SvĀdhyĀya: The Vedic Mool Mantra of Education Forgotten by Indians and Paying The Price Heavily

The paper is about Vedic practice of Svādhyāya. It's not simply a practice but a complete philosophy which ensures person's complete development. Svādhyāya has two fold meaning-self-study and study of self. Self-study explains the learner about external world whereas study of self is study of one's inner-self. Paper starts with defining the terms “Svādhyāya’ and elaborating its origin and references in Vedic literature. Functions or components of Svādhyāya are-Sva-Svaroop (Self-Identity), Sva-Shakti (Self-Power), and Sva-Kartvya (Self-Duty). Paper explains meaning of these terms and justifies how these are outcomes of Svādhyāya. Next section explains advantages of Svādhyāya both from knowledge of material world as well as inner world. It helps in raising moral and intellectual standards of a Svādhyāyaee. Then paper explains how Indians are paying price after disconnecting from practice of Svādhyāya under the influence of western education and western life style. The biggest price we had paid is loss of Indian Identity. Finally author suggests introduction of practice of Svādhyāya in education as an instrument for revival of Indian glory. Practice of Svādhyāya should be implemented as a matter of strategy in every aspect of education starting from classroom learning to evaluation. By re-establishing Svādhyāya we will be not lesser than re-inventing Indian identity.