11-25-2007, 07:35 PM
<b>Vedas and the NCERT</b>
By Dr. Indulata Das
THE light of knowledge dawned in the world with the magnificent
literature is called as Vedas. Vedas are the expression of the most
sublime ideas of human mind and are replete with well wishes not for a
particular community or class, not even for the human only. They
solicit peace for the earth, the water, the air, the space, the
animals, and the even the plants along with the inner peace for the
human being:
Yajurveda 36.17
(Let there be peace in the sky, in the space, in the earth, in the
water, in the herbs, in the woods, in the gods, in the Brahman and
everywhere. Let there be peace and peace. Let the same peace be in me
too.)
An inundation of love and universal fraternity flows from the Vedas.
Eradication of hatred from human heart has been the essence of the
Vedic precept. A single stanza from the Isavsyopanisad is adequate to
reveal this
Vedic tenet:
Isavasyopanisad 6
(He, who discovers the presence of all the beings in his own self and
finds himself in all the beings, has no scope to hate.)
Vedas thus are the treasures of the whole world, placed high above the
trifling human divisions into sects or communities. Rightly the UNESCO
has honoured the Vedas with the glorious status of world heritage. The
senate of America paid apt respect to the grand literature by
commencing its session with the spiritual recital of Veda Mantras and
Gita.
It is India's supreme pride to be known as the emanating place of the
Vedas. Indian culture sans the Vedas is unthinkable. It is the
foremost consecrated duty of every Indian, therefore to be of service
to the motherland by preserving Vedas, the most precious treasure of
the land and spreading the precept of the same to every corner of the
world.
But this light of the land is an object of abomination for National
Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the leading,
responsible organization of India which is entrusted with the sacred
duty of protecting Indian culture and transmitting it to the next
generation through education. For the organization Vedas are
untouchable and the recitation of it is an abominable act of communalism.
Yes, the incident happened in NCERT and in the Project which is
launched to spread Sanskrit to the nook and corner of India. The
National Sanskrit Project (NSP), under the Dept. of Language of NCERT,
which is aimed at promoting Sanskrit throughout India, had organised a
three-day All India Sanskrit Conference on "Sanskrit Education through
E-learning" from 29th August to 31st August 07. The date was chosen to
coincide with the `Sanskrit Week' which started from 28th August 07.
The Sanskrit day falls on the Sravana Purnima and is observed for one
week and in many places for one full month.
Since the Vedas are the most valuable treasures of Sanskrit language,
the seminar was appropriately planned to start with Vedic chanting and
to end with Vedic prayer for peace.
<b>But when the agenda of the seminar was known to Prof. Ramajanm Sharma,
HOD, Dept. of Language, his action was most unexpected. He did not
agree to the recitation of Vedas in the beginning and at the end of
the Conference. Even after repeated efforts from the NSP to convince
Prof. Sharma that Vedas are the valuable treasures of the country and
are the great heritage of the world and the chanting of Vedas at the
beginning is a mark of respect to the great heritage of India, Prof.
Sharma refused to approve the same. As a result no Vedic chanting
could take place in the Conference. The matter was reported to the
Joint Director and Director, NCERT but in vain.
The attitude of the NCERT towards the grand culture and heritage of
India is highly deplorable and objectionable. It is an official insult
to the great culture.</b>
When insulting the national flag is a punishable offence by law why
should the insult of the Vedas not be regarded as an offence equally
or more serious? It is therefore necessary that appropriate action be
taken by the Ministry of HRD against those who are responsible for
this dishonour of Indian culture and take measures to prevent future
repetition of such undesirable act. The persons who openly disrespect
the culture of the land must not be rewarded with high posts in the
country.
(The writer can be contacted at indulatadas@ yahoo.co. in) When
insulting the national flag is a punishable offence by law why should
the insult of the Vedas not be regarded as an offence equally or more
serious
By Dr. Indulata Das
THE light of knowledge dawned in the world with the magnificent
literature is called as Vedas. Vedas are the expression of the most
sublime ideas of human mind and are replete with well wishes not for a
particular community or class, not even for the human only. They
solicit peace for the earth, the water, the air, the space, the
animals, and the even the plants along with the inner peace for the
human being:
Yajurveda 36.17
(Let there be peace in the sky, in the space, in the earth, in the
water, in the herbs, in the woods, in the gods, in the Brahman and
everywhere. Let there be peace and peace. Let the same peace be in me
too.)
An inundation of love and universal fraternity flows from the Vedas.
Eradication of hatred from human heart has been the essence of the
Vedic precept. A single stanza from the Isavsyopanisad is adequate to
reveal this
Vedic tenet:
Isavasyopanisad 6
(He, who discovers the presence of all the beings in his own self and
finds himself in all the beings, has no scope to hate.)
Vedas thus are the treasures of the whole world, placed high above the
trifling human divisions into sects or communities. Rightly the UNESCO
has honoured the Vedas with the glorious status of world heritage. The
senate of America paid apt respect to the grand literature by
commencing its session with the spiritual recital of Veda Mantras and
Gita.
It is India's supreme pride to be known as the emanating place of the
Vedas. Indian culture sans the Vedas is unthinkable. It is the
foremost consecrated duty of every Indian, therefore to be of service
to the motherland by preserving Vedas, the most precious treasure of
the land and spreading the precept of the same to every corner of the
world.
But this light of the land is an object of abomination for National
Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the leading,
responsible organization of India which is entrusted with the sacred
duty of protecting Indian culture and transmitting it to the next
generation through education. For the organization Vedas are
untouchable and the recitation of it is an abominable act of communalism.
Yes, the incident happened in NCERT and in the Project which is
launched to spread Sanskrit to the nook and corner of India. The
National Sanskrit Project (NSP), under the Dept. of Language of NCERT,
which is aimed at promoting Sanskrit throughout India, had organised a
three-day All India Sanskrit Conference on "Sanskrit Education through
E-learning" from 29th August to 31st August 07. The date was chosen to
coincide with the `Sanskrit Week' which started from 28th August 07.
The Sanskrit day falls on the Sravana Purnima and is observed for one
week and in many places for one full month.
Since the Vedas are the most valuable treasures of Sanskrit language,
the seminar was appropriately planned to start with Vedic chanting and
to end with Vedic prayer for peace.
<b>But when the agenda of the seminar was known to Prof. Ramajanm Sharma,
HOD, Dept. of Language, his action was most unexpected. He did not
agree to the recitation of Vedas in the beginning and at the end of
the Conference. Even after repeated efforts from the NSP to convince
Prof. Sharma that Vedas are the valuable treasures of the country and
are the great heritage of the world and the chanting of Vedas at the
beginning is a mark of respect to the great heritage of India, Prof.
Sharma refused to approve the same. As a result no Vedic chanting
could take place in the Conference. The matter was reported to the
Joint Director and Director, NCERT but in vain.
The attitude of the NCERT towards the grand culture and heritage of
India is highly deplorable and objectionable. It is an official insult
to the great culture.</b>
When insulting the national flag is a punishable offence by law why
should the insult of the Vedas not be regarded as an offence equally
or more serious? It is therefore necessary that appropriate action be
taken by the Ministry of HRD against those who are responsible for
this dishonour of Indian culture and take measures to prevent future
repetition of such undesirable act. The persons who openly disrespect
the culture of the land must not be rewarded with high posts in the
country.
(The writer can be contacted at indulatadas@ yahoo.co. in) When
insulting the national flag is a punishable offence by law why should
the insult of the Vedas not be regarded as an offence equally or more
serious