[India] can, if she will, give a new and decisive turn to the problems
over which all mankind is labouring and stumbling,
for the clue to their solutions is there in her ancient knowledge.
Whether she will rise or not to the height of her opportunity
in the renaissance which is coming upon her, is the question of her destiny.

~ Sri Aurobindo

Inspired by this vision of Sri Aurobindo, the various works taken up by the BhāratShakti team constantly strive to explore, understand and facilitate how the spiritual core of Indian civilization can not only be expressed in newer forms suited to our times, but also how the modern problems of humanity can also be addressed in sustainable ways through a culturally grounded perspective. Deepening our own learning and understanding of such topics is equally important.

Led by this spirit of self-growth and deepening, Dr. Beloo Mehra, Director, BhāratShakti, recently attended a 3-day workshop titled Nītividhāna: Integral Approaches to Education, Sustainability and Governance organized by Bṛhat in collaboration with Bharat Nivas, Auroville.

After the lamp-lighting the workshop commenced with a keynote address by Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan (Executive, Sri Aurobindo International Institute of Education and Research) on the central principles and praxis of integral education.

Dr. Pankaj Saxena, co-founder of Bṛhat set the context for the workshop as he explained how Nītividhāna is a critical vehicle for Bṛhat’s vision of cultivating habits of mind for civilizational policy thinking.

The opening session was conducted by Shri Shraddhalu Ranade from Sri Aurobindo Ashram. In his two talks he covered a broad range of topics ranging from contemporary policy issues to the challenges of coloniality. His analysis was firmly rooted in the inspiring and futuristic vision of Sri Aurobindo and grounded in the core spiritual character of Indian civilization.

After lunch, Dr. Mala Kapadia’s session was focused on exploring the central role of svabhāva and svadharma in identifying one’s temperament and aptitude which then go on to determine one’s leadership potential through. This session also included a group-exercise based on the concepts of the pancamahābhūtas and triguṇas from the perspective of integral psychology.

During the final session of Day 1, Dr. Pankaj Saxena discussed why it is critical to recognize that the core sustainability and governance issues we face as a society and nation can only be meaningfully addressed when we understand them from a culturally rooted perspective.

On Day 2 Dr. Amritanshu Pandey focused on the critical necessity of technological innovations to be developed within the dynamic restraints of sustainability. He spoke about how dharma provides us the right lens through which we can not only understand but also practice sustainability in a real manner. Sri Aurobindo’s insights on conscious evolution were interwoven throughout the discussion.

Dr. Anurag Shukla shared reflections and insights on Sri Aurobindo’s take on coloniality and his critique of colonial education of the times. He also briefly described Sri Aurobindo’s vision for Integral Education and its implications for the National Education Policy, 2020.

Ms. Upasana Tendulkar’s session on exploring Nāṭyaśāstra for effective communication policy was highly engaging. She highlighted critical frameworks of sādhāraṇikaraṇa and sahṛdyatā and how they can facilitate effective communication. The session included a live performance of nāṭya communication in action, and also team-based improv performance.

The workshop served as a good opportunity for Dr. Mehra to engage in her continuous study and research into Sri Aurobindo’s vision and works from the perspective of their significance for addressing modern problems and challenges India faces as a nation. She also appreciated listening to diverse perspectives shared by the speakers at the workshop and interacting with them and other participants.