'No mention of luminaries like Rumi, St Francis in education system'

Chennai: Rajya Sabha MP Karan Singh on Monday regretted that the Indian education system from kindergarten level to Phd had no mention of spiritual luminaries like Jalaluddin Rumi, St Francis of Assisi and others.

Delivering a lecture at an event organized by Madras Bar Association on "The Four Pillars of Education", he said the absence of spiritual teachings in a curriculum could lead to a situation fostering 'revivalist regimes.'

He said the UNESCO International Commission on Education for the 21st century, of which he was a member, had identified four fundamental aspects of education.

These were: Learning to know (Gnana Yoga), Learning to do (Karma Yoga), Learning to live together (Saha yoga) and Learning to be (Athma yoga), he said.

"The biggest challenge before society was learning to live together. The present chaos can be resolved only if the value system of the family, society and environment can be nurtured and restored," he said.

Stating that Athma Yoga meant the inner quest was as important as the outer quest, Singh said the holistic structure of the four pillars could result in development of a sane and harmonious society.

Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, who also spoke, said the present education system was such that parents compel their children to read only certain courses and not allow them to select courses of their own.