The Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), which is under the Ministry of Education Government of India, has arranged a workshop on “temple knowledge traditions” with specific reference to temples in Karnataka for technical college teachers.
In Shivamogga district of Karnataka, a file photo shows Ramesvara temple standing between the river Bhadra to its east and river Tunga to its west.
Anantha Chethana, set up by Ananth Kumar Pratishthana after former Union minister H.N. Ananth Kumar, will be holding this workshop at Bengaluru on 13th July. Around fifty teaching faculty of engineering colleges spread over Karnataka would be attending the workshop where experts will make presentations on ‘multifaceted role of temples in society, their influence on social structures, community life, art, architecture and education’.
India’s knowledge system
Gopal TS works as PI for the Pratishthana which conducts this workshop and told that it is part of a course being offered by the training center; Indian Knowledge Systems.
“We have developed video lectures and text based lectures about worshipping places located in Karnataka and how they affect communities. Experts who had carried out research concerning this subject matter also gave talks. This particular course was approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)” he said.
Workshop invitation went out to lecturers from training centre
According to the letter from Pratishthana temples used to act as community meeting places among others during ancient times. These are some of things that will be discussed during the workshop.
“This is just an introductory level workshop. It isn’t meant for people who’ve already taken Kannada literature or history as part of their syllabus. This applies to those who do other jobs apart from this one. In 2023, the Ministry launched an IKS programme that aimed at bringing Indian knowledge closer to different specializations across various fields. For so many years, our education system has only been glorifying whatever the Westerners taught us. Westerners were supposed to be always correct in their assertions about everything. This is where we are trying to bring out through these courses. The knowledge systems that existed on this land,” he said.
IKS must be handed down to students
These subjects can be introduced into the curriculum by faculty members of this institute that attended the workshop.
“We have 50 video lectures and written material already prepared. We will submit them to AICTE too. Using this, lecturers who come for this training can run a workshop on elective basis for their students in schools,” added Mr. Gopal.
The IKS Division, which is based at AICTE headquarters in New Delhi, was established in October 2020 after holding a workshop titled “Research in Indian Traditional Knowledge Systems—Bharatiya Jnana Parampara” in March 2020. The IKS team works under the Chairperson of AICTE and it has 17 teacher training centres. 27 research centres and seven Bhasha Kendras such as Pratishthana’s training centre. These centres offer courses for approval by the Ministry of Education including financial assistance from there since they are also funded up to ₹8.5 lakh per course.
Prathisthana wrote letters addressed to colleges inviting participants for the workshop while those attending receive. TADA since it is sponsored by AICTE together with certificate of participation.”
‘Why should we only focus on temples?’
An assistant professor in a well-known engineering college pointed out that the workshop has no connection with engineering colleges. “AICTE is for technical education. The idea of advertising courses and workshops about these things is really absurd. I am not sure how this workshop will improve the teaching of our engineering colleges”, he argued. Why stress over temples when other religious’ art and architecture is ignored by the workshop?, he asked.
