Universal Human Values Forum

Introduction:

Across communities and identities, the Indian population today is young. About 30.8% of India’s 1.1 billion people are under 14 years of age. By 2020, India will have one of the youngest populations in the world. This vast resource will shape the nation, and the world. Its primary values, aspirations, knowledge and abilities, skills and dilemmas will have their bearing on their choices and indeed on the world they will inherit. With the emergence of information technology in every walk of life, the knowledge society of the future is likely to see a great sense of alienation and loneliness where perhaps the only interaction the children /students may have will be with machines. Along with rise in IT there continues to be deterioration in the social, moral, ethical and spiritual environment in our society. This deterioration has its genesis in the addiction, corruption, crime, suicide among others. This decay has negative effects on productivity, economic growth and development in our nation.

Because of this situation, there is general breakdown in discipline, in the reverence for life, in the total respect by man for his fellow man, and there seems to be no immediate relief, unless new directions and the appropriate mechanisms are put into place to give effect to positive remedial actions.

Universal Human Value programme is suggested with the view of wresting our nation from any further decadence, and attempting to reverse this trend. This assignment requires a serious philosophical initiative. We must embark upon it with swiftness. We must also bear in mind that such an undertaking would not be easily achieved. It must become an integral and substantive part of the national reconstruction and development process. It must, like other socio-economic issues, be installed on our national agenda. We must have in the forefront of our minds the development and sustenance of a new culture of work ethic. If we fail to respond to this call, then all of our basic institutions and conventions would soon dissipate.

If this ideal is fully implemented, it would be able to complement our independence status, and could become stabilising and catalytic forces for growth, peace, and development. More than that, it would foster a spirit of oneness and universality, the knitting of family ties. We now have to take a more stringent approach to the restoration of our human values as it has become evident that psychological and moral suasion approaches are not

responding as quickly and positively as we would like, hence the appeal for a more formal approach.

Research indicates that the explicit teaching of values assists in developing skills and attitudes in young people that allow them to productively live, work and play in today’s society. The need for the explicit teaching of confidence, wellbeing and values as a method by which we can safeguard and develop resilience in young people is call of the hour. Educators are in an important position of being able to shape positive futures for the students in their care. They can assist in developing and safeguarding the essential qualities of resilience, hope and empathy.

Values Education could strengthen:

• Optimism; • Self-esteem; • Commitment to personal fulfilment; • Ethical judgment; and • Social responsibility.

Course Content:

Module 1: Introduction to Value Education [6]

1. Understanding the need, basic guidelines, content and process for Value Education

2. Self-Exploration - its content and process; `Natural Acceptance` and Experiential Validation – as the mechanism for self-exploration

3. Continuous Happiness and Prosperity – A look at basic Human Aspirations

4. Right understanding, Relationship and Physical Facilities – The basic requirements for fulfillment of aspirations of every human being

5. Understanding Happiness and Prosperity correctly – A critical appraisal of the current scenario

6. Method to fulfill the above human aspirations: Understanding and living in harmony at various levels

Module 2: Harmony in the Human Being [6]

7. Understanding human being as a co-existence of the sentient `I` and the material `Body`

8. Understanding the needs of Self (`I`) and `Body` - Sukh and Suvidha

9. Understanding the Body as an instrument of `I` (I being the doer, seer and enjoyer)

10.Understanding the characteristics and activities of `I` and harmony in `I`

11.Understanding the harmony of `I` with the Body: Sanyam and Swasthya; correct appraisal of Physical needs, meaning of Prosperity in detail

12.Programs to ensure Sanyam and Swasthya

Module 3: Harmony in the Family and Society [6]

13.Understanding harmony in the Family – the basic unit of human interaction

14.Understanding values in human-human relationship; meaning of Nyaya and program for its fulfillment to ensure Ubhay-tripti; Trust (Vishwas) and Respect (Samman) as the foundational values of relationship

15.Understanding the meaning of Vishwas; Difference between intention and competence

16.Understanding the meaning of Samman, Difference between respect and differentiation; the other salient values in relationship

17.Understanding the harmony in the society (society being an extension of family): Samadhan, Samridhi, Abhay, Sah-astitva as comprehensive Human Goals

18.Visualizing a universal harmonious order in society- Undivided Society (Akhand Samaj), Universal Order (Sarvabhaum Vyawastha) - from family to world family.

Module 4: Harmony in the Nature (Existence) [4]

19.Understanding the harmony in the Nature

20.Interconnectedness and mutual fulfillment among the four orders of nature - recyclability and self-regulation in nature

21.Understanding Existence as Co-existence (Sah-astitva) of mutually interacting units in all-pervasive space

22.Holistic perception of harmony at all levels of existence

Text Book and Reference Material:

The Text book: A Foundation Course in Human Values and Professional Ethics by R R Gaur, R Sangal, G P Bagaria, 2009, Excel Books Private Limited, New Delhi.

Teacher`s manual: Teacher`s Manual: A Foundation Course in Human Values and Professional Ethics by R R Gaur, R Sangal, G P Bagaria, 2009, Excel Books Private Limited, New Delhi.

Reference Books:

Ivan Illich, 1974, Energy & Equity, The Trinity Press, Worcester, and HarperCollins, USA

E.F. Schumacher, 1973, small is Beautiful: a study of economics as if people mattered, Blond & Briggs, Britain.

Sussan George, 1976, How the Other Half Dies, Penguin Press. Reprinted 1986, 1991

Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jorgen Randers, William W. Behrens III, 1972, Limits to Growth - Club of Rome`s report, Universe Books.

A Nagraj, 1998, Jeevan Vidya ek Parichay, Divya Path Sansthan, Amarkantak.

P L Dhar, RR Gaur, 1990, Science and Humanism, Commonwealth Purblishers.

An N Tripathy, 2003, Human Values, New Age International Publishers. Subhas Palekar, 2000, How to practice Natural Farming, Pracheen

(Vaidik) Krishi Tantra Shodh, Amravati. E G Seebauer & Robert L. Berry, 2000, Fundamentals of Ethics for

Scientists & Engineers , Oxford University Press

M Govindrajran, S Natrajan & V.S. Senthil Kumar, Engineering Ethichs (including Human Values), Eastern Economy Edition, Prentice Hall of India Ltd.

B P Banerjee, 2005, Foundations of Ethics and Management, Excel Books.

B L Bajpai, 2004, Indian Ethos and Modern Management, New Royal Book Co., Lucknow. Reprinted 2008.

Relevant websites, CDs, Movies and Documentaries:

Story of Stuff, http://www.storyofstuff.org Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, Paramount Classics, USA Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times, United Artists, USA IIT Delhi, Modern Technology - the Untold Story Anand Gandhi, Right here right now, Part 1 2, Cyclewala production

Universal Human Values Workshops conducted @ AGIOrientation Lectures for Foundation Course – 65+ Total No. of Resource Persons – 25

AGI College Program Level No. of Batches

No. of student

Beneficiaries

Shree M. & N. Virani Science College, Rajkot

B.Sc.Sem 1 11 660Sem 3 7 420Sem 5 12 720

M.Sc.Previous

3 180Final

Gyanyagna College of Science and Management, Rajkot

B.Sc.Sem 1 4 240Sem 3 4 240Sem 5 3 180

BBASem 1 2 120Sem 3 2 120Sem 5 2 120

Atmiya Institute of Technology & Science– DS D.E.

Sem 3 4 240Sem 5 4 240

Atmiya Institute of Technology & Science

MBA Sem 3 4 240MCA Sem 3 3 180MAM Sem 1 2 120

Total 67 4020

Universal Human Values Orientation Programs @ AGIBeneficiaries Batches No. of Beneficiaries

Parents 1 450AGI Staff Members - Science & computer 1 200

AGI Staff Members -Engineering,

Management & Pharmacy

1 300

AGI Staff Members –Schools 2 150

Total 05 1100

Universal Human Values Activities @ AGI

Campus Cleaning Tree Plantation Paper bags from Waste Paper Recycling of waste & biodegradable products Visit to Hospitals, Special homes & Shantytowns Creative Corner- Creative expression of stake holders

Universal Human Values Photo Gallery @ AGI

Paper Bags Making Tree Plantation at Ample School/ Aryaveer College

Tree Plantation at Yogidham Tree Plantation at Residential City Area

UHV Student workshop @ AGI UHV Parents workshop @ AGI

Visit to Special Home Visit to Special Home