'Education is about making the perfect man'

Rajya Sabha Member Dr.Ram Parkash born on October 5, 1939 at  Village Tangore, Distt. Kurukshetra (Haryana). He performed many responsibilities in Haryana and at Parliament.  He says future generations must be made aware of their cultural heritage. Man cannot live by blood alone. So emphasis on finding one’s roots is very important.Many attempts have been made. For instance, India has resolved to revive the old Nalanda University in Bihar. The Indian Parliament has passed a resolution in this respect during the monsoon session. Collaboration with Mauritius on this project must be encouraged. He visited Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Germany, U.K., Canada, U.S.A., France, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Romania, The Netherlands, Belgium, Mauritius and Kenya. Remembering his services and devotion to the peoples radio and TV journalist Madhu Gujadhar sent us a link of his interview from Mauritius by News Now which is given below. we hope you will like it. Cultural heritage must be saved A member of the Rajya Sabha, a socio-cultural organisation born in India which has worked tirelessly for the emancipation of Hindu women, Professor Ram Prakash talks to SUNIL GOPAL about his current mission to Mauritius  Professor, we know that over the years you have become a close friend of Mauritius and that you have often travelled to Mauritius. What brings you this time?  In 2007, the Arya Sabha Mauritius and the Kurukshetra University, Haryana, signed a Memorandum of Understanding.  Earlier the Kurukshetra University had taken certain decisions which enabled Mauritian students to pursue their tertiary education in the land of their forefathers. The MoU formalised the arrangement for Mauritian students to study for a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in various subjects. On Sunday there was the first convocation for the graduation ceremony at the Arya Sabha here in Mauritius. The leaders of Arya Sabha Mauritius asked that I deliver this first convocation.  How did this first batch of Mauritian students fare? What are your future plans?  Dr Udhay Narain Gangoo from Arya Sabha Mauritius made several trips to India to finalise the MoU and solve problems that arose. I was also involved in the process as I am one of the signatories. On Sunday, some 50 Mauritian students graduated.  We want to expand this collaboration further. Currently Mauritian students are doing the following courses at the Kurukshetra University: B A in English, B A in Sanskrit, BA (Hons) in Philosphy and BA (Hons) in Sanskrit and various MA degrees. We want to expand this. The first batch were very successful. The degrees are approved both in India and Mauritius, which is something important. The Kurukshetra University approved the conditions of the Tertiary Education Commission.  On Sunday, both the Minister of Education and Human Resources Dr Vasant Bunwaree and the Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology Dr Rajesh Jeetah were present at the graduation ceremony. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mauritius, Professor Konrad Morgan, was also present.  There is one good point here. People always talk about collaboration between India and Mauritius at government level. This MoU is a collaboration between the citizens of the two countries. They are the children of the same forefathers.  The Kurukshetra University is autonomous; so is the Arya Sabha Mauritius. But I must underline that the agreement has the blessing of the Mauritian Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam and the Chief Minister of the Indian State of Haryana, Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda.  How would you describe the cooperation between Mauritius and India in the education sector?  Mauritius and India in the education sector? It has evolved because the two countries share the same cultural heritage. But education is not merely getting a university degree; it is a about making a prefect man.  This is possible only through ethical values. India is the homeland of the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads and the six Darshan Shastras. These holy scriptures preach universal truth for the whole world.  One must have some roots in the tradition of their forefathers. This constitutes a definite advantage when students come to India for their tertiary education. Through the efforts of the Arya Sabha Mauritius, Mauritian students have the possibility of getting a degree from India.  What could be the other areas of cooperation between Mauritius and India?  India is a very big market and every country is trying to capture it. I think the children whose forefathers came from India must have access to education, business and the economy in India.  They should be benefitting from these facilities.Sunday was indeed a historic day because through the first batch of Mauritian graduates from the Kurukshetra University, the two nations moved closer together.  I feel that emphasis should be laid on technical education as well because the sugar cane industry will no longer provide so much employment. The hardworking, down-to-earth and modest people of Mauritius should have some solid knowledge in the technical field. This will enable the younger generation to stand on their feet.  You appear to have much affection for Mauritius?  I love this country more than any other country. I may refuse to go to another country but I will never refuse to come to Mauritius. We have similar roots.  How would you evaluate relations between Mauritius and India?  The bond between Mauritius and India is natural and so it is very strong. In our country people do not refer to Mauritius as just another country. For us, it is more than that. I have found similar feelings here, especially among the older generation of Mauritians of Indian origin. “Apne desh se aya hain”(He comes from our own country) say the elders here regarding someone coming from India. This bond is going to be strengthened further and we should give credit to our political leaders for that. There is an Indianness in Dr Navin Ramgoolam and Shrimati Veena Ramgoolam. I think this is in the interest of both countries. Because of Dr Ramgoolam’s continued efforts to strengthen this bond of friendship between Mauritius and India, the Kurukshetra University has resolved to confer on him the LLD Honoris Causa. I am carrying a letter from the Vice Chancellor of the Kurukshetra University seeking the prime minister’s convenience to come over to Kurukshetra to collect the honorary degree. You know, whenever we confer honorary degrees to people from other countries, people ask why it is being done. But in the case of Dr Ramgoolam, when the decision was taken, everybody endorsed it. We see the people of Mauritius as our own brothers and sisters.  What are the other avenues of cooperation within the education sector – and other sectors as well?  As far as education and social reform is concerned, Arya Sabha Mauritius is doing good work. I feel that emphasis should be laid on technical education as well because the sugar cane industry will no longer provide so much employment. The hardworking, down-to-earth and modest people of Mauritius should have some solid knowledge in the technical field. This will enable the younger generation to stand on their feet.  There should be more collaboration on the cultural front as well. Concurrently, other areas that can strengthen the economy of Mauritius must be explored. This place can be good for medicinal plants.  Close collaboration between scientists of the two countries can help achieve good results. I fail to understand why dairy farming is not getting its due place here. Milk is a very essential commodity. If the small planters are leaving sugar cane cultivation, this is a sector which could be developed. India, as I said earlier, is a very big market. Why can’t Mauritius benefit from that?  The government of Mauritius, in particular the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure, is making lots of efforts to attract more Indian tourists. What can be done to achieve positive growth in this field?  The idea in my mind is cultural understanding. Many things can be done to make your tourist spots more attractive. Mauritius is preferred by the common tourists. While coming here, I saw many young couples on the airplane. They come to Mauritius because they consider it safer, cheaper and having far more scenic beauty than other destinations.  What can be done to preserve rich ancestral culture and values?  This is a problem throughout the world, including my own country. Future generations must be made aware of their cultural heritage. Man cannot live by blood alone. So emphasis on finding one’s roots is very important.  Many attempts have been made. For instance, India has resolved to revive the old Nalanda University in Bihar. The Indian Parliament has passed a resolution in this respect during the monsoon session. Collaboration with Mauritius on this project must be encouraged.  While speaking on the Nalanda University Bill, I emphasised the importance of setting up a department of the various ancient scripts: Devanagri, Brahmi and Krishti. It is a fact that we have very few scholars who are experts in these ancient scripts.  So all that is available – I mean, written or carved ancient scripts on stone, copper and other material unearthed after archaeological digs, are useless to us if we cannot read them.  Human history is getting lost. Similarly, if Mauritians do not dig for more knowledge about their ancestors, they cannot understand appropriately their cultural heritage. Any other specific project between the Arya Sabha Mauritius and the Kurukshetra University?  Kurukshetra University has a positive approach; it is not a commercial institution. It is trying to help and accommodate Mauritian students. Arya Sabha Mauritius wants us to conduct a course in Vedic Purohit (meant for prospective priests). We discussed it and we are happy to say that the attitude of the Kurukshetra University on this matter is very positive.  On the other hand, I will work on a project to help prospective Mauritian students from deprived families to follow courses in a polytechnic. I am also running a school bearing the name of my late father, Shri Prabhu Dayal. This project is being looked at seriously.       (Courtesy: News Now)

Photos: Jamirouddin Yeadally