Page 16 - Unleashed BMM 2019-2020

A class at a modern gurukul. Picture Credits: Sugantha Krishnamachary, The Hindu

urrounded by elders, relatives and par- religious expert. There are a lot of ways to learn
ents all alike with the freshly carved about a particular culture and their beliefs and
five tufts and donning a newly made THUS SPAKE VOICES practices. However, for a profound subject like
SYajnopavitha (sacred thread) seven- religion and the knowledge enumerated in it,
year-old Srivatsa finds himself in emotional when learned from a scholar, mentor or Guru
dilemma. Though everyone around him seems (teacher) it has a deep impact over us.
to be happy he wears a penchant on his face as Alongwith the society, the religious schools
somewhere deep down, he knows the happiness “The school I attend teach are facing the inevitable hazards of treacherous
is short-lived. He is about to attend the Vedas in the early morning modernisation too. Therefore, they are trying
Vedashala, where there would be strict rules, and our formal school section their best for a reform. The religious teaching is
regulations and principles to be followed and followed by a very carefully prescribed modern
most importantly no Amma-Appa. It will be a starts from nine o’clock. This curriculum. “The school I attend teach Vedas in
school as his parents say for learning values and helps us to relate with what we the early morning and our formal school section
culture. learn in scriptures and its starts from nine o’clock. This helps us to relate
Owing to the sustainability of the knowledge practical application.” with what we learn in scriptures and its practical
along with moral and cultural values imparted application,” says a student attending modern
by the religious school, many parents are opting gurukul in the city of Mumbai. The scriptures
religious education for their children. From and holy books are not the only subjects taught
many centuries the knowledge has been passed anymore. The staple academic subjects like
on from generation to generation, standing “It would not suffice to dwell English, Science, Mathematics, Social Studies
against the odd with passing of each and every and some more subjects have also been included
contemporary modern time. However, though on scriptures and mythology to equip the children with the modern knowedge
the knowledge of religion is centuries old, it has alone today because people do along with religious education. “It would not
always been questionable while its practices has question these subjects, which suffice to dwell on scriptures and mythology
been part of a never ending argument. alone today because people do question these
makes it important for us to subjects, which makes it important for us to also
RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS also teach students the related teach the student the related science, logic and
AND EDUCATION science, logic, inner meaning inner meaning within these subjects so they
With emergence of technology not only has the could see between both perspectives and then
world become smaller but it became wider for within these perspectives and contradict or validate them,” told a Vedic
religious enthusiasts as well as followers, any contradict or validate them.” teacher at a modern Vedshala in the city of
doubt in muhurta, just ‘Google it’ and you’re the Mumbai on condition of anonymity.

16 | UNLEASHED | 2019