The National Education Policy (NEP) has incorporated the ancient text Manusmriti into the Humanism section of the Indian Philosophical Tradition in the BA third-year Philosophy course. The recent update to the curriculum also includes the philosophy of Jain saint Acharya Vidyasagar.
Including Manusmriti in Philosophy
Educators argue that the Geetapress Gorakhpur publication promotes class discrimination, despite the inclusion of valuable information about personal conduct, social structures, and human excellence in the revised syllabus.
The book of Geetapress Gorakhpur, when used as a reference for teaching Manusmriti, has been surrounded by controversy. Some educationists argue that it perpetuates class discrimination, but this interpretation does not reflect the true essence of the text. Maharaj Manu, who authored the Manusmriti, was a devout worshiper of Om, Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. This scripture encompasses personal conduct, societal structures, and the pursuit of excellence. Nevertheless, there are instances where misinterpretations may arise.
The updated course also aims to introduce students to humanism through the lenses of modern thinkers. Integral Humanism, the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) course will cover concepts such as Deendayal Upadhyay’s Social Humanism, Dr. BR Ambedkar’s Social Humanism, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s Scientific Humanism, and Acharya Mahapragya’s Spiritual Humanism.
Furthermore, the course will delve into the life philosophy of eminent Indian personalities, including Acharya Vidyasagar, the founder of the world’s largest Digambar Sangh.
NEP Guidelines
“As per the guidelines of the National Education Policy (NEP), we have implemented the syllabus for the third year starting from this year. It incorporates the study of ideas from renowned thinkers and scriptures, providing students with valuable knowledge,” explained Dr. Dhirendra Shukla, OSD of Higher Education.
The new curriculum, effective from this academic year, aims to expose students to diverse ideas and philosophies from various thinkers and writings.
Dr. PK Khare, a Philosophy teacher, is now instructing the previously generic elective course and has recently incorporated the Manusmriti into its curriculum. This profound text delves into a plethora of subjects, including animal kindness, compassion, and sympathy.
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