A nation is shaped by its people and education acts as a catalyst in transforming them. However, education has tokeep up pace with the demands of a constantly evolving world and also offer global competencies and skills relevant for life overall. The theme of education must not merely be the memorization of information, but the development of head and heart. Therefore, rather than subscribing students to mere information, Institutions should focus on inner awakening by imparting wisdom, love for higher values, and leadership training in professional as well as personal life.
To fulfill the lofty objectives of quality and accessible education in a developing state like Odisha, the Jagadguru Kripalu University (JKU), a multidisciplinary university is being established at Banara, 10 kms from Cuttack, and 20 kms from Bhubaneswar. The Jagadguru Kripalu University Act of 2020 was passed by the Odisha Legislative Assembly. It was an outcome of an MoU signed between the Government of Odisha and JKYog, with the noble mission of promoting world-class education including emphasis on Spiritual Sciences, Yogic Sciences, and Naturopathy.
India hosts many premier institutions that equip students with high-class academic qualifications and help them secure dream jobs early in life. However, being on a hedonistic treadmill of material allurements alone has caused the degradation of human values in India and around the world. The consequences are visible with widespread anxiety, increase in suicide rates, alcoholism, and drug abuse. Evidently, today’s youth is falling short of inner strength and character to sustain through the ups and downs of life.
Therefore, JKU has been uniquely envisioned to bridge this void by empowering students with the virtuous qualities of both the head and the heart.Comprehensive education will be offered through all-round personality development tinged with spiritual wisdom and universal humanitarian values. The curriculum, pedagogy, faculty, and environment at JKU are being designed to inspire young minds and illumine their intellect with the best of the East and the West. Through the amalgamation of ancient traditions and modern scientific spirit, JKU will be the first of its kind to achieve a unique blend of intellectual growth and spiritual development to blossom balanced global leaders and nation-builders in the future.
The Founder of JKU, Swami Mukundananda, is a global spiritual leader, a bestselling author, and an international authority on Mind Management. He has founded JKYog to spread the eternal knowledge of the Vedas, encapsulated in a simple yet life-transforming way relevant to contemporary times. The university team includes global researchers, entrepreneurs, and educationists who believe in the mission of ‘Inspiring minds through illuminating intellects’. This will be accomplished by engaging vigorously and fearlessly in the spirit of truth and interpreting old knowledge and beliefs in the light of new needs and discoveries.
Jagadguru Kripalu University is under construction on a sprawling 100-acre campus with state-of-the-art infrastructure and lush scenic gardens. It is surrounded by the Mahanadi River on one side and the Chanduka forest on the other. Thus, the campus will provide the much-needed environment for healthy and happy living.
The finely built academic block will house the School of Health Sciences, School of Fine Arts, School of Languages, School of Humanities, School of Information technology, School of Textile Industry, School of Yoga and Naturopathy, and School of Religious Studies and Comparative Religion. Separate blocks for the library, students’ hostels, and Staff quarters are in pipeline. Phase II construction will cover the Center for Rural Economics and Institute for Tribal Development, School for Business Studies, and School of Engineering.
On-campus facilities will include 10-storied separate hostels for boys and girls, sports infrastructure, modern high-tech classrooms, auditoriums for recreation and cultural events alongside a multi-purpose hospital for healthcare needs. Round-the-clock security and closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring of public areas within the campus will protect the students, University community, and property. The campus will have the ambience of a Gurukul with high-tech infrastructure aimed at the holistic development of students. The premises will be alcohol-free, drug-free, smoke-free, and purely vegetarian.
Presently, the university campus also houses the following:
- Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya (JKC):A running charitable clinic that provides free medical treatment to the inhabitants of the surrounding villages.
- Jagadguru Kripalu Yoga and Naturopathy Hospital and Research Centre (JKYNHRC):A 50-bedded Naturopathy hospital, the first of its kind in eastern India to spread healthy living practices by popularizing Naturopathy – a natural, non-invasive, and drugless system of healing that rejuvenates the inner healing power of the human body.
- Jagadguru Kripalu Skill Institute (JKSI):Impart vocational skills to the rural youth for increasing their employability and self-sustenance in collaboration with industry needs. For the past few years, JKSI has been imparting trainings on stitching, weaving, electrical works, security, computer literacy classes etc. which have resulted in many rural microentrepreneurs. The establishment of JKU will enable provisions for free education to the rural youth and strive to uplift the tribal communities of Odisha.
For harmoniously blending medical, yogic, and spiritual education, a 400-bed Multipurpose Hospital is also being built on the campus in a phase-wise manner. In addition to catering to society’s healthcare needs, this hospital will also provide in-service training for courses conducted by the School of Health Sciences. The curriculum will include academia-industry collaboration through conferences, seminars and catalyze innovation and problem-solving.
The Students’ Activity Center on campus will enable nurturing of creative talents. The Sports Block is planned with dedicated fields for outdoor games, like, football, cricket, hockey and indoor games such as volleyball and basketball. Physical activity will also be encouraged through the facility of a gym fitted with the latest equipment and yoga classes conducted by the experts from the JKYog Naturopathy Hospital.
There are various ways of associating with the JKU project and upholding the cause of education for the rural youth and healthcare for the underprivileged.
Afterall, the greatness of a society is not determined by the extent of its territories or the amount of wealth it holds, but by the citizens upholding and living by higher values of life. The Jagadguru Kripalu University is a landmark step towards fulfilling this greater purpose of illuminating intellects and awakening souls to realize their infinite potential.
