By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
A two-day national seminar on “Relevance of Indian Knowledge Tradition in the Context of National Education Policy 2020” was inaugurated on Thursday (April 16) at the Birla Campus of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal with a clarion call to connect the rich Indian culture with the education.
Prof. Murli Manohar Pathak, Vice Chancellor of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit University, New Delhi, who was the chief guest, in his address said the National Education Policy 2020 is deeply rooted in Indian values, giving equal importance to intellectual, moral, and spiritual development.
Describing intelligence, wisdom, and morality as the foundation of Indian education, he said that the purpose of education is to foster the all-round development of the individuals and connect them with the rich Indian culture. He also stated that this policy will play a crucial role in building a ‘developed India’ by the year 2047.
In her welcome address, Prof Sunita Godiyal, Head of the Department of Education highlighted the relevance of the Indian knowledge tradition in the current education system.
Dr. Amarjeet Singh, convener of the symposium, presented the outline of the topic and encouraged researchers to continue their research while maintaining faith in the Indian knowledge tradition.
He said the National Education Policy 2020 is an important step towards the revival of the Indian knowledge tradition. He stated that the outline of this national symposium has been prepared keeping in mind the contemporary relevance of the Indian knowledge tradition. He said the primary objective of the symposium is to analyze various dimensions of the Indian knowledge tradition in the context of the National Education Policy 2020, enrich educational discourse, and provide a strong academic platform for researchers and academics.
He further stated that this event will encourage multifaceted dialogue, interdisciplinary approaches, and the exchange of innovative ideas, enabling concrete initiatives towards reestablishing the Indian knowledge tradition in a global context. Additionally, this symposium will inspire research among young researchers.
In his inaugural lecture, distinguished guest Prof. Raj Sharan Shahi highlighted the philosophical depth and practical utility of the Indian knowledge tradition, stating that Indian thought embodies a remarkable synthesis of knowledge and science, which contributes to the holistic development of the individual.
Presiding over the program, University Vice Chancellor Prof Prakash Singh highlighted the university’s achievements and underscored the role of higher education institutions. He inspiringly said, “Light the lamps, but be careful not to let darkness linger on Earth,” and described Indian knowledge as a force that spreads light in society.
At the end of the program, Prof. Anil Kumar Nautiyal formally proposed a vote of thanks. He expressed his gratitude to all the guests, participants, and organizers.
On this occasion, a special exhibition titled “Uttarakhand’s Ramlila: A Visual Journey” was presented by Prof. Dr. Punita Gupta of Aditi College, Delhi University. This exhibition effectively showcased the diverse styles, costumes, forms, staging traditions, and the increasing participation of women in Ramlila, bringing Uttarakhand’s rich cultural heritage to life.
Prof. M.S. Panwar, describing the symposium as essential and necessary for India’s future, said that the integration of the Indian knowledge tradition and the National Education Policy 2020 will play a crucial role in empowering and empowering the country. Symposium co-convener Dr. Puneet Walia stated that the objective of this symposium is to re-establish the Indian knowledge tradition in the context of the National Education Policy 2020 and to promote meaningful dialogue between researchers and academics. Dr. Shankar Singh stated in his address that this national symposium presents an academic and conceptual analysis of the relevance of the Indian knowledge tradition in the current context, and is a meaningful initiative towards integrating it with the principles of the National Education Policy 2020.