India’s universal ethos Vasuda ev Kutumbakam and Styamev Jayate can unite Asia, World: Dr. PB Sharma

Prof (Dr.) Pritam B. Sharma, PhD(Birmingham), FIE(India), FWAPS, FAeroS, FISTE is currently the Vice Chancellor, Amity University Haryana (AUH). An eminent educationist, Prof. Sharma is also the Founder Vice Chancellor of DTU and RGTU and Immediate Past President of Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

Born at Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, Prof. Sharma graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Samrat Ashok Technological Institute with a GOLD MEDAL of Faculty of Technology of Vikram University in 1969. He was sent by Govt. of India as a National Scholar for higher studies abroad and he obtained his Post Graduate Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Birmingham (UK) in 1974 and received the Post Graduate Prize for being the topper of University of Birmingham. He later received his Doctorate Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Birmingham (UK) in 1978. Prof. Sharma is a man of vision, firm commitment and resolves to nurture academic and professional excellence in universities and Institutions to which he has associated himself during his 49 years long professional career.

Prof Sharma brings with him a combine of the wisdom of an IIT professor, an institution builder and Director of premier institutions such as DCE and maturity to excel a university of technology of which he was the founder Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Sharma is an IT savvy technical education administrator having knowledge and vision of building world-class institutions.

Here are some excerpts from an interview with Sanjeev K Ahuja, the Senior Editor (Foreign Affairs), Asian Community News (ACN) Network on the burning subject One Asia Community Theory:

Q. Do you think India can assume a leadership role in uniting Asia especially when it’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked upon global diplomacy with a focus on countries like Japan, Korea, and China?

Ans. India has taken a real lead in putting Asia – Pacific countries together and meeting of the country heads recently is a testimony of India’s leadership in this regard. But India, in my opinion, can play even a bigger role primarily because it understands the value and worth of One Asia and One Asia Pacific theory and also the concept of the whole “World as One Family” much better because of the Spiritual Civilization of India has a deep-rooted commitment to Vasuda ev Kutumbakam – the world is one family, the core philosophy of humanism in India.

The Satyamev Jayate as derived from the Mundaka Upnishad and enshrined on the emblem of the Indian government has a universal appeal for the whole world. Who will not say that the righteousness should not prevail and the truth should not triumph? India being the home and originator of this universal ethos of Vasuda ev Kutumbakam and Styamev Jayate has to play a lead role to sustain the march of humanity on the path of peace, prosperity and happiness. I am sure that we, in India are in good times, as a vibrant and strong economy coupled with its strong spiritual foundation is in a position to give back to the world a new meaning and purpose of human excellence.

Q. Conflicting situations like India-Pakistan and South Korea-North Korea tensions are set to prove hurdles in making the Asian continent into one unified community like the European Union (EU). What do you have to say about this?

Ans. Conflicts arise primarily because of self-interests. So long as the self-interest dominates, conflict is bound to exist. But the moment when self-interest gives way to the larger collective good of the humanity the conflict disappears. Believe or not, Asia was one beyond India, before the rise of the Himalayas. Asia, that time comprised of not only of India and East Asia but also that of much of the larger part of Africa, and also all the eastern countries right up to Japan, including Asian part of Russia formed a large peninsula that was surrounded by sea from all the sides. That is why even today in our sankalpa, we recite “Jamboo deepe Bharat khande Aryavarte” as India from the time immemorial, is being referred to an being the part of Jamboo Deepa the large peninsula that was One Asia before the rise of Himalaya. Asia was one at that time. The narrow self-interests of small countries were not there. I am sure China, India, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Java, Sumatra and Indonesia realise that they have a common root and as such, gradually when the One Asia community concept gets momentum, they will find self-interests of nations shall submerge into the larger collective good of the Asian community and Asia will be that one community. This is what precisely happened in the One-Europe, European Community theory. Initially, Europe was also divided into several countries and each country has its self-interests. But today, they have converged towards one common interest and that is why the European Community has made tremendous progress in all aspects of human endeavors in its constituent contraries. Tomorrow, this is going to happen with the Asian community as well. I really wish to congratulate Dr. Sato, the Chairman of One Asia Foundation that despite being one of the richest men of Japan, he took the initiative to coin the one Asia theory and became its crusader to create the feeling of oneness in Asian countries. He came down to our university recently to launch this project for our university.

Q. China has bagged 150 One-Asia Community theory courses in its 150 universities from the Japan-based One Asia Foundation whereas India has just two universities, and Amity University Haryana (AUH) is one of them to bring it in India. Why the One-Asia concept is so important for India?

Ans. I am sure China understands the value and worth of One Asia concept better. It understands that tomorrow when the Asian economy becomes vibrant and strong, we shall be able to reap rich harvest only if our people are righteous and more humane. The one-Asia concept, apart from thinking Asia as one, has an important purpose to create a society which is aligned towards the principles of truth, righteousness and empathy – which means Aatmiyata.

India, in my opinion, especially ancient India, was the originator of these concepts Aatmiyata took its birth here, as the oneness of soul and its connection with eternity, the divine was understood to be a the core of creation of this beautiful world by one Vedic Seer and Sages.  And through this oneness of soul, they could conceive the whole world as one family and proclaimed Vasuda ev Kutumbakam as in Maha Upanishad.

Today, we need to understand that it is only by strict adherence and practice of truth in thought, words and deeds, we shall be able to develop great economies and nurture societies based on humanism and compassion.

We at AUH feel highly privileged that we are the very first private universities in India to have been awarded One Asia Community Project. In fact, there are only two universities in India, the other being JNU in the government sector.

Q. How did you manage to win this project from One Asia Foundation that chose your university as the first institution in the private sector in India?

Ans. It happened through our Prof. Santosh K Gupta whom we inducted recently into Amity School of Languages as Associate Professor. He has lived and worked in Japan and Korea for a long before joining us. He had applied for this project and succeeded it in bringing it for our university. Last year, the same project was awarded to the state-owned JNU.

But more than that, we feel highly privileged to bag this project as Amity itself means Aatmiyata and Amity means eternity. As such, Amity is committed to establishing this vital connect to unite the whole world together into one family. It is really a matter of great pride for us to join this one Asia Community Project, as it is the beginning of a great dream of putting the whole world together as one family.

We will certainly ensure that the One Asia community theory is understood, not only in creating a social and spiritual connect but like in European Community, the One Asian Community tomorrow shall pave the way for all the countries of Asia to come together and attain the levels of prosperity along with spiritual awakening so that peace, prosperity and happiness in plenty are created to sustain a blissful life in the countries of One Asia. We in India, believe that the highest levels of material prosperity and spiritual enlightenment can be achieved together without compromising the interest of man and Mother Nature.

Q. Making Asia united as one is a gigantic task, and you have bagged the One Asia Community theory project for a limited period only. Why?

Ans. The project is being piloted with 45 students, to begin with. However, by the time when this project is over, we would have awakened our students and teachers community much better about the meaning and purpose of One Asia Community theory and then this would become a regular course for all students at our university. One of my dreams is that each and every student who come to Amity, should take pride in recognizing that the humanity is one, the world is one and we, humans have the responsibility to create a better tomorrow, a world full of prosperity, happiness and divine bliss. There is nothing better than reaching out to the youngsters who will become the ambassadors of peace as well as crusaders of the concept of Vasuda ev Kutumbakam.