‘There is competition to dispute concept of Bharat in a few frustrated minds’: Dharmendra Pradhan

Referring to the knowledge system of India, the Union Minister said there is a debate over ‘Bharat’ or India going on for a few days. “What is the difference? There is no difference. Bharat is the name of this country. During the colonial period, people who read English literature gave the country the name India and we in our Constitution have given significance to both Bharat and India,” he stated.

“Bharat is an Indian name; the original name. It has been so since the introduction of the civilisation but today, in the minds of a few frustrated people, there is a competition to dispute it and it is a small section of people,” he added.

He further said, “Some western experts who have mentioned science and technology have mentioned India’s thinking. (For example), Vadnagar is a very important village of this state. It is in this village that our beloved Prime Minister was born. Centuries ago, why did Hiuen Tsang come here? To understand what? This is the tradition of India.”

My remarks at the Western Zone Vice-Chancellors’ Conference in Kevadia. https://t.co/SzO11dvfyf

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 26, 2023

Pradhan added that he is saying this on the basis of scientific evidence that Vadnagar is one of the living and active villages of India and the world where people have been living for about 2,800 years despite all odds.

Pradhan, while talking about the ongoing global crisis, said the Indian model has led the world to accept the country’s leadership. “The world is full of stress. Every year there is a crisis. The Ukraine-Russia war is not over and a crisis in the Gulf countries has started. There are social, diplomatic and economic impacts of the world crisis but India is above all and is making its own way,” he added.

Pradhan also spoke about the priority areas, including Indian languages. “Our languages have never been a hindrance in the development of civilization. All languages in India are national languages. Because of technology, there are no challenges. Skilling is another priority area. If we convert the samajik parampara (social traditions) of the Gujarat and Maharashtra models of job creations into academics, it will be one of the best practices,” Pradhan said.

He also suggested creating a repository of best practices by all higher institutes. “This is important as more than one third of the population is in the 3-23 age group. Higher education institutes should create a best practices knowledge repository, should come up with new ideas, map the future and analyse the civilisation’s past to form a model in an academic form,” he stated.

Funding is a challenge in higher education, Pradhan said, adding, “The government these days has allocated good funds at different levels which is probably not enough but a new model is being developed.”

The Union minister added, “Keeping the rights of the deprived section safe, we have to teach a section of society in government schools. Those who can afford it let them spend from their own pockets.”

Citing examples of IITs and IIMs, Pradhan said the institutes are increasing their revenues and also teaching poor children. “All universities slowly have to create their own model. This depends on a university’s leadership. Universities are a society’s temple and they have to motivate and create positivity in society.”