Students from across India start week-long exposure tours to Auroville under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) programme
Nearly 100 young students, as part of the EBSB programme began their tour of immersive learning today at Auroville, Pondicherry. Travelling across 3 days in train from different parts of India, with eagerness and joy, these students began their tour at Bharat Nivas Campus of Auroville Foundation.
After concentrating, and feeling the collective silence that is so present in Auroville, the students were welcomed by the different working groups of Auroville. Lighting the lamp along with one student from each participating institution, the inaugural address was delivered by Dr.Jayanti S. Ravi, Secretary of the Foundation. An educationist herself, in an interactive session with the students, she shared how the recommendations of NEP and Integral Education are practised in Auroville.
Most of the students were aware of the philosophy and works of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. Sharing the five dreams of Sri Aurobindo, the vision of the Mother for Auroville and the Gnostic Society, the emphasis was given on how the students can stay inspired and focused to achieve their dreams.
The progress made by Auroville so far and what lay ahead including the work to be done for humanity and the world as a whole and what and how changes are managed or need to be managed were shared with the students.
In a refreshing question-and-answer session ranging from how to balance spiritual and materialistic needs, what’s the role of the Government in Auroville, to how Auroville as a city is different from any other city including how one could volunteer, the students interacted with the resource persons.
Through the day they deepened their understanding of Auroville with visits and interactions. In the evening a visit to the Sadhana Forest was a deeply moving experience for most, about the possibility of a way of living that is in total harmony and peace, of a progress that truly integrates the essence of spirituality and the potential of Integral Education and Yoga
The Ministry of Education has initiated this programme to emphasise the relevance of the educational-cum-cultural tour to themes under NEP, G-20 Leaders’ Declaration, Shri Aurobindo’s 150th Birth Anniversary and Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. The programme has been envisioned following the suggestion of Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan to introduce the Aurobindo circuit under EBSB. The emphasis of the initiative will be on exposing the youth to spirituality and Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy and practical implementation of integral education, Auroville being a unique experiment towards that end. Auroville Foundation, an autonomous organisation of the Ministry of Education will be organising the programme.
