Haridwar, July 18: In a significant step towards the revival of India’s indigenous education system and the integration of Vedic knowledge with modern competitive learning, a high-level meeting was held in Haridwar. The meeting was led by Wing Commander Dr. Pushkal Vijay Dwivedi (Retd.), Director General of the Bharatiya Shiksha Anusandhan Parishad (BSAP), with Swami Ramdev, Founder of Patanjali Yogpeeth, Acharya Balkrishna, and Dr. N. P. Singh, IAS (Retd.), Chairman of the Bharatiya Shiksha Board (BSB).
The discussions focused on strengthening the Indian model of education, expanding the institutional presence of the Bharatiya Shiksha Board in Maharashtra, and integrating the traditional Gurukul system with contemporary education. The meeting was attended by several distinguished personalities from the fields of education, industry and social service.
Among those present were Mr. Gaurav Pandey, Director, BSAP; Mr. Hemdev Thapar, State Head, BSAP Maharashtra; renowned industrialists and philanthropists from Mumbai and Pune Mr. Purushottam Sharma and Mr. Vinayak Bhongale; noted physician Dr. Bhagyashree; Mr. Pravin Tabke; and Mr. Yogesh Bhongale, BSAP Pune In-charge.
One of the most significant outcomes of the meeting was the decision to strengthen the institutional framework of the Bharatiya Shiksha Board in Maharashtra. With the support of industrialist and philanthropist Mr. Purushottam Sharma, a BSB office will be established in Mumbai. In addition, it was agreed to establish a Gurukul in Palghar, Maharashtra, based on the curriculum of the Bharatiya Shiksha Board. The proposed Gurukul will aim to nurture the holistic development of students by blending Indian culture, moral values and traditional learning with modern educational practices.
Similarly, with the support of Mr. Vinayak Bhongale, a BSB office will be established in Pune. Discussions were also held on setting up a large Gurukul-based residential school inspired by the Sainik School model. The proposed institution will impart education in the Vedas, Puranas, Indian Knowledge Systems, Mahavidya and value-based learning, while simultaneously providing modern, competition-oriented education in mathematics, science, technology, languages and preparation for competitive examinations. The objective is to nurture students who are deeply rooted in Indian cultural values while being fully equipped to compete at national and global levels.
The participants emphasized that India’s education system should go beyond employment-oriented learning and focus equally on character building, leadership development, national consciousness and social responsibility. It was unanimously agreed that the harmonious integration of India’s ancient knowledge traditions with modern scientific education represents the ideal direction for the country’s future education system.
During the meeting, Wing Commander Dr. Pushkal Vijay Dwivedi (Retd.) shared the initiatives being undertaken by BSAP in the fields of education, research, skill development and nation-building. He stressed the need to provide the younger generation with an education that develops intellectual excellence, physical fitness, moral values and a strong commitment to national service.
Wing Commander Dr. Dwivedi is widely recognised as a multifaceted public figure with contributions spanning education, social service, defence manufacturing, journalism and strategic affairs. He is regarded as one of India’s leading geopolitical and strategic military analysts and is a frequent participant in national television debates and policy discussions. In educational and training circles, he is also known as the “Father of Self Defence Science” for his pioneering work in institutionalising self-defence education.
The participants unanimously agreed that the Bharatiya Shiksha Board provides an effective platform for integrating India’s traditional knowledge systems, value-based education, yoga, Ayurveda, Sanskrit and cultural heritage with modern education. It was decided to work collectively towards establishing the proposed offices and Gurukuls in Maharashtra in line with this broader vision.
The Bharatiya Shiksha Board (BSB) is a school education board constituted under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, with the objective of promoting India’s knowledge traditions, Indian languages, cultural heritage and holistic education.
Government of India has entrusted Patanjali yogapeeth the responsibility for administration & management of BSB.
BSB Chairman, Dr N.P. Singh IAS (R) guided the panel and deliberated on strategies for expanding the Board’s institutional presence across various states and taking its vision to a wider audience.
Education experts believe that if these initiatives are implemented within the proposed timelines, they will significantly strengthen the presence of the Bharatiya Shiksha Board in Maharashtra. The establishment of BSB offices in Mumbai and Pune, along with Gurukul-based institutions in Palghar and Pune, is expected to become a landmark initiative in promoting an education system that combines India’s civilisational wisdom with contemporary academic excellence.
The Haridwar meeting was more than an institutional planning exercise; it represented a shared vision for the future of Indian education. By bringing together traditional knowledge, modern learning, ethical values and national development, the initiative has the potential to shape a transformative educational model for generations to come.Editorial note: I have translated your text faithfully while improving the language for an international news audience. One factual point should be verified before publication: the statement that “Bharatiya Shiksha Board (BSB) is a school education board constituted under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.” Since this is a factual institutional description, it should exactly match the official wording used by BSB in its publications.
