Union Minister for Human Resource Development Murli Manohar Joshi on Tuesday rejected charges of saffronisation of education and said that indigenous knowledge is being threatened by rapid western scientific and material progress. He suggested going back to Indian traditional societal values for a glorious future. Addressing the first CBSE teachers awards function on the eve of the Teachers` Day, Dr Joshi said though the present age has witnessed a technological revolution, it is not culturally deeply rooted and the western individual finds himself alienated.
Dr Joshi, who is also the minister for science and technology, said the answer lies in going back to norms and values propagated by Indian sages which alone can free mankind from its present ills. ``Today we are at a stage where it appears that science is challenging the knowledge preserved through ages,`` he said.
After achieving an industrial revolution, the western world is once again desperate for a new technological revolution to give a new dimension to life, he said. ``However, for an intellectual society it is important that we preserve our cultural heritage to ensure that our future generations are influenced by the elegant past.`` The minister felt that among the various philosophies in the world, Indian thinking stressed the utmost importance on sacrifice.
The western culture has all along been guided by the consumerism which has caused a lot of damage to the world, he said adding that it was the need of the hour to inculcate principles of sharing among children. Dr joshi said, ``Our religion, which means patience, forgiveness, mercy, purety, intelligence, education and truth encompasses the necessary values which guided our code of conduct.``
Bureau Report