THOUSANDS of youths are expected to benefit from the opening of a newly -constructed building which will house the Maharishi Dayananda Gurukula (Guyana Chapter) at Ocean View, Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Recently-accredited High Commissioner of India to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, is expected to attend the formal opening today where the rich cultural heritage of the institute will be on display.

Pandit and spiritual head of the movement in Guyana, Dr. Satish Prakash, explained that the word Gurukula means the family of the guru.

He said since ancient times, many legitimate, qualified teachers have opened up their Gurukula family-schools to teach students the knowledge of Vedas and other ancient Sanskrit writings.

These students, who are all male, he said, lived with the guru who had an excellent opportunity to study their character and offer them individualised attention while teaching them.

He noted that students graduated and later started their family lives or become travelling missionaries.

Gurukulas, he said, have been India’s teaching institutions for thousands of years until modern schooling started. Even today, young people in India are still schooled in Gurukula institutions.
“Quite a number of people find the Gurukula to be an appropriate place where they can leave their foreparents books which are rich in cultural heritage. I also have 5,000 titles that I will donate and some of the rarest books that publishers will love to have. These books will be left at the Gurukula where the future generation will benefit,” the 66-year-old humanitarian said.

He explained that a balance of eastern and western education systems will be used to teach students who will be between ages 17 to 22.
“We plan to have a CXC component of four subjects– English, Mathematics, Information Technology and Social Studies– and this will sharpen the minds of our students who we expect to be missionaries and teachers,” he explained.
He said the concept does not surround a religion but, instead, a philosophy and yoga of mind and body.

“So, when that student graduates from here, we expect that student to have a balanced Vedic education… it will be an all-male Gurukula,” he said.

He explained that the complex does not cater for females to live in, but only to visit for classes and different forms of education that will be offered during the day.
Dr. Prakash said all students will be taught Hindi, Sanskrit, music and yoga. Teachers will be recruited from both Guyana and India.

He noted that contact was made with the Ministry of Education to assist with books that will aid in the development of the institute’s curriculum.
Meanwhile, he said the institute will eventually be offering a hot meal, one time a day for persons who are desirous of having a breakfast.

He explained that fresh, raw food supplies will be sourced directly from Parika to assist with the weekly feeding programme.

Further, he said that left-over food supplies such as sugar, flour, chowmein and other items will be given away weekly to pensioners and aged persons visiting the institute for Sunday’s service that will be held.