Mysuru: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on Thursday, said technology is today a great equaliser. Using this equaliser, one must present an Indian model to the world for the empowerment of human beings.Speaking at ‘Beyond the Western Paradigm: Shaping the Future of Higher Education through Bharat’s Worldview’ as part of an international conference titled ‘Ekatma Manav Darshan: Bharat’s Worldview’ at the KSOU Convocation Hall here, Pradhan said: “I firmly believe that many development models across the world are failing. Therefore, India’s lifestyle-based, value-based, and culture-based thinking is becoming increasingly relevant.” Saying that “Indian thought has become a powerful intellectual influence in the world”, Pradhan said practices such as yoga are now seen as solutions across the globe. He further said: “Technology has now reached a stage — with AI and other technology-based subjects — that it is a horizontal topic. If students — from humanities to commerce to STEM — do not study these interdisciplinary areas, they may find themselves unfit in today’s competitive world.”“That is why, keeping India’s needs in mind, we have designed a multidisciplinary approach in the new education policy. We have created a new credit architecture and emphasised quality education,” the minister added. Stressing the importance of early education in mother tongue, he said: “We must build an education system that creates global citizens, while staying rooted to Indian values, language, culture, and traditions. India has the largest youth population in the world, and their role in knowledge creation is crucial.” Indian Knowledge Systems and Heritage Association (IKSHA) director and National Research Coordinator Prajna Pravah Chaitra said before Macaulay’s system completes 200 years, there is need to replace it with India’s own education system. KSOU vice-chancellor Sharanappa V Halase and former IAS officer M Madan Gopal were also present at the conference. Pradhan also held discussions with the Central Institute of Indian Languages team on expanding its mandate to strengthen Indian languages through research, innovation, and collaboration. The talks emphasised linguistic diversity beyond Scheduled Languages, decolonising frameworks, indigenous perspectives, institutional capacity, measurable outcomes, and a coordinated, long-term approach to revitalise India’s language ecosystem. He later visited an exhibition at Central Institute of Indian Languages. A team of students from Purna Chetana School met Pradhan and presented a book titled ‘Paat Shaala – Jeevan Yatra’, highlighting the school’s innovative learning culture. Toshan (class 5), Mahesh (class 8), and Suhas and Suditi (class 10), in the presence of school CEO B Darshan Raj, handed over the book, featuring 189 articles – all written by students. Earlier, Pradhan visited the Suttur mutt and met its seer Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami.
