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Vol. XXIII, No. 1
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(8) Lack of sound leadership for the Youth.
It seemed to me that the young teachers were in search of a social order which would be free from:
(1) Ignorance; (2) Want; and
(3) Injustice.
They felt tbat threats to national integration emanated from lack of socio-economic justice, unemployment, lack of facilities for meaningful education, lack of youth counselling and guidance, lack of female education, over-population and lack of scientific temper. Terrorism. communalism, obscurantism and fundamentalism were rooted in lack of communication as well as in socio-political and economic discrimination. . Thus the participants felt that there was need for extending the boundaries of the Universities and to spread education and more education beyond the walls of the Universities to cover the disadvantaged and deprived population living in the neighbourhood. In short, Universities should undertake extension activities along with teaching and research. It was noted that despite pious Directives of State Policy having been enshrined in our Constitution, despite noble aspirations having been spelt out in our successive 5 year Plans, much to our shame, there is a pall of illiteracy and pepury hanging over us. According to this measure, our educational system and Planning have failed. In fact, every deprived and disadvantaged young man or woman, who suffers under a sense of discrimination, is a potential threat to national integration, as long as he or she nurses a sense of alienation born out of fear and frustration founded on social insecurity.
A related question which came up for examination was whether religious education should form part of the formal system of education. The consensus was that religious education could not be neglected, but it should emphasize moral and ethical values, based on a comparative study of various faiths and religions, since all of them sought to project self-evident and etcrpal values like brotherhood of man, mutual cooperation, social harmony etc.
Apuvrata movement
In this context, I brought to the notice of the group the philosophy of the Anuvrat movement, sponsored by Acharya Tulsi. I pointed out that the central mantra (formula) of the Acharya was: samyam hi jivan hai (self-restraint is life). He believed that the society and the nation shall be reformed and regeneratod, if the individuals are reformed. I read out the eleven small vows prescribed by him for
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