are non-negotiable in any country.
When we talk about ethics and morality is NEP equipped to deal with this?, he asked.
Chief Guest, Professor Ramesh Chandra Sinha, Chairman Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR) said that Education is the accumulation of information only it entails cultivation of values in life. NEP lays great emphasis on ethical values because in global world a post modern world...the paradigm shift has taken place from the Marxist Philosophy. the New Education Policy has great vision of PM i.e of how values are important in educational life. Pitiable condition in education. Earlier Ministry of Human Resource Development which has now become Ministry of Education. A right decision, where philosophy and values have been righlty emphasized.
VOTE OF THANKS was administered by Rear Admiral K K Pandey director, Amity Academic Staff College, Amity University Haryana.
Total 400 students attended the session.