Guwahati to host three-day national seminar on 'Science of Living'

Dr. Lalit Kishore

09 September, 2016

Rajasthan-based Kendriya Jeevan Vigyan Academy, located at Jain Vishava Bharati University at Ladnun, is going to organize a three-day national seminar on their value-oriented curriculum called Jeevan Vigyan or 'Science of Living' in Guhawati - the capital city of Assam - from October 21 to 23 to discuss issues related to values of life and their incorporation in education and curriculum.

According to the Chairman of the Jeevan Vigyan Academy, the seminar will be directed by Munishri Yogesh Kumarji in the auspicious presence of Acharyashri Mahashramanji. The seminar is being organized to draw the attention of humanity to make both living and learning value-based to come out of present day life which is full of strife.

I also feel strongly that the world is passing through a period of conflicts, terrorism, violence, hate crimes, crass consumerism, materialism, ponzi economy, ecological imbalance and climate change and hold that our education system needs to get linked with life through learning of basic human values committed to the cause of peace within and without. Presently, government schools have become almost dysfunctional and private schools are being run on factory and business models devoid of values in their behaviour and practices.
The curriculum of Jeevan Vigyan has been formulated for all levels of students beginning from class-I up to higher education level as an area of study along with practical and practice to develop the right kind of mindset. The curriculum framers say that keeping in view the needs and the pace of learning of the students, the syllabus has been divided into twelve units such as: Sound; Resoluteness; Right Exercise; Right Breathing; Kayotsarg; Preksha Dhyan; Anatomy; Health Science; Mental Health; Emotional Health; Awareness of Values; and Non-violence. It is a theme-based concentric curriculum with age-grade appropriateness.

Not only the seminar will deepen the insights of the participants in value education and classroom processes but will impact their own lives towards being more humane leading to a purposeful life. I subscribe for the view of linking life, learning and values for holistic development of children in their formative years. In fact, schools are encouraged to have their own curriculum up to grade VIII. The best of education should be given from age 3 to 11 for developing the right kind of mind.