Aligarh: The UGC-Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre at Aligarh Muslim University, under the aegis of the Central Ministry of Education, inaugurated a one-week offline Capacity Building Programme on the Indian Knowledge System for Faculty.

The programme, scheduled from March 3 to 8, aims to integrate traditional wisdom with contemporary education methodologies.

The inaugural session was attended by Prof Menon Vijaykumar CG, Vice Chancellor of Maharshi Panini Sanskrit Evam Vedic University of Ujjain, Prof NB Singh, Vice Chancellor of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh University, Mohd Imran, Registrar at AMU, and Prof Sarika Varshney, Chairperson at Department of Sanskrit in AMU.

Prof Menon, in his keynote address, elaborated on the philosophy of the Indian Knowledge System, stressing the importance of Sanskrit and other classical Indian languages in comprehending ancient texts. Citing examples from the Vedas, Puranas, and Mahakavyas, he highlighted their relevance in modern-day education.

Prof Singh focused on the cultural foundations of IKS, advocating for a holistic approach to understanding India’s intellectual traditions. He emphasized that IKS should be perceived not merely as a tradition but as a way of life that shapes thought and action.

Prof Sarika traced the contributions of the Sanskrit Department at AMU since its inception in 1920. She highlighted landmark achievements, including the Sanskrit translation of the entire Diwan-e-Ghalib, reflecting AMU’s rich legacy of cross-cultural scholarship and interdisciplinary research.

Mohd Imran outlined the interdisciplinary potential of IKS and the necessity of leveraging modern management and technological tools to further its reach and application. He stressed the need for creating academic linkages across various disciplines to gain a comprehensive understanding of India’s intellectual traditions.

Welcoming the guests, Dr Faiza Abbasi, Director of UGC-MMTTC, emphasized the significance of incorporating Indian Knowledge System principles into modern curriculum development. She highlighted past initiatives undertaken by MMTTC under the National Education Policy orientation sensitization programme.

Dr Shivangini Tandon, Course Coordinator at the Department of History, conducted the session and proposed the vote of thanks. The IKS division of the UGC has allocated 100 participants for this transformative programme, reflecting a strong commitment to the revival and integration of India’s rich knowledge traditions in higher education.