CM Mohan Charan Majhi highlights NEP

CM Mohan Charan Majhi attending workshop on India's knowledge traditions under NEP-2020 at Shree Jagannath Sanskrit University in Puri on Monday Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday underscored the importance of familiarising the youth with India’s rich knowledge traditions, cultural heritage, and historical legacy.Addressing a workshop on the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 at the Central Sanskrit University campus in Puri, Majhi said India has safeguarded its ancient wisdom despite centuries of foreign invasions. “Preserving and activating this heritage is a collective responsibility and a national duty,” he said, citing India’s contributions across disciplines—from philosophy, law, and literature to science, metallurgy, and agriculture.Majhi described NEP-2020 as the first education policy of the 21st century designed to meet the country’s development needs. Rooted in Indian ethos, the policy proposes sweeping reforms across the education system, aligning with sustainable development goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for and the aspirations of a modern, inclusive society.“The policy places special emphasis on nurturing the creative potential of every individual,” he said. “Education is not just about cognitive skills—it must build foundational literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking.” He added that the ultimate aim of education is to shape good human beings who embody rationality, compassion, resilience, scientific temper, and moral values.Majhi stressed that ideal educational institutions should offer safe, inspiring, and inclusive environments where students feel at home. He also highlighted the role of NEP 2020 in instilling constitutional values and patriotism, noting that education must serve not only personal advancement but the collective welfare of society.Quoting Kautilya’s Arthashastra—“The welfare of the people is the true joy of the ruler”—Majhi said public service and duty are the bedrock of Indian democratic thought, where the ruler-subject relationship is akin to that of a father and son.Atul Kothari, secretary of Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, New Delhi, echoed the sentiment, stating that education is not merely a means to livelihood but the foundation of life. He called for integrating Indian values and cultural awareness into the curriculum to build a generation of knowledgeable, dutiful, and patriotic citizens. “The NEP harmonises Indian thought with modern knowledge,” Kothari said. “It strengthens our cultural roots while preparing us to engage with the world,” he added.