Recapturing the Vision Called Bharat

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Bharat means - 'that revels in knowledge'. Bharat used to be the repository of all kinds of knowledge systems in ancient times. Our ancient scientists - Rishis-used their knowledge for the welfare of the humanity and never utilized it for self-aggrandizement or to satiate their greed. As Bharat aspires to rebuild a nation confident in itself, capable of playing its civilizational role among the comity of nations and emerge as a knowledge economy, it is important that we learn and teach about our past and achievements. This book is a humble attempt at throwing light on that 'vision called Bharat' and we hope it will make all our readers feel proud.

Education is the key to the development of not only to an individual but to society, state and civilization. India had been invaded several times, and some of invading hordes made it their home. Despite their nefarious actions and persecution, they could not destroy the Hindu civilization.

India indeed had an excellent and the world's best education system from the Vedic period. Still, the invaders' desire to destroy it and make Hindus inferior had never been accomplished through wars or any other methods. The British developed their economy from resources pooled and exported from India. They tried to destroy the root that was the ancient education system which was followed in Indian society to make us slaves and develop India as their colony. They left no stone unturned to destroy the roots of the Indian education system; therefore, do read this book to understand how hard they worked to demolish the education system in India. It is unfortunate that the mainstream academic discussions, in a post-colonial era, also continued to side with the colonial propaganda to make everything Indian look terrible and made us ashamed of our glorious past. India suffered 1400 years of continuous attacks first from Islamic invaders and then from the white-skinned people.

The main idea behind education is to produce young individuals of character and ability who are committed to rational service. Education is the only means that can play a monumental role in promoting national progress, culture, heritage and strengthening a sense of common citizenship and national integration. This is necessary if the country is to attain its rightful place in the comity of nations in conformity with its rich heritage and culture.

The Independence of India was a significant juncture in numerous ways. On the one hand, it was a long struggle of colonial onslaught and resurrection of the Old Civilization in a new form after a struggle for centuries. The nature of invaders witnessed a drastic change from Greeks to Huns to Islamic to European aggressions. I think that British colonization was more destructive and torment. The Britishers not only inflicted political subjugation but also advanced colonization in cultural and intellectual horizons. They completely destroyed the ancient education system of our country. Today India is struggling to achieve and re-establish its cultural independence. Crude politics and self-seeking politicking have created mental barriers among Indian intellectuals.

Traditionally society has existed independent of state power, we had autonomous systems independent of state power capable of taking care of various matters of the society.

It is often said that life can be understood backwards but it I must be lived forwards. For a nation, too, this is true. Our past, our history will give us the strength to soldier on and emerge as the most powerful nation on earth.

The book Recapturing the Idea Called Bharat written by Shri Karan Kataria reflects the aspiration of a nation, a civilizational requirement. If our forefathers had done wonders, think ahead of the rest of humanity, as the true inheritors of their legacy, we can repeat the feat in flying colors. What has been holding us back is our self-made problems and impediments.

As a nation when we realise our true dharma, our potential, when we get our act together, casting off all differences, false notions, we emerge invincible. Although we failed to realise our potential, the people who enslaved us, tried to destroy us, knew our strength. They tried to destroy all those symbols, institutions, and value systems and distorted our books after establishing the political power. They instilled in us a feeling of hatred towards our own heritage and religion. They colonized not only our land but our minds too.

Colonization is a process of syphoning whatever inherent or congenital to our culture in a bid to delink us from our rich cultural past and civilizational ethos (swadharma).