'Education should be based on reverence for teachers, parents'

Leading philosopher-educator Dada J P Vaswani has sought a new education system based on reverence for teachers as well as parents.
Delivering a talk titled 'Turn on the Light', Vaswani said, "When we were students we used to revere teachers. Children have lost reverence for teachers and parents.
"Therefore, we need a new type of education. Education built on reverence. Reverence is the root of education and service is fruit of education. The education that we impart now is more of technical education," he said at an event organised by the Hinduja Foundation and the Indo-European Business Forum here last night.

He also highlighted the importance of living in accordance with the law of nature.
"Man is part of nature but he thinks of being the king of nature. It is the attitude of man which creates so many difficulties. In India, earlier people used to worship the earth and water but in the name of science we have lost our relevance to nature," he said.
"Hurricanes and volcanic eruptions occur because we have not lived in accordance with the law of nature. It is our own doing. What we are doing comes back to us, it takes time," he said.

G P Hinduja, co-chairman of the Hinduja Foundation said Vaswani would be completing 100 years of age in November.

He suggested to the gathering to take an oath to follow Vaswani's "preaching and teaching" as a birthday gift.
In a message, British Prime Minister Theresa May said "we should all promote the message of the Dada".
India's Deputy High Commissioner to the UK Dinesh Patnaik said "we are living in the best of times but we don't seem to be appreciating it. What is needed is to go out and smile. We have forgotten how to smile and how to love".

Anil Agarwal, chairman of the Vedanta Group, announced a donation of 100,000 pounds to Vaswani for the noble causes he undertakes.