Author: Sabayasachi Bandopadhyay
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 18, 2002
The Ramayana and the Mahabharata
may soon form a part of the curriculum in, IIT, Kharagpur. If Sisir Dube,
the new director has his way, students will have to attend classes on ancient
Indian culture and tradition along with their engineering courses.
Dube wants to make the students
"true Indians by including lessons in moral science, early Indian history
and mythology. "Today's younger generation know little about the culture
and tradition of our country", said Dube.
"In fact, they always look to the
West for inspiration and role models. They think of leaving the country
and settling abroad as soon they finish their education here. I want to
inculcate in them a sense of Indianness, pride in being Indian and desire
to serve the nation by staying back in the country," he added
Scriptures: Lamenting the fact that
the youth have no knowledge of the ancient scriptures; he queried: "Where
do you find religious tolerance like India? Go to Saudi Arabia and see
the difference. But students do not know this greatness of Indian culture.
I want learn to learn it here."
He pointed out that students, although
ignorant about Indian culture, keep abreast with all that's happening in
the West. "You ask them the name of Lord Krishna's sister and they will
have a blank look. But ask them about the latest bits of Michael Jackson
or Madonna, and they will rattle off all their songs," said the IIT director.
However, Dube is yet to give final
shape to his endeavour. "It may be an elective course or a training programme
comprising of seminars and lectures. I have not yet finished it."
