In a recent interview with The Times of India, Impact Catalyst Aruna Lohia Goenka presented her five-pillar concept of YASHA for achieving Viksit Bharat 2047. This concept, shaped by nearly thirty years of involvement in the nation's development, includes the principles of: Yuva (youth), Anna (nutrition), Shiksha (education), Hunar (skills), and Abundance.
As part of a series of articles dedicated to the theme of Viksit Bharat 2047, Sanjeev Kaur, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at The Times of India, elaborates on the experiences, beliefs, and ideas behind each pillar of the YASHA framework through five interviews.
When it comes to a world where machines might become smarter than humans, Aruna Goenka believes that the greatest threat to children is not the intellectual superiority of machines, but that people will stop thinking and become like robots—programmed to react, but forgetting how to feel, empathize, and connect.
Giving an example of educational intervention, she spoke about her work in the tribal area of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, where children were taught to think, not just memorize, in the 1990s. In her view, the most significant moment is not the child's answer of 'I know the answer,' but the question 'But why?' Today, after 30 years, she is proud of her connection with the AM/NS India Times Critical Thinking Championship, which annually covers one million children across 28 states and 8 union territories in 14 languages.
When asked about the necessity of teachers in the age of AI, Goenka replied that they are needed more than ever. Although AI can explain the laws of Einstein and Newton, a machine cannot recognize a child who has stopped believing in themselves; a great teacher can change a life, whereas a machine merely teaches a lesson. She emphasized that AI should act as a co-pilot, not an autopilot, for children.
Goenka joked that we often confuse intelligence with grades, noting that instead of rewarding children for correct answers, perhaps they should be rewarded more for the questions no one else dared to ask. She also questioned the idea that 100% is the limit.
She provided an interesting example: in December 2018, Ankur Garg, an IIT graduate and IAS officer who studied at Harvard Kennedy School, scored 171 out of 170 on a macroeconomics exam conducted by the renowned economist Professor Jeffrey Frankel. This case, according to her, demonstrates exceptional potential.
Responding to the question of the loss of educational purpose, Goenka agreed with Socrates, asserting that a meaningful life must be analyzed, not just lived. For him, the pursuit of wisdom was inextricably linked to virtue. She named compassion, honesty, courage, self-discipline, and mindfulness as integral elements of education.
She mentioned numerous ancient and modern thinkers, including the Upanishads, Thirukkural, Yoga Sutras, Charaka Samhita, and Panchatantra. She also cited the teachings of Gautama Buddha on compassion and mindfulness, Lord Mahavira's Anekanvada on the multifaceted nature of truth, Kabir's fearless questioning, Guru Nanak's messages on equality and service, Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas on duty and devotion, and Khalil Gibran's wisdom on love and self-knowledge.
Goenka believes that these great minds explored not only the volume of knowledge but also how to live wisely. She warned that without developing mindfulness, in an environment of information and technology, humanity risks turning into 'intellectual zombies.'
When asked how she combines the blessing of Lakshmi (prosperity) with a deep love for Saraswati (knowledge), Goenka responded that it stems from a family of geniuses and magicians. Her elder brother possesses one of the world's largest collections of manuscripts. She never saw Lakshmi and Saraswati as rivals, but rather as two complementary forces within a person: Lakshmi symbolizes the subconscious where dreams are born, and Saraswati is the consciousness that guides those dreams. She added that wealth without wisdom will never generate sustainable abundance.
Regarding the comparison of the 'silver spoon' and the 'silva mind,' Goenka shared that her elder brother used the 'Silva Mind' visualization technique for decades, which helped him realize an incredible library. However, she agreed with the metaphor, stating that a silver spoon may nourish the body, but a silver mind feeds curiosity. She concluded that knowledge is perhaps the only inheritance that grows richer the more you give away.
In conclusion, Goenka noted that literacy teaches reading, education teaches understanding, and wisdom teaches questioning. Literacy opens the book, education opens the mind, and wisdom opens the heart. She urged people to dream big, not limiting themselves to the night, but realizing their dreams during the day. She addressed the 1.4 billion people who have dreams for Bharat, asserting that when these dreams turn into action, Viksit Bharat 2047 will become a reality.
