Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center: ISKCON’s new frontier in the field of Education

Radhanath Swami Maharaj, Founder of BVRC and GEV  Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center (BVRC) Inauguration of the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center Affiliated to University of Mumbai

Shri Vinod Tawade, Hon’ble Minister of Education,  Govt. of Maharashtra,

Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center: ISKCON’s new frontier in the field of Education

With thousands of unemployed engineering, science and commerce graduates and with rampant corruption raising questions about the integrity and work ethics of the employed work force, the nation is looking for innovative and effective alternatives in the field of education.

An initiative in this direction is being taken by ISKCON as it is setting up the BhaktivedantaVidyapitha Research Center (BVRC) for facilitating study, research and application of ancient Indian philosophical traditions and their theology, arts and sciences aimed at development of a holistic and harmonious society.

ISKCON, one of the leading spiritual movements of the world recently celebrated its golden jubilee and in the past 50 years has taken several initiatives for interfacing with the academic community and contributing to the dialogue on world peace, environmental protection and cultivation of human values. Institute of Vaishnava Studies in US, Oxford Center for Hindu Studies at UK, Bhaktivedanta College at Budapest and Hungary, Bhaktivedanta Research Center at Kolkata are notable steps in this direction.

Another frontier in this direction was achieved when the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center at Govardhan Ecovillage in Mumbai was affiliated to Mumbai University as a Research Center in the subject of Philosophy in June 2018. The BVRC has been granted permission to start PhD programs in Philosophy starting from the academic year 2018-19.

The BVRC has been founded by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj, a renowned spiritual leader, community builder and author. The BVRC began its operations in 2012 and started a two-year intensive study course on ancient Indian philosophical literatures such as the Bhagavat Purana at ISKCON’s farm community called Govardhan Ecovillage in Palghar district of Maharashtra.

Courses run by the BVRC are already in great demand all over the nation and it is running courses in eight cities across India. The BVRC’s academic model is like a lotus with the central whorl as the Philosophy & Theology of the ancient Indian philosophical traditions. The petals represent the fields of sciences such as Ethics, Emotions, Environment, Entrepreneurship and Efficiency etc. and fields of arts such as Sangeet, Nrtya, Natya, Chitrakala, Shilpakala, Yoga, Ayurveda, Vastu etc.

The institute is expected to emerge as a world-class research center in the field of philosophy. Chairman of BVRC Shri Gauranga Das Ji said that BVRC has a systematic program of education and research, with special emphasis on applying the knowledge for betterment of self, society and surroundings.

The institute aims to help students realize their true potential, through a unique educational model which abstracts and applies traditional wisdom for the modern context.

KAB!R M LOVE ( Kabir Ali )