The Ancient Light of Education Rises from the East

Sri Sri University launches the Faculty of Eastern

 Knowledge Systems

(The dignitaries are unveiling the Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems - FEKS)

For decades, Western education and culture were widely seen as the definitive standards of progress and civilization. Today, that long-held perception is undergoing a profound shift. Across the world, there is a renewed curiosity and respect for the depth, wisdom and civilizational strength of ancient Eastern knowledge traditions, particularly those rooted in India. Marking a historic step in this global reawakening, Sri Sri University, Cuttack, on January 16, launched a pioneering academic initiative: the ‘Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems (FEKS).’ This landmark development signals not just an institutional milestone, but a broader cultural and intellectual moment, one that reaffirms the relevance of Eastern wisdom in addressing the complex challenges of the modern world.

A First-of-Its-Kind Academic Initiative

                (SSU leadership team unveiling the Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems)

What makes FEKS truly exceptional is its scope and intent. It is the first university faculty in the Asian continent to be exclusively dedicated to the systematic and comprehensive study of Eastern Knowledge Systems. Designed in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the faculty seeks to reintroduce the world to time-tested educational frameworks that have shaped human thought, ethics, science and culture for millennia.

(Dr. Bharat Dash, Dean of the Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems, delivers the keynote address)

The initiative reflects a growing recognition that global crises of today, social, ethical, psychological and even civilizational, cannot be addressed by material progress alone. As emphasized by the dignitaries present at the launch, humanity must once again turn its gaze eastward to learn from knowledge traditions that emphasize harmony, inner well-being, moral clarity and holistic living.

Exploring the Depth of Ancient Indian Knowledge

(SSU leadership team in the launching dias of FEKS)

The Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems offers structured academic engagement across eight major domains of ancient Indian knowledge, including:

·         Niti Shastra (Ethics and Governance)

·         Darshan Shastra (Philosophical Systems)

·         Khagol or Jyotish Shastra (Astronomy and Cosmology)

·         Bharatiya Manav Vigyan (Indian Anthropology and Psychology)

·         Vyakaran Shastra (Linguistics and Grammar)

·         Shilpa and Vaastu Shastra (Architecture and Design)

·         Samagra Swasthya (Holistic Health and Well-being)

·         Natya Shastra (Performing Arts and Aesthetics)

Beyond undergraduate and postgraduate programs, FEKS also provides opportunities for doctoral and post-doctoral research, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for deep scholarship, innovation and interdisciplinary inquiry.

An Inspiring Launch Ceremony

(SSU leadership team in the FEKS launching dias)

The launch of the Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems unfolded as a moment of quiet significance and shared purpose for the Sri Sri University community. Distinguished academicians, administrators and spiritual leaders came together to mark what many described as a long-awaited step toward restoring the  traditional knowledge systems of India to the centre of formal higher education.

(Dignitaries are lighting the lamp)

The ceremony was graced by the President of Sri Sri University, Prof. Smt. Rajita Kulkarni, whose address highlighted the need for educational models that nurture both intellectual excellence and inner growth. Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Tej Partap, reflected on the responsibility of universities to go beyond conventional frameworks and create spaces where indigenous knowledge traditions can be studied with academic rigor and global relevance. Also present on the dais were Executive Registrar Prof. (Dr.) Anil Kumar Sharma, Director Operations Swami Satyachaitanya, Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies Prof. (Dr.) Biplab Biswal and Dean of the newly established Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems Dr. Bharat Dash. Each emphasized the importance of integrating ancient wisdom with contemporary scholarship, research methodologies and societal needs in different ways.

(SSU leadership team launching FEKS Booklet)

Rather than a symbolic inauguration alone, the gathering served as a thoughtful dialogue on the future of education, one that recognizes the civilizational knowledge of India not as a relic of the past, but as a living, evolving resource. The presence and reflections of the university leadership reinforced a shared commitment to building an academic ecosystem where Eastern knowledge traditions can flourish with authenticity, academic depth and relevance to modern life.

Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

(Students listen attentively to the speakers)

A central theme of reflection during the event was the future trajectory of the Faculty of Eastern Knowledge Systems. Discussions focused on how the faculty would enhance employment opportunities for students, build a strong academic identity, and sustain its uniqueness in a world still largely shaped by Western educational paradigms. The success of FEKS, it was emphasized, will depend on its ability to remain rooted in authenticity while engaging dynamically with the needs of the present and the future. As the ancient light of Eastern education rises once again, initiatives like FEKS remind us that progress does not always lie in moving away from the past, but often in rediscovering and reinterpreting it for the world of today.