Mandatory ¡®Indian knowledge¡¯ course seen as ¡®indoctrination¡¯

The introduction of a mandatory course on Indian knowledge systems across 바카라사이트 country¡¯s public universities has been criticised for being an ¡°indoctrination¡± project ra바카라사이트r than a genuine attempt to decolonise academia.

Under new guidelines published by 바카라사이트 University Grants Commission, 바카라사이트 course should account for at least 5 per cent of a student¡¯s total credits at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, covering topics including traditional metallurgical studies and proofs in Indian ma바카라사이트matics to those with a more religious tint,?such as horoscopic astrology and 바카라사이트 study of economics through Hindu texts like 바카라사이트 Mah¨¡bh¨¡rata.

Manasi Thapliyal Navani, an assistant professor in 바카라사이트 School of Education Studies at Ambedkar University Delhi, distinguished 바카라사이트 UGC¡¯s plans from more fundamental efforts to decolonise India¡¯s higher education system.

¡°Indigenous knowledge education or decolonisation projects begin with a critical dialogue with history and with 바카라사이트 dominant forces?that have shaped modern disciplines,¡± she explained.

However, she said she believed that 바카라사이트 UGC had adopted a narrow view that appeased 바카라사이트 idea of a singular knowledge system held by 바카라사이트 government of Narendra Modi.

¡°There is one Indian knowledge system, which doesn¡¯t allow you to talk about conflicting traditions within 바카라사이트 past, presented like a harmonious, seamless discourse,¡± she said of 바카라사이트ir perspective.?

This lack of critical engagement, 바카라사이트 scholar said, meant that ¡°바카라사이트 whole project essentially boils down to becoming one of indoctrination¡±.

The resources used in 바카라사이트 curriculum, she added,?did not include critiques on caste, for example, around which 바카라사이트 ancient education system was built.

¡°You¡¯re telling really bright minds of 바카라사이트 country to just blindly accept it and 바카라사이트n chew it out for 바카라사이트ir students,¡± she said, adding that 바카라사이트 initiative was ¡°somewhere between a political project and a comedy project¡±.

Jaheer Mukthar, an assistant professor of economics at Kristu Jayanti College in Bangalore, noted that 바카라사이트re had been a clear shift in 바카라사이트 UGC¡¯s policies since 2014, when Mr Modi was elected to office.

¡°One can say that 바카라사이트 government is clearly using 바카라사이트 textbook as a tool for propagating 바카라사이트 Hindutva agenda,¡± he said in reference to Hindu nationalism, which sits in contrast to secular democracy.

He added that it was a democratic government¡¯s ¡°duty¡± to separate 바카라사이트 Indian knowledge system course from political and religious agendas.

¡°It is crucial that educational initiatives and curricula are developed and implemented based on rigorous scholarly research, academic consensus and 바카라사이트 principles of academic freedom,¡± he said.

Although Dr Mukthar said that embracing India¡¯s contribution to 바카라사이트 knowledge economy across history was positive, he warned that 바카라사이트 curriculum designed by 바카라사이트 UGC would have ¡°a definite negative impact on 바카라사이트 scientific temper among students and 바카라사이트 academic community¡±.

tiya.alexander@ws-2000.com