Guru-shishya parampara must guide modern edu: Himachal ex-Governor

Former Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Friday highlighted the timeless relevance of India’s guru-shishya parampara, calling it the bedrock of Indian knowledge traditions and a moral compass for contemporary society. He was delivering the valedictory keynote address at the national seminar on ‘Guru Parampara and Indian Knowledge Tradition’ at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS).

In his address, Koshyari urged educational institutions to seamlessly integrate spiritual values with modern education, stating that true learning must balance science and spirituality to foster holistic human development. Referring to the ancient Indian ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world as one family — he called on scholars and youth to revive India’s civilisational wisdom and apply its teachings to address today’s global challenges.

The three-day seminar, held from June 25 to 27, brought together academics and cultural thinkers from across the country to discuss the evolution and contemporary relevance of the Guru tradition. Discussions spanned a wide array of themes, including the methodologies of ancient Rishis, cultural creativity, social reform and strategies for harmonising traditional and modern educational systems.

Prof K Gopinathan Pillai, fellow at IIAS and Convener of the seminar, presented a comprehensive report summarising the event. He outlined key takeaways from academic sessions and roundtable discussions, noting how the Guru tradition has historically contributed to social awakening and intellectual inquiry and how its revival could offer new pedagogical models for modern institutions.

Chairperson of IIAS, Prof ShashiPrabha Kumar, joined the session virtually and delivered the Chair’s Address, in which she emphasised the philosophical underpinnings of the guru-shishya relationship. She described it as a tradition that not only nurtures intellectual growth but also cultivates ethical and culturally rooted citizens, essential for sustaining India’s pluralistic democracy.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the organising committee, Mehar Chand Negi thanked Koshyari, Prof Kumar, the attending scholars and the participants for their thoughtful contributions. He also acknowledged the efforts of the dedicated organising team whose work made the seminar a success.