Date: February 17, 2023
Venue: The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
A recording of Dr. Mehra’s talk is available HERE.
Renaissance Editor, Dr. Beloo Mehra was invited as a speaker at the National Seminar on ‘Educational Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo’ organised by The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. This event held on February 17, 2023 was part of the University’s celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo. The seminar was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat was the Chief Guest at the Inaugural programme of the seminar. Rajmata Shubhangeraje Gaekwad who is the Chancellor of the MSU graced the occasion as Chief Patron of the event.
Sri Aurobindo lived in Baroda from 1893 to 1906. He taught English and French and was also the Vice-principal and then Principal at Baroda College which is now the Faculty of Arts at the MSU.
Dr. Mehra spoke on the topic – ‘Nation in Sri Aurobindo’s Vision of National Education’. She highlighted that in order to fully appreciate the significance of National Education , we have to closely examine the Indian view of what constitutes an individual and nation. She summarised how Sri Aurobindo beautifully speaks of the three bodies of the nation, and how education should help us connect with these different dimensions of our nation.
Dr. Mehra also spoke about how Sri Aurobindo’s earlier writings on National Education connected with what evolved as his later philosophy of Integral Education. Highlighting the significance of psychic education as one of the most remarkable contributions of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo in the field of education, she briefly summarised the parallel with the need to identify and connect with the soul of a nation.