Panaji: English education can not instil humanitarian values in people, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday.
After unveiling a statue of RSS founder KB Hedgewar in a Goa school, Bhagwat said, “English education can only train us enough to be able to earn our daily bread. These are the words of Swami Vivekananda. We don't need such schools but those that teach us to serve for the betterment of other human beings."
Speaking in the presence of Goa chief minister and education minister Laxmikant Parsekar, Bhagwat said, “Veer Savarkar had said, 'If I cannot spread the fragrance of my education for the betterment of our country, then my education would be useless... Even donkeys can go around bearing the weight of books'."
The function was attended by several education officials including including Goa University vice-chancellor Satish Shetye, GU registrar V P Kamat and director of education G P Bhat.
"We need an education that can help rid the country of poverty, suffering and dearth of knowledge. It should inculcate in us patriotism and lay stress on Swadeshi ideals, only then an entire generation will be born which will work tirelessly for the betterment of the country. We still need such efforts in the country. It is everybody's responsibility," said Bhagwat.
Parsekar later said that Bhagwat's speech won't influence the government while deciding on the medium of instruction (MoI) issue at schools. Parsekar said, "I don't feel it will have any effect, positive or negative."
Paying tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar on his 60th death anniversary, Bhagwat said, "The father of constitution studied with a great difficulty and used his knowledge for the benefit of country and not for himself".
“Dr Ambedkar played a big role in framing our Constitution. He was a great intellectual who freed thousands of people from slavery. Like Dr Ambedkar, Hedgewar also worked selflessly for the welfare of the country,” Bhagwat said drawing comparisons between Ambedkar and Hedgewar.
Hailing Hedgewar, Bhagwat said the former had always passed in first class in academics.
"The man after whom this school has been named was always a first class student. As a boy, he participated in the 'Vande Mataram' agitation in Nagpur, after which the British closed down all schools there," Bhagwat said, adding that Hedgewar was rusticated from school because he refused to apologise for participating in the agitation.
Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, state chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar, deputy chief minister Francis D'Souza were present at the function.
