Over 300 top educationists, including vice-chancellors, academicians, and education ministers from states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Puducherry, will gather in Kalady, Kerala, later this month for a national education conference organised by the RSS-linked Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas.
Representatives from leading spiritual and academic institutions such as the Gayatri Parivar, Art of Living, Ramakrishna Mission, Chinmaya Mission, and the Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhan Kendra will also take part in the four-day event from July 25 to 28.
The Nyas was established in 2007 as an outgrowth of the Shiksha Bachao Andolan, and has since emerged as the RSS’s principal platform for educational outreach. It has been involved in promoting value-based education, textbook reforms, and the revival of Indian knowledge systems.
The conference titled ‘Gyan Sabha’ will focus on the theme ‘Education for a Developed India’. A key highlight will be an address by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on July 27, where he is expected to speak on the theme of Indianisation in education and the broader implementation of the NEP.
Some of the dignitaries include AICTE chairman, UGC Vice Chairman, senior office-bearers of institutes like NITs and IIITs. Vice Chancellors of around 70-80 universities across India are expected to participate, Nyas General Secretary Atul Kothari said.
“Our principal job is to bring about a change in the education system, to bring in Indianness in the system. And we believe this cannot be done by one organisation or institution. That’s why we are gathering representatives from the government, academia and social organisations. We are trying to connect with whoever is doing good work in the field of education. During the conference we will discuss what kind of changes are required in the education system and how we can achieve the same,” Kothari told The Indian Express.
Announcing the event in Delhi Friday, Kothari had said the purpose of the conference is to explore how education in India can become more value-based, India-centric and knowledge-oriented. “The aim is not to oppose Western knowledge systems but to ensure Indian students remain rooted in their traditions, culture and knowledge,” Kothari had said.
Story continues below this ad
The first two days of the conclave (July 25–26) will see a closed-door ‘Chintan Baithak’, where select participants will discuss issues related to the Indianisation of curriculum, promotion of Indian languages, moral education, and integration of traditional knowledge systems. On July 28, an open session will be held focussing on policy discussions and collaboration.
There will also be a special session on Kerala and the education needs of the state. With the CM Pinarayi Vijayan-led government opposed to the NEP, Kothari said, “the government there has been opposing it for political reasons. They argue that they want their education based on Kerala’s traditions. We argue how it is different from India’s traditions.”
This is the first time such a large educational event by the Nyas is being held in Kerala, the home state of Adi Shankaracharya, whose birthplace Kalady is steeped in spiritual and philosophical legacy.
Speaking about the upcoming Gyan Sabha, Sanjay Swami, national co-convenor of the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, said the resolutions passed during the meeting and the conference will be followed by nationwide discussions to gather suggestions, forming part of a national campaign. There will also be an in-depth discussion on the progress, societal impact, and future plans of the ‘One Nation, One Name: Bharat’ campaign being run by the Nyas. Swami stated, “This is not just a matter of nomenclature—it is a resolution for cultural self-awareness and liberation from colonial mindset.” A nationwide signature campaign is being conducted in support of this initiative.
