Daijiworld Media Network – Jaipur
Jaipur, Mar 29: Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde emphasized the need to integrate India’s traditional wisdom with contemporary knowledge to reclaim its status as a "Vishwa Guru." Speaking at the 12th convocation of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati University in Ajmer, he underscored the importance of addressing university vice-chancellors as "Kulguru," a nod to India’s ancient and exemplary education system.
Highlighting the significance of the new education policy, Governor Bagde stressed its role in shaping students' futures and aligning education with their overall development. He awarded gold medals to outstanding scholars from the academic years 2023 and 2024 and conferred degrees upon Vidya Vachaspati recipients.
The Governor also reflected on India’s rich scientific heritage, citing Maharishi Bhardwaj’s aeronautical theories, which he linked to Shivkar Bapuji Talpade’s alleged flight experiment in 1895, preceding the Wright brothers. He further pointed out that Indian scholars like Bhaskaracharya had explored gravitational concepts centuries before Newton and Copernicus.
Recalling Vinoba Bhave’s call for an educational overhaul post-Independence, Bagde criticized the lingering impact of the colonial-era Macaulay education system. He asserted that the new education policy was designed in harmony with India’s culture and society, ensuring meaningful contributions from future graduates. Advocating for employment-oriented curricula, he urged universities to foster entrepreneurship among students to enhance national development.
Education, he emphasized, must instill strong values, drawing inspiration from Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati’s life. He also highlighted that the policy was formulated through extensive discussions involving 400 vice-chancellors and over 1,000 educationists, ensuring it enhances students' intellectual capabilities. Encouraging lifelong learning, he advised professors to stay updated and students to explore knowledge beyond textbooks.
Calls for Cultural Revival and Nationalist Education
Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani echoed these sentiments, describing convocation as a moment of reflection on one’s duty towards family, society, and the nation. Stressing that education is a continuous journey, he noted artificial intelligence’s growing influence and warned of its adverse effects on social media and public life.
Praising India’s ancient ashrama-based education system, he cited renowned learning centers like Nalanda, Takshashila, and Vikramshila, along with scholars such as Maitreyi, Gargi, and Aryabhata. He urged students to draw inspiration from historical leaders like Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Maharana Sanga while cautioning against glorifying invaders at the cost of India’s cultural identity.
Devnani emphasized the importance of patriotism and the principles of Swaraj (self-rule), Swadharma (duty), Swadeshi (localism), and Swabhasha (native language) in education. He welcomed reforms like renaming vice-chancellors as "Kulguru" as a step toward reviving India’s ancient educational prestige.
He also warned against the Westernization of education, urging students to remain connected to their cultural roots.
Empowering the Next Generation
Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Manju Baghmar highlighted the convocation as a defining moment in students’ lives. She stressed the importance of discipline, humility, and moral values in shaping responsible citizens.
Vice-Chancellor Kailash Sodani noted that India is rapidly emerging as the world’s fastest-growing economy. Expressing confidence in the new generation’s ability to overcome challenges, he emphasized their role in driving national progress.
With the new education policy blending modern advancements with India’s rich cultural and philosophical traditions, the event reinforced the vision of an empowered, value-driven, and self-reliant youth ready to lead India into the future.