From The Desk of The Chairman
Anil Kumar Singh (Former IAS)
Chairman,
GD Goenka Public School (Roorkee)
EDUCATION to me is a leading out of what is already there in the pupils soul. Our ancestors did not ask for richness, wealth or opulence. They asked for “तमसोमाज्योतिर्गमय“ i.e. a leading out to light (knowledge) from the abyss of darkness (ignorance). They could clearly see education as an empowering tool and a great liberating force of human souls from the shackles of dogmatic prejudices of past ( ‘साविद्यायाविमुक्तये’ ). What else is education but the reverent joining of the past to the gloom of the future by making wise use of the present? Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.
Holistic and quality education is the deepest and the most immediate need of the country and it is a matter of great rejoicing for a person like me to whom the destiny has given the first opportunity for identifying and associating with the larger life and hope of the nation. We want not only a free India , a prosperous and powerful India, but a great India, taking a place of pride among the comity of nations. But an ignited soul rich with the inheritance of the past, richer gains of the present, and ever widening potentialities of the future can only come by a system of modern education which is a golden blend of tradition and modernity. One of my favourite professors in the university used to say that drink deep from the well of knowledge. Do not be prisoner of a particular idea or ideology, let knowledge and wisdom come to you from all possible sources, national or foreign. This is in consonance with Vedic philosophy of education as preached by our ancient scripture Rigveda “ आनोभद्राःक्रतवोयन्तुविश्वतः” let noble thoughts come to us from all directions.
May this new beginning bring you all the happiness and success you deserve.
Anil Kumar Singh
(Former IAS)