Rashtram School of Public Leadership to launch four-week FDP in India’s Knowledge Systems (IKS): Sources, Theories, Concepts and Practices
New Delhi: Rashtram School of Public Leadership, Rishihood University, Sonipat is organizing a Bhāratīya Jñāna Paramparā – Faculty Development Programme (FDP) from 15th November to 7th December, 2021 on the theme of India’s Knowledge Systems (IKS): Sources, Theories, Concepts and Practices. The programme is supported by CPDHE (UGC-HRDC), Univ. of Delhi, Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, IKS Division of MoE at AICTE, CoEIKS, IIT Kharagpur, INDICA and SOA. Dr. Subhas Sarkar, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Education, Government of India will grace and deliver the Inaugural address and Honourable Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Sh. Arjun Ram Meghwal, will deliver the Chief Guest address of the Inaugural on 15th November 2021.
Some of the other eminent scholars including, Padma Vibhushana & Honble Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha member Dr. Sonal Man Singh, Sri Mukhul Kanitkar, Dr. Kiran Bedi, Prof. Anil Saharabudhe will also be present.
Indian Culture and Philosophy have had a strong influence globally. These rich legacies to world heritage must not only be nurtured and preserved for posterity but also researched, enhanced, and put to new uses through our education system and the New Education Policy 2020. Responding to the nation’s call for Ātmanirbhara Bhārata and current initiatives to implement the NEP 2020, the FDP aims is to contribute to and enrich the Indian education system by the inflection of India’s Knowledge and provide pertinent reflections for the NEP 2020.
The objective of this FDP is to offer a comprehensive perspective on the need, relevance and essence of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) to the academic community, particularly the faculty engaged in teaching at colleges and universities across India. It seeks to provide intellectual thrust and moral clarity on the imperative of anchoring Indian education in India’s Knowledge Systems.
Some of the key sessions include Education and Coloniality by Sh. J Sai Deepak; What are India’s Knowledge Systems? by Prof. Michel Danino; IKS in Higher Educational Institutions by Prof. Kuldeep Agnihotri; “Bhāṣā-cintana-paramparā” by Prof. Rajnish Mishra; “Nāṭyaśāstra, Saṅgīta aur Nṛtya” by Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. Sonal Mansingh; Character of Bhāratīya Samāja by Prof. Kapil Kapoor, amongst others.
On the occasion, Prof. Kapil Kapoor, Chairman, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, said that, “It is important to first make teachers aware through these FDPs that education can serve our society and culture only if it is founded in India’s powerful knowledge traditions and practices – otherwise, as of now the Education will only perpetuate ‘colonised minds’ thereby stifling indigenous originality.”
The Indian education system in operation has been primarily an extension of the system transplanted by the British during colonial rule over two centuries. Its sole goal was to transform the mind-set of the Indian people by disorienting them through Western style of education. However, the post-industrial world is witnessing an unprecedented rise in violence, income inequality, conflict and disharmony. According to Mr. Ganti S. Murthy, National Coordinator, IKS Division of MoE, AICTE, “ It is self-evident in today’s world that the Indian way of thought and knowledge systems have much to offer for making a more sustainable, harmonious and peaceful world. To teach this Indian way to future generations, the teachers must be familiarised and such foundational programs will go a long way in making this possible.”
Against the above backdrop the IKS will present a refreshingly empowering perspective of a Dharma centric view, advocating a relational worldview that our entire existence is connected and interdependent, harmonizing ecology and economy. Shobhit Mathur, Co-founder & Dean at Rashtram, added that, “To the big questions facing humanity today we do not have all the answers from the West. It is time to delve into the knowledge heritage of India and bring it back to the classrooms. Teachers would play the most important role in this endeavour. I am glad that Rashtram in collaboration with our partners has taken up this important and timely initiative.”