JNU To Start New Centres For Hindu, Buddhist And Jain Studies
Jawaharlal Nehru University has decided to establish centers on religious studies including Centres of Hindu Studies, Buddhist Studies, and Jain Studies. The university has notified its decision following the orders of competent authorities.
According to the notification, the executive council meeting was held on May 29, 2024. In this meeting, the council considered the recommendation of the committee formed to explore and recommend the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Indian Knowledge System. The University said that following the committee’s recommendation, it will establish the following centers within the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies
- Centre for Hindu Studies
- Centre for Buddhist Studies
- Centre for Jain Studies
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Delhi: JNU to establish Centres for Hindu Studies, Buddhist Studies and Jain studies pic.twitter.com/gcKK7ERD67
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Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) has been an integral part of the NEP curricula. The NEP-2020 has tried to rejuvenate and put an end to the discontinuity in the IKS that comprises Jnan, Vigyan, and Jeevan Darshan. It aims to revive Indian Knowledge by integrating them into the curriculum at all levels. As per the new education policy, the IKS requires a multipronged approach such as capacity building at all levels and implementation of innovative initiatives.
The NEP 2020 recognizes the rich heritage of ancient and eternal Indian knowledge and thoughts as a guiding principle that covers domains such as science and technology, literature, philosophy, culture, medicine, and yoga. The NEP has focused on the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary system of education which connects the IKS with the contemporary knowledge system.
The trail has been followed by other institutions and universities recently. IGNOU has also started a course on “M.A. in Bhagavad Gita Studies” to promote the Indian knowledge system and Indian philosophy. According to the university, the main objective of the course is to teach people about the Bhagavad Gita, Dharma, Karma, Yagya, Sanyam, Shraddha, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Gita Tradition and its practical study.
The Delhi University (DU) Faculty of Law is also working to introduce the Manusmriti, or ancient legal text, or ‘dharmashastra’ of Hinduism, in an undergraduate program. It plans to include the ancient Sanskrit text under the paper called “Jurisprudence (Legal Method)”. However, the move in diversity has caused a certain section of the faculty members at the university to raise concerns about overemphasizing religion in the education curricula.
