Indian
knowledge traditions have longstanding impact on the thoughts of scholars not
only in India but across world particularly because of their innate quest for
sustainability and seeking welfare of all.
India’s ancient scholars extolled the notion of ‘वसुधैवकुटुम्बकम्’ meaning the whole
world is one family in Maha Upanishad.
Further, the openness imbibed in the ideas like ‘आ
नो भद्राः
क्रतवो यन्तु
विश्वतः।' envisioned
in the Rig Veda Samhita invites and
accepts the noble thoughts coming from across the globe. Therefore, the
scholars who studied India’s rich and vast knowledge traditions have observed
that despite facing harshest of blows, they survived as they possessed both
geocentric and anthropocentric concerns at the core.
As
observed by Swami Vivekananda at World Religious Parliament in Chicago in 1893,
Indians, owing to their age old value system, accept all paths lead to the
Supreme. Indian traditions have always held on to the idea envisaged in the
Mahopanishad- ‘एकम सत विप्रः
बहुधा वंदन्ती’ meaning
the truth is one which the sages have narrated in different forms. In his speech,
Swami Vivekananda had quoted the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita “Whosoever
comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling
through paths which in the end lead to me.” Thus, spiritual democracy has been
the cornerstone of India’s world view. Moreover, India’s spiritual view teaches
not only tolerance which can be at times patronizing but universal acceptance
also.
Indian
Knowledge System (IKS) is of great consequence to a world marred with conflicts
at individual, societal and international levels. Thus, the National Education
Policy, 2020 puts a significant emphasis on re-interpreting and imparting IKS
to young learners in this context. Further, it’s worthwhile to note that the
Indian Knowledge Systems comprise of Jnan,
Vignan, and Jeevan Darshan that have
evolved out of experience, observation, experimentation, and rigorous analysis.
India’s
classical and other languages have also been greatly influenced by this
knowledge as it was transmitted through textual, oral and artistic traditions. This tradition of validating and
putting into practice must guide our education, arts, administration, law,
justice, health, manufacturing, and commerce.
“Knowledge
of India” in this sense includes knowledge from ancient India and, its
successes and challenges, and a sense of India’s future aspirations specific to
education, health, environment and indeed all aspects of life. As India is
aspiring and moving fast towards becoming a formidable global power, it’s
incumbent upon us that we must be in a position to offer our perspective to the
world in turmoil. India’s successful presidency of G20, its role during Covid
pandemic through initiatives such as ‘Vaccine Maitri’ and constructive role played during many other global catastrophes have prepared the ground for it to take
the leading role in managing global affairs.
Moreover,
countries in different parts of the globe are looking for newer leadership as
the west is fast declining not only in terms of their economic prowess but also
they are losing on their soft power appeal. On a positive note, India’s growing
clout and acceptance among global south calls for India to play a role in the
emerging geopolitical scenario. As observed by many scholars of international politics,
India’s growing stature would not be frown upon as that of China because of its age
old all-encompassing and inclusive culture that seeks welfare of all.
India’s
successful PM Shri Narendra Modi has been asking its citizens to commit to five
resolves (Panch Pranas) to ensure a developed India in the next 25 years, i.e
in 2047. Those are- one, commit to the idea of developed India, second,
removing of any trace of the colonial mindset, third, taking pride in our
legacy, fourth, our strength of unity, fifth, fulfilling the duties of citizens
with honesty. Therefore, voting in the ongoing general elections becomes an unavoidable
duty of all of us.
It’s
also important to note that while we are chasing the dream of Vishvaguru
Bharat, we need political stability. Only the stable government would put us as
a nation in an advantageous position to stretch our wings and fly as high as we
can. Its due to political stability since 2014 that India has been ranked at
the 63rd position in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report (DBR),
2020. India’s rank in the DBR improved from 142nd in 2014 to 63rdb in 2019,
registering a jump of 79 ranks in a span of 5 years. Similarly, India’s real
GDP recorded a growth of 7.6 percent in FY24 making it grow at a higher rate than
the major world economies such as Russia, the USA, China, and Japan.
Obviously,
not everything has been fixed since 2014 and we do have some of the most pressing
challenges such as unemployment, wealth inequality and so on. However, the political dispensation under the astute leadership of PM Modi has been striving
hard to fill up the backlog saturated over the years. Ultimately, its strong
and robust economic power that will help us evolve sustainable solutions to these
challenges.
