His Holiness the Dalai Lama says: “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” The traditional Indian learning system focuses on creating well-rounded individuals by developing the heart (compassion and love) and mind (cognitive development). Sadly, literacy is now largely seen as an acquisition of language skills and numeracy when, in today’s conflict-ridden world, the need to inculcate the values of compassion, empathy and love in learners at an early stage. who can contribute to the betterment of the society. Re-imagining literacy as it existed in the traditional Indian education system, thus making the context of today imperative.
It is worth mentioning that the National Policy on Education (NEP) 2020 has recognized this essential need and stipulated that we “build a new system that will support the 21st century, including Sustainable Development Goal 4, while building on India’s traditions.” be aligned with the aspirational goals of education. value system.” The NEP places special emphasis on the development of the creative potential of each individual.
Nurturing Caring and Compassion While Young: Research has shown that teaching-learning methods based on common sense, experience, and scientific findings can develop core values such as compassion, love, and empathy.
Seen through this lens, feeling is incomplete without the development of the heart. There is a need for a new age literacy model that incorporates teaching-learning methods that encourage the development of the heart and mind simultaneously. We must develop pro-social abilities, interpersonal abilities and emotional resilience in children’s early learning stages, all of which are powerful levers to create caring young individuals. It will enable them to manage their emotions, display compassion and empathy, build healthy relationships, navigate life situations and become nation-builders.
Additionally, moral literacy can awaken an internal recognition of the interdependence, integrity and humility of life, and the fact that we exist in this world not only for ourselves but for others as well. This awakening of self is ‘Service Bhava’ in its purest form and will go a long way in making India a country of equal opportunity, harmony and peace.
It is heartening to see this re-imagined concept of pace of literacy gathering being embraced. In collaboration with Emory University, Piramal Foundation has partnered with the governments of Rajasthan and Odisha to implement compassion-based teaching-learning methods. As a consortium partner of Project Sampoorna, it also supports the Government of Jharkhand to implement this form of literacy. Governments of Delhi and Uttarakhand are also implementing such methods, with encouraging results. It testifies to the growing acceptance that true transformational change can be enabled by the development of well-rounded, compassionate individuals.
The wheels of change have been set in motion and the difference it makes is obvious. A class 10 student at a school in Jhunjhunu says: “By learning about my feelings, I am becoming more compassionate towards myself and others.”
“It is a priority for tribal students as they have a strong mind, but strong at heart and necessary for their overall development,” says Bishwaranjan Sasmal, special secretary, Odisha’s Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes department.
The time has come for literacy to find its rightful place in school education to be reimagined as we move away from the normative narrative that links literacy to language and numeracy to establish a counterfactual narrative Which emphasizes on social, emotional and compassionate literacy. , It calls upon all the major players – governments, social sector organizations and corporate India – to help root out this new narrative. This will lead to sustainable change, which will bring us closer to our vision of the country and help us achieve our Sustainable Development Goals.
A Transformed India led by compassion-literate leaders: We at India@100 see the next generation as compassion-literate, we see India as a nation that cares, confident, intelligent learners and compassionate And it is a country of leaders who show sympathy. We see a nation that has no barriers, devoid of conflict and conflict. Nothing is more important in our education system than nurturing compassionate-literate learners imbued with the spirit of service, who will grow into leaders of tomorrow committed to the development of the nation. Our future depends on them.
Ajay Piramal and Monal Jayaram are, respectively, Chairman, Piramal Enterprises Limited and Director, Piramal Foundation.
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