Bareilly: A special lecture on ‘Itihas Bodh’ (Understanding History) was organised by the Department of Ancient History and Culture at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, under the guidance of Vice-Chancellor Professor Anil Kumar Rai.
Sanjay, National Co-Organising Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana, was the keynote speaker. Professor Dr Naveen Gupta of Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, and Dr Priya Saxena, Head of the Department of Ancient History and Culture, were also present.
Ancient Temples as Centres of Education
During the lecture, Sanjay elaborated on the temple system and free education in ancient India. He explained that temples were not merely places of worship but also important centres of education, culture and social life, where students were provided education free of cost.
He stressed the need to promote awareness of India’s ancient indigenous systems and said the country’s rich traditions continue to serve as a source of inspiration.
Sanjay also discussed what he described as deliberate efforts during the colonial period to distort Indian history and weaken the country’s traditional education system. He said the weakening of India’s ancient knowledge traditions had resulted in the present generation becoming disconnected from its actual history.
Emphasising the importance of developing a true understanding of history among students, he said a correct historical perspective forms the foundation of national consciousness and self-respect.
Students Encouraged to Study History
Dr Priya Saxena familiarised students with different dimensions of history and encouraged them to develop curiosity and a serious approach towards its study.
Professor Naveen Gupta spoke about recognising the authentic nature of historical compilation. The programme was conducted by Dr Mohit Mishra.
Dr Shiv Singh, Dr Alok Kumar, Dr Hemant Maheshwari Shukla and Dr Kamlesh, along with research scholars Deepak Maurya, Juhi Kumari and Shweta Sharma, attended the event. A large number of students from the first and second years of the MA programme were also present.
The programme concluded with a resolve to create greater awareness among students about a genuine understanding of history and national pride.
Report: Akhilesh Chandra Saxena, Bareilly
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