Raipur | January 25, 2026
A thought-provoking panel discussion on “India Consciousness in the New Age” was held on Sunday at the Shyamlal Chaturvedi Pavilion under the ongoing Raipur Literature Festival. The session was dedicated to noted thinker Mavali Prasad Srivastava and was moderated by Prabhat Mishra. Eminent academicians Dr Sanjeev Sharma and Dr Sanjay Dwivedi participated as keynote speakers.
Need for Indian Perspective in Education
Addressing the gathering, Dr Sanjeev Sharma emphasised the importance of integrating India-centric consciousness (Bharat Bodh) into the education system. He stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) has given appropriate space to the Indian worldview, which views culture not merely as self-realisation but as a philosophy rooted in universal welfare.
He noted that Indian thought promotes unity in diversity, not uniformity, and asserted that education must liberate individuals from caste-based and narrow social constraints while strengthening human values. Dr Sharma underlined that Indian tradition recognises divinity in humans, animals, and nature alike, and stressed the inclusion of Indian cultural terminology and philosophy in academic curricula.
Highlighting the need for reform at the primary education level, he said curricular changes are essential to instil Bharat Bodh from an early stage. Drawing a historical contrast, he observed that while Mughal invasions were physical, British rule imposed a psychological colonisation, leading to a sense of inferiority that must now be consciously dismantled.
Dr Sharma further stated that both curriculum and mindset transformation are necessary, but these reforms must emerge from an Indian intellectual framework, rather than imitation of Western models. Expressing concern over higher education, he said institutions must move beyond rankings and formal recognition to combine global standards with Indian intellectual grounding. He also highlighted the potential of presenting traditional narratives such as the Panchatantra through modern technology.
Media and Journalism Must Reflect Indian Values
Speaking on the role of media, Dr Sanjay Dwivedi said that Indian languages inherently carry both knowledge and science, and today’s youth are taking India’s unique traditions and intellectual heritage to the global stage. He noted that India has historically shared its ideas with the world without imposing them, citing Swami Vivekananda as a key example.
