Revitalizing Education: Integrating India's Civilizational Wisdom into Modern Schooling

Second IKS conference by Sri Aurobindo Society engages nearly 7 lakh teachers nationwide, reinforcing the national movement to integrate India’s civilisational wisdom into modern schooling Reaffirming a shared commitment to revitalising India’s civilisational wisdom through education,Acharya Balkrishna, Managing Director, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., and Mr. Sambhrant Sharma, Executive Board Member, Sri Aurobindo Society, came together at the2nd International Conference on Integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in School Education – The Panel Series (Virtual), organised by Sri Aurobindo Society. The conference marked a significant step forward in the national effort to integrate Indian Knowledge Systems into school education, reflecting the shared vision articulated by Sambhrant Sharma and Acharya Balkrishna. Building on the momentum created by the first edition held in November, which saw the launch of theIKS Charter, India’s first framework for responsible and research-informed implementation of IKS in schools, this edition deepened the dialogue on classroom-ready and scalable adoption of IKS. Through this two-day virtual panel series, Sri Aurobindo Society brought together national and international experts, educators, scholars, and policymakers to explore how India’s scientific, philosophical, ecological, and artistic knowledge traditions can be meaningfully woven into contemporary school education. The conference reachednearly 7 lakh teachers across India, while Sri Aurobindo Society’s broader education initiatives now engage withover 30 lakh teachers nationwide. A key highlight of the conference was the gracious presence ofAcharya Balkrishna, Managing Director, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.,whose address strongly reinforced the relevance of Indian Knowledge Systems in shaping India’s educational future. Speaking at the conference, Acharya Balkrishna expressed his deep respect forSri Aurobindo and his philosophy of Atimanas (Supermind), sharing how Sri Aurobindo’s writings and ideologies influenced his thinking from a young age. Emphasising the scientific relevance of ancient Indian knowledge systems, he said,“Indian Knowledge Systems are not beliefs or assumptions—they are facts, documented and validated through our Shastras. Our ancient knowledge is profoundly scientific, and its relevance is even more critical in today’s world. I truly appreciate and fully support the multidimensional work Sri Aurobindo Society is doing to bring this wisdom into modern education.” This edition focused on translating vision into practice through in-depth thematic panels onscience and mathematics through IKS, inclusive education, arts and aesthetics, teacher training, experiential learning under NEP 2020, technology and AI in IKS. Speaking at the conference,Mr. Sambhrant Sharma, Executive Board Member, Sri Aurobindo Society, said,“Integrating Indian Knowledge Systems into school education is part of our multidimensional effort towards nation-building—by nurturing rooted, aware, capable, and future-ready learners and teachers. We work with 30 lakh teachers across the country, and reaching seven lakh teachers through this conference reflects the growing national momentum toward responsible and meaningful IKS implementation.” This virtual edition marked a significant milestone in scale and outreach. Through live participation, institutional collaborations, and digital dissemination, the conference reachedapproximately 7 lakh teachers across India. The conference was organised in partnership withMaharishi International University (USA), Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University, Bhartiya Shiksha Board, and Future Icons.