Central Government considers New Education Policy, includes Vedic Math

As the Modi government sets the pace to create a new education policy after 3 decades, the right wing Hindu organisations have started the consultation process for formulating their own suggestions for the HRD ministry.

There have been suggestions about a national language university for professional courses, which includes history of mathematics, and giving more importance to studying Indian history and to side step English as a compulsory language at school.

There have been dozens of such suggestions in many consultations the various academic bodies associated or affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The section has started their internal brain storming through a series of meetings taking place all over the country.

"We will give our inputs on the 33 themes put out by the HRD ministry.But we also have our own suggestions, which we will present to the ministry," said Atul Kothari, national co-convenor of Shiksha Bachao Andolan.

Kothari also explained that the need of the hour is to introduce value education with mathematics and sciences. "Today we teach our students the formulas given by the great mathematician S Ramanujam. But the anecdotes of his journey, his struggle and contribution to human kind beyond mathematics is never taught to our students. Teaching should be made holistic," suggests Kothari.

In a recent meeting with academicians from various organisations, held at Bhopal, the idea of making Vedic Maths compulsory was discussed. They have made peace with English being taught as a language, but they want it to remove its compulsory status.

" We are not against teaching English. But it should not be a compulsory medium. We are in support of teaching in Indian languages which can be any regional language of the states," added another member associated with Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad.

The Hindu fundamentalist are also of the view that instead of teaching professional courses like medical, engineering and management in English language, these courses should also be taught in regional language. "In the new policy, we want one regional language university in every state. We shall give that in our proposal to the ministry," added Kothari.

One of the many key changes shall be seen in the history syllabus. The common suggestions is to give more space to freedom fighters and MM Malaviya, Ram Manohar Lohia and historians like Hazari Prasad Dwivedi.

The HRD Ministry has uploaded 33 themes in the website and has sought suggestions from the stake holders. It is expecting suggestions from both India and abroad. The new policy is expected to be ready in six months time.