Talk delivered at the ‘Global Summit on Science and Spirituality for Peace’ at MIT World Peace University, Pune. The theme of the Summit was ‘Integration of Science, Technology, Innovation and Spirituality for World Peace’. The talk began with these two questions: Are ancient texts relevant beyond the realms of spirituality, philosophy, literature or history? What are the gaps in modern education where the past could be useful? The talk ended with two themes essential for the future: learnability and environmental sustainability.

1. Global Summit on Science and
Spirituality for Peace
MIT World Peace University, Pune
13-14 August 2017
DevangshuDutta, 2017
Philosophy of Education:
Learnings from Ancient Texts

2. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
ॐ सह नाववतु ।
सह नौ भुनक्तु ।
सह वीर्यं करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा ववविषावहै ।
ॐ शास्वतिः शास्वतिः शास्वतिः ॥
कृ ष्ण र्यजुवेद तैविरीर्य उपवनषद् (2.2.2)
Om, May we all be protected.
May we all be nourished.
May we work together with energy and vigour.
May our intellect be sharpened and not give rise to hostility.
Om, Peace, Peace, Peace.
Krishna Yajurveda Taittiriya Upanishad (2.2.2)
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3. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
“The past is a foreign
country: they do things
differently there.”
~ Leslie Poles Hartley
‘The Go-Between’ (1953)
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4. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
• Are ancient texts relevant beyond the realms
of spirituality, philosophy, literature or
history?
• What are the gaps in modern education
where the past could be useful?
Questions from a mundane mind
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5. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
The Role of Education #1
Information / Knowledge Transfer
• The Nature of Knowledge:
– Information – material knowledge, functional skills
– Frameworks
• Issues:
– Knowledge management – data loss as languages
and frameworks change – discontinuities arise which
result in loss of knowledge
– Explicit, Implicit and Tacit knowledge – importance of
encoding, memetic transfer

6. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
Information / Knowledge Transfer
Examples of Gaps and Losses
• Material sciences: Ashokan metal pillar,
Roman concrete, Ayurveda, Agriculture /
Horticulture
• Habitat planning and civic engagement
(e.g. water management, drainage,
sanitation)
• Social and religious rituals

7. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
अन्धं तमिः प्रववशस्वत र्येऽववद्यामुपासते ।
ततो भूर्य इव ते तमो र्य उ ववद्यार्यां रतािः ॥
ईशोपवनषद्
They who worship ignorance enter into darkness.
They who delight in knowledge enter into still greater darkness.
Ishopanishad
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8. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
The Role of Education #2
Perspective; Expand the Horizons
• “Knowledge” & “Teachability” has been the logic/focus in
recent decades
– We’re following “Industrial World” systems in a Digital
World
• The present environment is characterised by
– Unprecedented uncertainty and fluidity in recent times
– Quantum shifts in tools and technologies available
– Proliferation of information
The emphasis needs to shift to “Learnability”

9. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
The Role of Education #2
Perspective; Expand the Horizons
• Challenge thinking by providing different contexts – e.g.
the multi-dimensionality of the Puranas, the Jatakamala
• Systems geared to stoking curiosity
• Science
– Don’t believe: challenge and question everything
– Experiment: test…test…test…
– Translate hypotheses to provable theory frameworks
– Apply the knowledge

10. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
Components of Know-How & Innovation
Knowledge –
Transfer, Encoding,
Preservation,
Updation
Application -
Documentation
Experience –
Documentation,
Encoding
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(AdaptedfromPVCPartners,2016)

11. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
A fundamental question:
Would we cut-off our legs to
build strength in the upper body?
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12. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
Responsibility & Sustainability
• “Dharma” (ethics /
fundamental principles, a
holistic approach, not
“religion”) explored and
written about extensively
for thousands of years.
• We need to re-establish
ourselves in “Dharma” –
in tranquillity and in
connection with the world
around us.

13. Devangshu Dutta, 2017@devangshu
“Ekam Sat vipra bahudha vadanti” – “That which exists is One, sages
call It by various names”…It was written, nobody knows at what date,
it may be 8,000 years ago, it may be 9,000 years ago. Not one of
these religious speculations is of modern date, but they are as fresh
today as they were when they were written, or rather fresher, for at
that distant date man was not so civilised as we know him now; he
had not learnt to cut his brother’s throat because he differed a little in
thought from himself; he had not deluged the world in blood; he did
not become demon to his own brother. In the name of humanity he
did not massacre whole lots of mankind then. Therefore these words
come to us today very fresh, as great stimulating life-giving words,
much fresher than they were written.
Swami Vivekananda, New York, January 1900
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14. http://twitter.com/devangshu