What is Bharatiya education? Bharatiya education consists in sacrificing oneself happily for the sake of others. Discharge your duties with divine feelings. You will be blessed. Lead spiritual lives. (SSB 1993, p. 135)

Bharatiya education is not the kind of education which makes one spend a lot of money to acquire a degree and then go about with a begging bowl for jobs. It aims at promoting self-reliance, instilling in the student the noble idea of promoting the progress of the country in a spirit of sacrifice and leading a joyous life of dedicated service to the people. It seeks to promote unity in diversity. It prepares the minds of students to fight against all forms of injustice, corruption and wickedness afflicting society. Bharatiya education is not a prison-house for creating mental slavery or bondage to a job. It proclaims in strident terms: ‘The One abides as the Inner Spirit in all beings.’ It calls upon everyone to manifest his divinity. Thus, true Bharatiya education seeks to instil patriotism, promote the spirit of sacrifice, and encourage spiritual pursuits and thereby lead an ideal life. (SSS Vol.25, p. 139)

All that students learn today is unrelated to the Bharatiya system of education. It enslaves the mind and promotes the office-hunting mentality. It can have no relation to Bharatiya education, which is a system to combat injustice and corruption and promote truth and righteousness. It was not designed to make a student acquire a degree at great expense and then go about with a begging bowl in search of jobs. It aimed at promoting self-reliance and encouraging one to take up social service in a spirit of dedication. Bharatiya education was based on the two mottos: Satyam vada Dharmam chara (Speak the Truth Practise Righteousness). Love is the spiritual discipline governing human life. Truth is one’s life breath. Bharat produced any number of men in the past who were dedicated to these two ideals. Bharatiya education made the human personality shine effulgently like a multi-faceted diamond. (BA, pp. 117-118)

Bharatiya education makes one ideal and self-reliant. It inculcates the sense of sacrifice in man. Having called yourselves children of Bharat, you should keep in mind the welfare of Bharat Matha. Modern education enhances the intelligence, but not broadmindedness. It makes the students stonehearted. True education is one that instills compassion in you. Patriotism coupled with sacrifice; devotion coupled with love should become a part and parcel of your life. Education confers humility. Humility confers deservedness; deservedness secures for you wealth as well as divinity and devotion to God. (SSS Vol.31, p. 420)