In this sacred land of Bharat, great sages have been making many changes and modifications in the education system since ancient times. Before the coming of foreigners, there were very few educational institutions in this country. Each of them specialized in one branch of knowledge or the other and helped the students to achieve excellence in that branch.

Kasi (Benaras) University specialized in the study of grammar. Alankara Sastra (rhetoric) was the specialty in Kashmir University. Ujjaini University specialized in mathematics. Similarly, there was a small town known as Navadvipa where nyaya (logic) was the specialty. Amaravati, the capital of the kingdom of Bharata (brother of Rama), specialized, apart from other sciences, in ayurveda (medicine). Ayurveda was a specialty in the Takshashila (Taxila) University also.

One of the most famous universities of ancient India was Nalanda, which specialized in grammar, nyaya, medicine, and yoga shastra. Valabhi, Mithila, and Vikramasila were other well-known universities of ancient India. In all these universities, apart from the specific disciplines, general ethics and proper moral conduct in life were essential part of the curriculum.

Learning professional skills is essential

Sathya (truth) and dharma (righteousness) were the guiding principles for all students. Besides, vocational training for various trades like carpentry, pottery, blacksmith, etc. was given so that the pupils may be trained for life and may become capable of earning their livelihood in a righteous way. What is the point in learning subjects that are not useful in daily life? Learning professional skills is therefore essential. Fine arts like music, dance, and drama were also taught in these universities. Amaravati University included in its curriculum all these subjects and their branches. (SSS Vol32 Part 2, pp.168-169)

In this and in other villages, there are many persons who are either too old or too weak or with some physical defect---the lame, the deaf, the blind, the polio affected, the paralytic---who are finding it difficult to earn even a subsistence wage. Some of them also have families to look after. What they are able to scrape together is very inadequate in these days when prices are soaring sky-high. I am proposing to help such people in the villages around Brindavan with finance and facilities, to start some employment opportunities through tailoring, carpentry, painting, spinning, weaving and other such village industries. They can recite the Names of God, sing bhajans and practise namasmarana (Remembering God s Name) even while engaged in these crafts, so that they can earn both peace for the mind and food for the body. (SSS Vol.13)

There are a number of women belonging to good families, who have no independent means to sustain themselves and are not in a position to take up jobs outside. I felt that such women should be taught tailoring and given a sewing machine so that they can earn some income independently. (SSS Vol.26)

Women in various places observe what is called Ladles Day. The day should not be observed only by making speeches or holding bhajans. They should endeavour to help the poor and the destitute. Helpless women who have no means of livelihood should be taught some occupation like tailoring to enable them to earn an income. Slum dwellers should be helped to keep their huts dean. The environment also should be cleaned to help the children grow in a pure atmosphere. Proper housekeeping should also be taught to those people. Disease is caused mainly by unhygienic surroundings Moreover the air, the water, the mind, everything is polluted. This pollution is causing several, new types of diseases. (SSS Vol.29)

Women devotees in the Sai Movement are participating in large numbers enthusiastically in service activities such as helping the women of weaker sections to learn some useful trades like tailoring, etc., so that they can earn some money for the family and also spend their time usefully. If such activities are taken up all over the country, the country will prosper. This sacred work is typical of the culture of our ancient country. Women are the heirs of our ancient culture. Culture means refinement. Women are the torch-bearers of refinement and they are toiling for the emancipation of the nation. (SSS Vol.31)