Bhubaneswar: Odishan Culture and Educational Experts have demanded for early establishment of MERUs (Multidisciplinary Education and Research Universities) at Char Dhams including Puri.
A seminar on this issue was organized here at BJP State Headquarters recently chaired by Culture Czar, Ashok Tripathy. International Educational Expert, Chitta Baral graced the Meet.
Prof. Baral , Professor of Computing and Augmented Intelligence Arizona State University, USA. He delivered a talk on “Reviving the Knowledge Hubs of Bharat and Odisha”.
Saffron Veteran Sajjan Sharma and former Administrator Sudarshan Nayak graced the Brainstorming on Educational and Cultural Initiative.
Independent Director, SAIL, Shri Tripathy, an authority of Odishan Culture deliberated on the issues of culture and education system in the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a plan to initially establish four MERUs at these four locations—Puri, Badrinath, Rameswaram, and Dwarka. It will create a foundation in partnership with the associated temple and the corresponding State Government, said, Prof.Baral,
Prof. Baral said that Model public universities for holistic and multidisciplinary education, at par with IITs, IIMs, etc., called MERUs will be set up at the Char Dhams and will aim to attain the highest global standards in quality education. They will also help set the highest standards for multidisciplinary education across India, he said.
Setting up MERUs is expensive. Note that more than Rs.2000 crores have been spent on each of the second generation IITs that were announced in 2008. Creating a MERU in the mould of comprehensive universities with diverse disciplines and at the level of IITs and IIMs could cost 10,000 crores each, said Prof.Baral.
The establishment of each of the universities needed Rs 10,000 crore. So, in addition to the above, the Central Government can incorporate more aspects to raise additional funds. It can ask the concerned State to contribute a good amount in addition to free land.
Reach out and partner with the Temple Trusts with respect to use of some part of the trust land towards the university in order to develop allied infrastructures, for instance, research parks, that earn funds for the university; in turn the MERU will provide some special opportunities (such as, scholarships and a few reserved seats in the University) for the children of the Temple servitors; especially in the skill development programs of the university, he suggested.
With the help of the state and the Temple Trusts, he said, the Centre should reach out to private philanthropic trusts, including trusts related to companies that have big operations in the state, for aspects such as: targeted centers and institutes that will be part of the MERUs, and scholarships for students.
Emphasizing on establishment of one MERU at Puri, the bureaucrat turned politician said Puri is the abode of Lord Jagannath, is a special place in India and has a history of being a center of knowledge. It is one of the four dhams (pilgrimage centers) institutionalized by Adi Shankara and has been a center of knowledge formation, agglomeration and dissemination.
Among the 40.8 lakh ancient Indian manuscripts that have been documented, the second largest are in Odia (after Sanskrit), and a significant portion of both originated in Puri, he noted.
There are records of 752 mathas (monasteries), and many Kotas, Jagas, Akhadas and ashrams (hermitages) in Puri. The place was known as Purusottam Kshetra and its greatness is covered in various Sanskrit works such as Skanda Purana, Padma Purana, Narada Purana, Niladrimahodaya, Matsya Purana, Brahma Purana, Kapila Samhita, Niladri Mahadaya and Bamadeva Samhita.
The Archaeological excavation at Manikapatna (in Puri district) provides a running chronology of historical habitation as a port or trade center from 1st to 18th century A.D.
The patta painting form evolved, nourished and flourished under the cult of Lord Jagannath. The Kalinga style of architecture has its origin in Puri. Noted astronomer Pathani Samanta, was from Khandpada, in the greater Puri district (now in Nayagarh district).
Besides, Konark, also in Puri district, is an UNESCO world heritage site and is known for its art and architecture, he added.
