The domain of education is abuzz with words like ’21st Century Skills’ and one can end up feeling that there is something magical that our children need to learn in order to survive in today’s complex world. While it is true that one needs a wide variety of skills to negotiate the world of today, one cannot but look to India’s glorious past and explore if there is something that one can learn from that. This article of mine in Outlook magazine tries to capture the lessons that ancient Bharat’s Gurukula system has for modern education. This is specially significant as several states begin to implement the NEP around the country.
Dr Balu
A development activist, public policy advocate, social innovator and leadership trainer
Related Posts
Nostalgic moments listening to my own radio interview
It is now a little more than 4 decades since i first read the 8 volumes (now they are nine) of ‘The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda’. So much water has flowed under the bridge, so many experiences that have added to my understanding of his message and so much still left in this ever continuous learning journey. Listening to the radio interview today morning (broadcast by Akashavani, Mysore FM 100.6) brought back many of those moments when one keeps doing what one believes is correct. There is a sense of urgency and importance in the actions that are driven
Governing for the last mile
Nations around the world are challenged on how to ensure the benefits of governance and development reach the last mile. When all things are said and done, what really matters is whether the person at the end of the road is feeling the impact of, and getting the benefits of good governance. ‘Antyodaya’ & ‘Janabhagidari’ are powerful concepts that India is keeping as the paradigms to ensure this. Prime Minister Modi refers to this repeatedly and exhorts all stakeholders to ensure that no one is left out and all are included in the growth journey of India. I wrote about
Mission Karmayogi and the Capacity Building Commission
A lot of people keep asking me about the last one year that I have spent working in the Government as an insider. From being a person outside the system constantly interacting with it and seeking their support for ensuring human development at the grassroots, friends including myself are surprised on how my journey has brought me here. From being a angry young man in the early eighties to feeling disillusioned at the ‘trickle down effect’ that never truly happened, to working inside Government in building the capacity of people and systems at the Capacity Building Commission, I have indeed