Technology may appear to be a gift of human development, but it has brought about many hazards. The dependency on technology has transformed natural life into a plastic one, where emotions, out-of-the-box thinking, and zeal have all been constrained by the ease of access methods, thereby avoiding natural growth.
Similarly, the modern education system can potentially restrict students natural curiosity and exploration. Instead of nurturing well-rounded individuals with a sense of social responsibility, we often prioritize job skills, creating barriers that impede the natural growth of people’s abilities and talents.
The ancient Gurukul system of Education, which produced well-rounded individuals like Chatrapati Shivaji, Maharana Pratap & Prithviraj Chauhan, offers a compelling alternative. Bapuji established modern Gurukuls to blend the best of both worlds: traditional values and cutting-edge technology. This results in a holistic education prioritising strong academics and moral values while nurturing well-rounded and thriving students who achieve impressive exam results.
Modern-Day Education System in India: A Pressure Cooker
In today’s Education System in India, there’s a concerning trend where the pursuit of personal gain is emphasised over communal well-being. Despite discussions about holistic development, the reality often falls short. Previously, only the uneducated were associated with unlawful behaviour, but now we see even highly educated individuals engaging in unethical or criminal activities. This raises fundamental questions about the moral grounding provided by the education system in India. When moral and ethical education is overlooked, self-interest tends to take precedence over community welfare, perpetuating a cycle of individualism rather than collective growth.
Data on Stressful Modern Education System in India-
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently conducted a survey involving 72 countries consisting of 540,000 student respondents aged 15–16 years. On average across OECD countries, 66% of students reported feeling stressed about poor grades and 59% reported that they often worry that taking a test will be difficult. The OECD further found that 55% of students feel very anxious about school testing, even when they are well prepared. As many 37% of students reported feeling very tense when studying, with girls consistently reporting greater anxiety relating to schoolwork compared to boys (OECD, 2017).
In a survey study of 128 Grade 11 students attending competitive private schools in the United States, students who reported experiencing high ongoing stress, particularly about academic achievement and the tertiary education admissions process, also reported high rates of drug and alcohol use (Leonard et al., 2015). The authors report that substance use was associated with a greater desire for academic achievement, higher perceived stress, less effective coping strategies, and less closeness with parents (Leonard et al., 2015).
Gurukul system of Education: A Vedic blessing from Sanatan
The ancient Indian Gurukul System of Education produced remarkable people who had a lasting impact in their areas.
Under the direction of Sage Vasishtha, Lord Rama was the embodiment of wisdom and righteousness, consulting his Guru throughout difficult times. As a result of Guru Sandipani Rishi’s intellectual and persuasive training, Lord Krishna developed into the divine speaker of the Bhagavad Gita.
Similarly, history contains many examples of warriors, kings, and other individuals who shaped the fate of nations by gaining knowledge under the guidance of their gurus. Chattrapati Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Prithvi Raj Chauhan, Birbal, and Tansen are a few names who left their mark in history due to their skills, administrative powers, multifaceted development, and intellect. These admirable individuals demonstrate the deep impact of a Gurukul education in developing exceptional talent and character.
Vedic Gurukul Education System: A perfect structured stages
Contrastingly, Hindu culture offers a structured approach to life stages through the traditional ashrams: Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (hermit or forest dweller), and Sannyasa (renunciate).
The Apastamba Dharma-sutra, an ancient Hindu text, offers guidelines for these stages, with a particular focus on Brahmacharya – the student phase dedicated to learning and spiritual growth. During this period students devote themselves entirely to intellectual and spiritual pursuits under the guidance of a Guru, a revered teacher who shapes their character and imparts knowledge.
Ultimately, the crux of Brahmacharya, as outlined in the Apastamba Dharma-sutra, is to spend a set number of years under a knowledgeable Guru while minimising distractions to fully dedicate oneself to learning and spiritual development.
The need of the hour is an education system that incorporates Sanatan principles into current education practices, resulting in a holistic and complete approach to learning. The benefits of learning under guidance for the development of not just careers but personalities as a whole are the most important aspects required in today’s schools.
Bapuji’s Vision of Gurukul Education System in India –
With a vision to foster a society filled with happiness and harmony, Bapuji established Sant Shri Asharam ji Gurukuls and Public schools in 1997. These institutions blend traditional spiritual knowledge with contemporary science, revolutionizing both content and instructional methods. This innovative method actively changes the educational landscape while remaining grounded in the Vedic age Gurukul System of Education. It offers students a complete path of development and enlightenment, moulding them into intelligent, spiritually enlightened people.
Sant Shri Asharamji Gurukuls are embracing the future while staying true to their roots. They boast spacious classrooms equipped with cutting-edge audio-visual technology to make learning interactive and exciting. Computer and science labs provide students with hands-on experiences, while well-stocked libraries and reading rooms fuel their thirst for knowledge.
But Gurukuls haven’t forgotten the importance of inner peace and physical well-being. Meditation and prayer halls offer a haven for reflection, while expansive playgrounds with modern sports like basketball, volleyball, and badminton keep students active and energized. This thoughtful blend of tradition and technology ensures Gurukuls continue to be powerhouses of education for the modern world.
Gurukul System– A Glance to Development
Today, more than forty Gurukuls are in operation throughout ten states in the nation including the oldest, Gurukul Surat and Gurukul Ahmedabad, drawing inspiration from Bapu Ji. Alongside academic education, these Gurukuls are committed to instilling spirituality and strong morals in the future generation. They revive the ancient Guru-Shishya tradition, which imparts the basic principles of human life, while simultaneously providing contemporary educational facilities.
Students practice Trikal Sandhya, Pranayama, and Yogasana on a regular basis, which promotes both mental and physical health. Additionally, regular Satsang and the guidance of respected Bapuji primes their minds to identify the true source of wisdom. A student learns best in his natural language. Gurukuls impart education in mother tongue and in English. Nonetheless, the goal is to encourage 100% achievement regardless of the medium.
Major residential gurukuls are situated all across the nation. These Gurukuls offer a comfortable living, dining, and recreational space in addition to a top-notch educational program. With their state-of-the-art facilities, they guarantee a pristine environment where students can flourish both intellectually and personally.
Their Non-residential schools are also run around various states across the country.
Science and Management College offers distinct academic programs for males and females, including degree programs like BA, BCom, BSc, BBA, and BCA.
Bapuji’s Contribution to the Gurukul Education System in India
The teachings of Pujya Bapu Ji’s Guru Ji have reached marginalized communities, enriching their lives spiritually and academically. Through the Gurukul Education System method, children in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Orissa are taught spiritual values in addition to worldly knowledge. Sarki Limdi in Gujarat, Ranapur in Madhya Pradesh, and Kotgarh in Odisha are a few examples. These areas had very poor education rates. This lack of education made people in these tribal regions vulnerable to unethical conversions.
Bapuji initiated Gurukuls in these areas to enhance the overall literacy rate in these communities. Thanks to these Gurukuls, people in this area are not only gaining knowledge, but they are also able to find jobs and even become teachers in the same schools. It is said that if you want to develop a community, educate them so they can build their path to success, and that is exactly what Gurukuls are doing here enabling people for development. Every year, several Gurukuls receive outstanding scores on board exams, and a number of their students excel in sports and other extracurricular activities at the state and national levels.
Gurukuls where Results Speak
Gurukuls are not just places to develop moral and ancient cultural values; they are an amalgamation of modern-day education and other skills. It is for this reason that students of gurukuls excel in various stages of life and in various competitions. Here are some of the achievements of gurukul students:
- Khushi Kukreja of Gurukul was the topper in CBSE Grade 12th.
- Gurukul students claimed a place in the Limca Book of Records for creating the largest human pyramid.
- Multiple awards and medals have been won by Gurukul students in sports and athletics.
- Gurukul students have excelled in various competitions in science and technology
The list continues with multiple feathers on the cap of students in various fields.
Gurukuls System in India : A step to Economic equality
Gurukuls were not just places for imparting knowledge; they were gardens where flowers of all types were grown and nourished. Lord Krishna, being a prince, studied with Sudama, who was a poor Brahmin. Regardless of their economic status, Gurukuls treated everyone equally and prepared them for all phases of life.
Today, the education system in India is often based on financial status. Many high-class or so-called international schools are only accessible to wealthy students. The high fee structure of these schools makes them out of reach for middle-class families. Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu’s Gurukuls maintain social and economic equality. The nominal fee structure of these schools makes them available to everyone, with no donations, development fees, or hidden charges. This basic fee structure ensures accessibility for all.
The Gurukuls in Orissa, near tribal communities, run entirely free of cost, charging no fees to any students so that maximum children can develop their future. Such commendable initiatives contribute to creating a truly educated Bharat.
Gurukul Education System: leading Bharat to become Vishwaguru
The Gurukul system of education, rooted in the ancient Indian education system, played a pivotal role in shaping Bharat’s vision as a Vishwaguru. With its strong foundation in the Vedic age Gurukul system of education, this traditional approach continues to inspire modern learning in India and beyond.
The condition of modern-day society is such that corruption is prevalent at every stage. This moral deterioration has always saddened Bapuji, as he always wanted to create a society where truth, honesty, and equality prevail. Such a system can only be built when it is nurtured from the roots. Hence, Bapuji brought the vision of developing the foundation of the nation by enabling students with the right methods of education so that they can shape a better, corruption-free Bharat.
This is the reason why we have seen Pujya Bapu Ji saying publicly to modern-day politicians, rule for some time more, and in the future, my children will rule to create Vishwaguru Bharat.
By holy blessings of Bapuji, this Gurukul System of Education is sure to provide the nation with many gems that will take the Country forward and show the world a way to a peaceful and happy life.
Conclusion
The Gurukul system of education has the power to reshape how students think and see the world, enabling them to do good for others. This ancient Gurukul education system, deeply rooted in the ancient Indian education system, offers a compelling alternative to modern education. It’s time to explore ways to break free from the pressure cooker of today’s methods and embrace a more nurturing approach, one that cultivates not just academic success but also responsible, well-adjusted individuals. Historically, Bharat thrived with the Gurukul education and the Vedic age Gurukul system of education, which were instrumental in its recognition as World Leader. To achieve the vision of becoming a fully developed nation, the Gurukul system of education in India must once again become the primary system, driving Bharat toward its rightful place as Vishwaguru.
https://archive.org/details/apastamba__dharma_grihya_sutras/page/n13/mode/2up?view=theater
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/apastamba-dharma-sutra/d/doc116233.html