New Delhi, 09 April (H.S.):

An interactive session on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) during the Ministry of Education’s ‘Sadhana Saptah 2026’ has crystallized a pivotal consensus: IKS must not be siloed as a standalone subject but seamlessly woven into every facet of higher education—from science and engineering to management and humanities. The gathering underscored embedding IKS in policymaking, research, and pedagogy, repositioning it as a fount of modern innovation and problem-solving rather than mere cultural relic.

Held April 2-8 to commemorate the Capacity Building Commission’s foundation and Mission Karmayogi’s fifth anniversary, the session featured keynote insights from Dr. Mohan Raghavan, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at IIT Hyderabad.

“Isolating IKS yields partial gains; its true potency emerges when fused with contemporary disciplines,” Dr. Raghavan asserted, sharing interdisciplinary triumphs blending technology, science, and ancestral wisdom. He advocated a multidisciplinary scaffold where IKS enriches curricula, transcending rote learning toward holistic models balancing knowledge, application, and values (dharma).

Dr. Raghavan envisioned institutions launching interdisciplinary courses, spurring original research, and graduating professionals who are technically adept, socially accountable, and culturally rooted—future-proofing education for global competition while honoring indigenous moorings. The discourse spotlighted dismantling rote paradigms for holistic learning, where IKS infuses values and practical acumen alongside intellect.

Participants concurred that IKS adoption would catalyze innovation hubs, fostering graduates blending technical prowess with cultural consciousness. Governance integration emerged as imperative, aligning policies with humane, ground-level realities. A vibrant Q&A amplified practical pathways for embedding traditional wisdom in education and administration.

Senior Higher Education Department officials reaffirmed commitment to Mission Karmayogi’s vision of knowledge-driven, adaptive governance. The unequivocal takeaway: Accelerate systematic IKS infusion across academia and bureaucracy, heralding an education paradigm competitive globally yet tethered to India’s civilizational genius.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar