Students should study Vedic literature, says BJP MP

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 28

Vedas are the oldest source of knowledge and still relevant. This was stated by Satpal Singh, BJP, Member of Parliament (MP) of the Baghpat constituency, while addressing a seminar at Shravan Nath Math Jawahar Lal Nehru College here today.

Satpal Singh, while speaking as the chief guest at the one-day seminar on “Higher Education-Current Status and Direction”, said Vedas were the first teachers. Vedas, Upanishads and related ancient scriptures hold a great importance as they have been providing knowledge to the people.

Citing concern over today’s educational system, Singh said despite a number of educational institutions in India, education and knowledge provided here was hollow.

“Knowledge has taken a back seat while just information and numbers are being taught to the younger generation. The need of the hour is Vedic education, that could impart real, moral value-based knowledge to the students,” Satpal said.

While OP Pandey, former officer on special duty (OSD) to late Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, compared that while on one hand, number of students getting education has increased manifold, the graph in terms of morality, character and knowledge has only plummeted.

Pandey lamented that education had become money-oriented while earlier it was not so. He emphasised on Gurukul oriented educational system where teachers get due respect and overall education was imparted to pupils.

Spiritual ideologue Mahant Shri Raman Nand Puri Maharaj said only good teachers could change the current situation of the educational system.

Department of Commerce head Dr Sunil Kumar Batra said it was imperative for the government to correct the blemishes in the education system which will also be a step towards reducing income inequality.

“Only 7 per cent of the population that goes to school manages to graduate and only 15 per cent of those who enroll manage to make it to high school and achieve a place in the higher education system,” Dr Batra said.

Among others present were principal Dr Avneet Kumar Ghildiyal, Dr Saraswati Pathak, Dr Sanjay Maheshwari, Ashwani Kumar Jagta, Dr SK Chauhan, Neha, Rinkle Goyal, Rinku Batrani, Dr Pooja Vidyarthi, college student union president Om Prakash Chaudhari, Shaukeen, Amna Sharma, Deepak Kori, Salman, Prerna Kainthola, Bushra and Dr Nisha.