Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal Holds 4th Vinayak Viswanath Kanetkarji Memorial Lecture in Guwahati

 

Guwahati, 19July :

Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, Uttar Assam Prant,  organised the 4th Vinayak Viswanath Kanetkarji Memorial Lecture at Sudarshanalay, Guwahati, on Saturday, marking the fourth death anniversary of the late Vinayak Viswanath Kanetkarji, a dynamic RSS pracharak. The lecture, held on the theme “Viksit Bharat: Education in 2047,” drew more than 400 participants, including eminent academicians, students, and invitees. 

The programme began with traditional and cultural observances, including Asom Sangeet, Deep Mantra, floral tribute, BSM Dheya Mantra and Dheya Vakya, and a Borgeet, reflecting the solemn and scholarly character of the memorial 

 The lamp was jointly lit by Prof. Hari Prasad Sarma, President of Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, Uttar Assam Prant, and chief guest Prof. Rakesh Sinha, former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. Shri Dipak Sarma, Secretary, BSM Uttar Assam Prant delivered the welcome address, explaining the essence of the memorial lecture referring to the life and legacy of Late Vinayak V. Kanetkar.

Delivering the memorial lecture, Prof. Sinha spoke on India’s civilisational legacy, ancient centres of learning such as Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramshila, and the need to rebuild educational confidence rooted in India’s own intellectual traditions. He also reflected on the Yajnavalkya-Maitreyi dialogue from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, arguing that Indian education must reclaim its own knowledge systems and place them at the centre of political science, sociology, economics, and public thought. 

Prof. Sinha further highlighted the importance of balancing material progress with consciousness, cautioning against materialism and neoliberal values that reduce life to salary, productivity, and market success. He urged educators and scholars to work toward a civilisationally grounded vision of education that can shape a truly self-aware and globally relevant India by 2047. 

The lecture was followed by a question-and-answer session with eminent academicians, a presidential address by Prof. Hari Prasad Sarma, and a vote of thanks by Dr. Debajit Dutta. The programme concluded with Vande Mataram sung by students of Sankardev Shishu Niketan, Borbari,