Punjab: AAP leaders Harjot Singh Bains, Manish Sisodia advocate Vedic education to shape children's future

Ludhiana: Sanatan Seva Samiti Punjab and Ved Prachar Mandal Punjab on Saturday jointly organized an award ceremony at local BCM School to celebrate a year-long Vedic speech competition aimed at connecting students with ancient Vedic education.

Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister (AAP Punjab In-charge) Manish Sisodia graced the event as chief guests. President of Sanatan Seva Samiti Punjab Vijay Sharma and  President of Ved Prachar Mandal Punjab Roshan Lal Arya were also present. 

What did Harjot Singh Bains say?

In his address, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains emphasized that education is the sole pathway to meaningful societal change. "If we wish to transform society, the only solution is to instill the very principles and values in the children through education", he added. 

Drawing an analogy, Bains noted that a small plant can be shaped with due effort, just as young children can be molded through quality education. He praised teachers for their excellent work in linking students to their cultural heritage and ethical principles, fostering good citizenship. He also lauded Manish Sisodia's transformative model in Delhi's government schools as a unique and inspiring example, even though AAP is no longer in power there.

What did Manish Sisodia say?

Manish Sisodia, reflecting on his 10 years in education and politics, described the program as rare and exceptional. He credited the organizing bodies, BCM School's principal, students, Roshan Lal Arya, Vijay Sharma, and participating school principals for their visionary approach to imparting knowledge from the Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Gita. He urged students to not only read and understand this ancient knowledge but also apply it in daily life, advocating its expansion beyond BCM School to all Punjab schools. Highlighting three students who spoke on the Vedas, he praised the 296 participants from 25 schools for their efforts—whether researching via YouTube or tools like ChatGPT—calling it a meaningful step.

Sisodia connected Vedic insights to modern science, noting that ancient rishis and gurus realized thousands of years ago what the world now explores in laboratories. He said that if our children study the Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, Gita, and other guru literature alongside scientific pursuits, they will become great scientists. 

The competition, running for the past year, saw winners and participating school principals honored by Bains and Sisodia. Organizers presented mementos to the chief guests, and the event concluded with the national anthem.

Later, speaking to the media, Harjot Singh Bains joined by Manish Sisodia highlighted Punjab's demands ahead of the Union Budget on February 1. He noted massive losses from Operation Sindoor and last year's floods, urging the central government to provide a special relief package and release legally entitled funds. He also demanded increased education funding and stated that to make India a true superpower, education has a pivotal role. With just 1–1.5% of the budget allocated to schools, colleges, and research, progress is impossible and at least 10% should be dedicated to the education system.