The National Chintan Baithak 2025 was inaugurated at Adi Shankara Nilayam by Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Held from 25 to 28 July 2025, the event marks the third national-level brainstorming session of the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas (SSUN)—an organization deeply committed to reimagining Bharat’s educational ethos through Bhartiya Knowledge Systems. The conference is being held at Kalady, Kerala, the Birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya.
“‘Bharat’ is a proper noun and should not be translated. Therefore, in our conversations, writing, and speech—whether personal or public—we must refer to Bharat as ‘Bharat’. Bharat must remain Bharat, because only when Bharat is Bharat does it have an identity, and only then does it command respect.
If we forget our identity, then no matter how many exceptional qualities we possess, we will neither receive respect nor feel secure. That is the rule. If we want to bring Indian-ness into education, we must first understand Bharat and trust in our identity.
Hence—Know Bharat, Respect Bharat, Become Bharat—that is true Indian-ness.”
These words were delivered by Dr. Mohanrao Bhagwat while addressing academicians, educators, and dignitaries at the National Chintan Baithak on Sunday organized by SSUN.
Addressing the same event, the Honourable Governor of Kerala, Shri Rajendra Arlekar, remarked that the gathering was convened to deliberate on how to walk the path toward a developed Bharat. He emphasized that the vision of a developed Bharat is not confined to economic progress—it entails holistic development, with education playing a pivotal role.
He further noted that for decades, Bharat has progressed under a colonial mindset, and the current education policy represents the first serious attempt to decolonize Bharat’s education. “Change is underway,” he said, “but we must ask ourselves whether we are part of that change. Otherwise, the dream of a developed Bharat will remain just a dream.”
In his keynote address during the inaugural session, Dr. Atul Kothari, National Secretary of SSUN, stressed the importance of harmonizing materialism and spirituality in modern education. He asserted that transforming India’s educational framework and advancing the mission of the Nyas are intrinsically linked.
“Events like Gyanotsav, Gyan Kumbh, and Gyan Sabha have served their purpose, but to scale the vision, we must deepen grassroots engagement,” he said.
The conference, titled ‘Gyan Sabha’, commenced on Friday with the theme ‘Education for a Developed India’ and will conclude on Monday.
More than 400 educationists are participating, including state education ministers, vice-chancellors, academicians, and officials from central educational bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and Indian Knowledge System (IKS). The primary focus of the conference is on Indianisation of the education system and the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Delivering a heartfelt welcome, Acharya Vivittananda, head of the Chinmaya Mission in Kerala, reflected on the historic and cultural significance of the venue. He commended SSUN’s tireless efforts to dismantle the remnants of the Macaulay system and welcomed the growing momentum toward Indianizing education across Bharat.
In a complementary tone, Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Chairperson of SSUN, reiterated the organization’s core philosophy:
“Education in Bharat was never merely about employment; it was about human excellence.”
She advocated for a curriculum that interweaves ancient wisdom with contemporary relevance.
SSUN believes that true reform requires synergy between society and government, with educators playing a crucial role in laying the foundation for transformative change. The National Chintan Baithak 2025 stands not only as a review of past achievements, but as a call to collective action for the future of Indian education.