NEP creating futuristic education system in the country: PM Modi

“When the country became independent, it was our responsibility to revive India’s great talents in the field of education, its grandeur and its pride, but because of the ‘slave mentality’, governments did not move in that direction. In some ways, they even went in the opposite direction. In these circumstances, our saints and acharyas took up this responsibility towards the country,” said Modi, adding that the “blessings and support of the saints” would be very important in the next 25 years of the country’s journey.

Talking about the educational reforms announced by his government under NEP 2020, the Prime Minister said, “Since 2014, there has been a 65 per cent rise in the number of medical colleges. Under the new education policy, the country is, for the first time, preparing an education system that is forward-looking and futuristic.”

Praising Swaminarayan Gurukul as an “ideal example”, he said Dharmajivandasji Swami founded the institution soon after Independence with a vision that “combined spiritualism with modernism, tradition with culture and was inclusive”. The seed of this ideology, sown then, has grown into a banyan tree now, he said. “It has been my good fortune to witness this banyan tree take shape from the foundation of this Gurukul, deriving inspiration from Bhagwan Swaminarayan,” said the PM.

He said knowledge has been the highest purpose of life in India. “While other countries were known by their regimes or their royalty, India was known for its gurukuls.”

Citing the example of ancient universities of Nalanda and Takshashila, Modi said, “The diversity and cultural prosperity we see in every fabric of India was a result of its tradition of research and discovery and this laid the foundation of our civilization.”

He said when the term “gender equality” was not even coined, in India women scholars like Gargi and Maitreyi were studying the scriptures. He hailed the Swaminarayan sect for starting a kanya gurukul (school for girls), which he said would be a “valuable contribution” to the ‘Azadi ka Amritkaal’.

He urged Swaminarayan Gurukul to send around 100 of its youth for 15 days to the northeastern states to meet the youth there, bond with them and add to the strength of the country.