Vedas as a new Educational Policy: Explained
Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister of India, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal made a statement on 10-May-2020 that new education policy will be introduced in the nation as per the views of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, which will be based on the Vedic knowledge.
As per the old scriptures and the teachings of the Indian sages, Vedas are the Eternal Truth and Knowledge. They existed ever since God existed. Since God has neither a beginning nor an end, likewise Vedas are also Immortal and Infinite. Vedas are not the sacred books of Hindus. Actually, no term such as Hinduism is mentioned in Vedas. The term Hinduism was coined by the invaders, who invaded India. All the people living in the east of the Hindu-Kush range were called as Hindus. Vedas talk of eternal truth and knowledge and they call it “Sanatan-Dharma” or the “Religion of the Truth”.
Vedas were compiled into four books by God Veda Vyasa, 5000 years ago. He divided Vedas into four parts, namely, Rig-Veda, Atharva-Veda, Sama-Veda, and Yajur-Veda.
Vedas are actually based on nature. The Vedas are just like a rule book for humans, as a guideline to lead a good life. It wants to establish Dharma in the minds of the people. According to Vedas, Dharma can be achieved if the people understand the meaning of justice and duty and their minds are full of sympathy and love.
Vedas goes forward in explaining sympathy in a very different way. No other creature, created by God, is as loving and caring as a Mother. The simplest way to learn sympathy and true love is to become a mother. Therefore, in Vedas, planting and taking care of a tree is given utmost importance. Vedas are strictly against cutting the trees. If we would plant a tree and would take care of it, then we might learn what love is as then we might be emotionally connected to the trees just like a mother is connected to her child. Before cutting the trees, we might think many times as we might be reminded of the tree that we had planted and we might think emotionally.
Ayurveda, the medical science of ancient India, is a small part of Vedas. Ayurveda means the Science of Life. Ayurveda focuses on the prevention of the diseases and the elimination of their root cause. On the other hand, allopathy tries to manage0 diseases. Ayurveda does not deal with drugs or medicines rather it works in the way of making people immune against the diseases through simple methods so that they would never fall ill. Ayurveda provides us to have a diet which would never let any disease to enter our body. The practices like Yoga, Sattvic food, taking a bath daily, consumption of a drink, called kadha, made of medicinal herbs and trees on a regular basis, etc. Ayurveda not only tells the way to keep our body fit but also teaches to keep our mind fit and healthy so that we might never suffer from mental health issues. It could be achieved by doing regular meditation and prayer.
In 2020, the world is fighting against the pandemic Corona Virus. The major cause of the Coronavirus is the eating of raw bats and pangolins. Vedas condemn the Carnivore Culture (Tamsik food) and lay emphasis on eating only the products made by plants such as fruits, vegetables, etc.(Sattvic food). Not only Coronavirus but other earlier pandemics such as Swine-flu, caused due to pigs, Bird-flu, caused due to birds and many more, have their origin in other animals. It has been proven by modern science that most of the pathogens feed on flesh rather than leaves or plant products.
Carnivore culture is also condemned by Vedas because it kills love and sympathy from the people’s minds. It is justified by the fact that if a person can kill an innocent and silent animal to satisfy his/her appetite, then he/she may also kill or harm a notorious or mischievous human being in case of any conflict or fight. He/She might not ever think twice before killing someone. Secondly, if students of our nation will be educated in a way of planting more and more trees, it may develop sympathy and emotions in the heart of them and as an additional benefit, the pollution level of the Earth will decrease significantly and the problems like global warming, acid rain, deforestation will be solved automatically. No effort will be required from any side. Fresh air means fresh soil and crops, which will automatically help in keeping the people healthy. It may also help in solving the problem of the fast-growing population and the stress on the natural resources and the crops.
Vedas talk of giving equal rights to each and every people. Lord Krishna has rightly said that the basis of the society should not be decided by birth, but by the abilities and the talent of an individual. Teaching Vedas might help our future generation to understand the importance of giving authorities to talented people rather than the corrupt of society. They may also learn the importance of giving equal rights to each and every individual of the society so that new talents could be explored.
Vedas lays emphasis on Yoga. Yoga is the art of keeping both body and mind fit. Modern-day gyms lay emphasis on the fitness of the body but it does not help the people to keep their mind relaxed and cool. It can be achieved by Yoga and meditation. Meditation helps in sharpening our minds and teaches us to control our senses. If the mind of an individual is relaxed and cool, then the thought process of the individual will be fast and as a result, they can live a stress-free life.
As per the present world situation, the teachings of the Vedas need to be revived and its message to be spread among the masses so that we might prevent the next coronavirus to ever happen and we might stop the violence prevalent in the society in the form of rapes, assaults, terrorism, etc.
-written by Uday Mittal
