Swami Vivekananda- Education of Love

Education today is now in utter ukase. To say about education of love is almost a myth at present. But nearly two hundred years ago Swami Vivekananda has made his clarion call to launch vibrant pro- grammes of education of love that caters to freedom, service to society, humanism, spirituality and, above all, mystic effulgence of serenity and poignancy. A look inward and look sacred with the philosophy of education of love as Vivekananda prescribes and stimulates is the only alternative to avert the missing link of dynamic, man-making and character-building education.

A pioneering and profound study on the educational philosophy of Swami Vivekananda.

Mohit Chakrabarti, D.Litt.: Teaches Education and English at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan-731235, India.

Honoured with National Award as Teacher Educator.

Credited with participation/ presentation/acceptance of papers in international/national conferences/symposia/ seminars etc., like The World Assembly of Teacher Educators, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica; Beijing Normal University, Beijing: Institution of Education, Singapore: First International Conference on "Literature in Translation’, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; First International Symposium on "India and World Literature", University of Delhi, Delhi; Workshop on "Setting the Agenda for Change for Central Universities for the 21st Century, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

Associated with different universities, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and educational institutions, Professor Chakrabarti has recently acted as member, Teacher Education for Curriculum Renewal, National Focus Group on Teacher Education, NCERT, New Delhi.

Consistent and prolific contributor to studies and researches on Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda.

Writer of books for children in Bengali and English.

Education in theory and practice right now is sans love sans quest. It has already become dull, mechanical, rigid, passive and poignancy-shy. It has also become involvement without prudence, and exercise without evolution of consciousness. Apart from the fact that all education is a means of liberation endless, enlivening, encapsulating and definitely absorbing, the component of love has been alarmingly absconded, pirated, poisoned and ostracised from the altar of learning and teaching.

Interestingly, the educational scenario as above is not altogether different from what it was in the two centuries earlier in the colonial era. The West, too, has more or less presented us with the same dismal picture, where education is pawned to puerile commercialisation heavily banking upon affluence and extravagance. It is at this juncture that the vibrant philosophy of education of Swami Vivekananda has brought forth a sea-change in education in general and education of love in particular.

Significantly, Vivekananda never cares for education for so-called excellence but education for poignancy and | perfection. He also goes a step further for ‘manifestation of perfection already in man’. He emphasises on involvement and evolution, awakening and reawakening of the vision of man the unknown and divine. He cares for cultivation of love and sympathy, not because these because these abstract components are merely bonds of human relationship but essentially because these are components of the education of the heart and the soul in unison with the All-Heart and All- Soul. This education of love as Vivekananda advocates is actually a new realisation of the image of man, an embodiment of All-Love.

Admittedly, Vivekananda welcomes freedom in education where the meaning of society goes a radical and revolutionary change. The peerless and incomparable Wandering Monk has travelled extensively, preached the religion of education for service to humans, shown absorbing inroads to inner consciousness in spirituality and explores and identifies himself in the serene mystic quest for Thou art That—Tat Tvamhosi. "Philosophy of Education of Love: Vivekananda’s Vision" is an extensive study on all these diverse dimensions.

"Education of Love and Freedom: Vivekananda’s Fore- thoughts" and "Education of Love and Society: Vivekananda’s Introspection" unfold a sparkling arena of Vivekananda’s unparalleled thoughts and suggestions on how to make a fusion between love and freedom in the pursuit of education that promises an enlightened and challenging society.

That true humanism beckons a radical and revolutionary approach to bringing about the dynamic and vibrant vision of man in symphony with the education of love has been discussed in detail in "Education of Love and Humanism: Vivekananda’s Beckoning".

"Education of Love and Spirituality: Vivekananda’s Inwardness" is an intensive study on how Vivekananda eyes and ennobles education of love that continually cares for and profoundly contributes to the ascent and excellence of man.

The education of love is by nature a mystic quest. It is a quest that promises serenity and beyond that in which the meaning of void as Vivekananda explores and intensifies in all catholicity of evolutionary and poignant vision welcomes the essence of education: Thou art That. "Education of Love and Mysticism: Vivekananda’s Quest" might reward the revered readers with sparkling avenues of advancement in education as it ought to be right now.

**Contents and Sample Pages**