According to Prof. B. Mahadevan, a professor of Operations Management at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, he has been teaching since 1992 and possesses over 27 years of extensive experience in teaching, research, consulting, and academic administration. He has worked at renowned institutions such as IIT Delhi, XLRI Jamshedpur, and Dartmouth College as a visiting scholar.

Prof. Mahadevan's areas of research interest include exploring the application of ancient Indian wisdom to address modern-day concerns, spirituality in the workplace, and management principles derived from the Bhagavad Gita. Additionally, he focuses on service system design for customer co-creation of value and order allocation issues in electronic markets.

Furthermore, Prof. Mahadevan served as the Chief Editor of the IIMB Management Review and was a retainer consultant to Deloitte Consulting LLP in the USA during 2001-2002. In recognition of his contributions to education rooted in Sanskrit and Indian Wisdom, he founded Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth - a University for applied Sanskrit studies from 2016 to 2018 ^[1].

Source: Indian Institute of Management Bangalore ↩︎

TLDR:

The key idea of the video is that Indian knowledge systems, particularly in sound engineering and temple architecture, have been overlooked in education, but efforts are being made to revive and promote them, showcasing impressive engineering techniques and advanced technology.

Key Insights

Historical Achievements and Engineering Skills

🎶 Musical pillars in temples, like the one in Madurai, showcase the advanced knowledge and engineering skills of ancient Indian civilizations.

💡 The ancient Indians were skilled in manufacturing a unique type of steel called wood steel, which was highly valued and exported to various parts of the world.

🌍 The Kallanai dam is the only surviving dam from ancient times, highlighting the remarkable engineering skills of the past.

📞 The expertise in water management was so profound that people from desert regions could offer to send water to Bangalore if there was a shortage, highlighting the effectiveness of their techniques.

🌞 The Konark Temple in India is a remarkable example of ancient astronomical knowledge, with each of its structures functioning as a sundial.

💎 Indians had the knowledge of mixing five different metals to create alloys, showcasing their advanced metallurgical skills.

💡 The manufacturing process of metal mirrors in India requires a unique polishing technique that cannot be replicated by modern machines, showcasing the advanced knowledge and skills of ancient Indian craftsmen.

🌀 Indians were skilled in cyclical geometry, using only circles to generate complex shapes, showcasing their mathematical knowledge and creativity.

Challenges and Revival of Indian Knowledge Systems

😔 It is unfortunate that the Indian knowledge system is not formally integrated into our education system, and any attempt to do so is often met with resistance and politicization.

🤔 The Western world’s perception of Indian knowledge systems as inferior and lacking in knowledge before their awakening 2000 years ago is a flawed narrative that needs to be challenged.

🌍 The concept of “Indian knowledge system” encompasses both geographical and demographical meanings, representing a rich cultural heritage that is unique to India.

🌍 Indian dharmic traditions, including Buddhism and Chinese traditions, have made significant contributions to fields such as mathematics, shipbuilding, and regional literature.

🌳 The speaker suggests that a return to traditional educational systems like gurukulas, with more substantive material, can help revive and strengthen Indian knowledge systems.

Long Summary

00:00 📚 Indian knowledge systems, particularly in sound engineering and temple architecture, have been overlooked in education, but efforts are being made to revive and promote them, showcasing impressive engineering techniques and advanced technology.

1.1 Indian knowledge systems, particularly in the field of sound engineering and temple architecture, have been overlooked and not integrated into the formal education system, leading to a lack of understanding and appreciation for this rich heritage.

1.2 Indian knowledge systems are often overlooked and undermined in modern education, but efforts are being made to revive and promote them through the Department of Indian Knowledge Systems, despite the challenges faced.

1.3 Indian temples, such as the Madurai Temple, hold valuable knowledge in science, engineering, and technology that should be explored and appreciated by the younger generation.

1.4 Granite temples in India, built by the Pallava and Pandya Kings, showcase advanced engineering techniques such as carving 48 pillars from a single stone and creating musical sounds through sound engineering, demonstrating the impressive knowledge and skills of the civilization in 700 BC.

1.5 India had advanced technology in iron and steel, as evidenced by the rust-free iron pillar in Kollur and the iron beams in the Puri temple, highlighting the significance of Indian Knowledge Systems in today’s education.

1.6 Knowing the temperature time transformation diagram is essential for mechanical engineers as it determines the behavior of metals at different temperatures and times.

15:15 📚 Indians had a rich legacy in metalworking, zinc extraction, dam construction, water management, and astronomical knowledge, but today’s education system focuses only on making money and lacks spirituality.

2.1 Indians were skilled in manufacturing wood steel, which was exported from Kodangalore to ports on the west and east coasts, and its composition has been difficult to replicate since the British imposed a mining ban and production tax, leading to the loss of India’s great legacy in metalworking.

2.2 Indians in the 11th Century developed a unique method called downward drift distillation process to extract zinc, which was unknown to the rest of the world, leading to a significant industrial production of zinc.

2.3 Kallanai is the only surviving dam in the world, with a history of 2200 years, and although the British increased its height, the structure remains largely untouched.

2.4 Indians excelled in watershed management, demonstrated through the use of stepwells in Rajasthan and the iron and pine system in Bihar, showcasing their expertise in water management and the integration of aesthetics, religion, and technology.

2.5 We were flourishing because we understood the importance of both pravarti and nivarti in bhagavad-gita, but today’s education focuses only on making money, and spirituality should be embraced from a young age rather than waiting until retirement.

2.6 The Konark Temple in India is a remarkable example of ancient astronomical knowledge and craftsmanship, with each of its 24 sundials accurately indicating the time based on the shadow of the Sun, showcasing the advanced understanding of astronomy and mathematics in ancient Indian civilization.

22:55 📚 Indian knowledge systems, including astronomy, metallurgy, and mathematics, are being overlooked in today’s education, resulting in a loss of cultural significance and valuable insights into observation and scientific thinking.

3.1 Indian knowledge systems from centuries ago, including astronomy and metallurgy, are being overlooked in today’s education, resulting in a culture that is losing its significance.

3.2 There are unique trades in India, such as the production of metal mirrors and idols, which require advanced metallurgical knowledge and precision craftsmanship.

3.3 Indian knowledge systems, particularly iconography, provide valuable insights into observation and scientific thinking, challenging the notion of blind faith and emphasizing the importance of proof.

3.4 Indians were skilled in using cyclical geometry to create complex shapes using only a stick and a thread, as demonstrated by the construction of various altars and the existence of ancient flying kites.

3.5 Indian knowledge systems have various approximations for the value of pi, with Ramanujan having the highest approximation of 1.9 million digits, showcasing the rich mathematical legacy of the Indian people.

3.6 Indian mathematician Narayana Pandita discovered the pan diagonal magic square 2200 years ago, which has the unique property that all rows, columns, and diagonals add up to the same number, and he provided a construction algorithm for creating such squares.

35:31 📚 Indian knowledge systems, such as bhadraganita, have practical applications in various fields and should be taught in education to inspire and utilize their potential, emphasizing the importance of understanding Indian culture through experience and reading Indian works, which are derived from deep thinking and observation, and have made significant contributions to art and science, while also embracing diversity and catering to individual uniqueness in education.

4.1 Indian knowledge systems, such as bhadraganita, have practical applications in fields like management and perfumery, and should be taught in education to inspire and utilize their potential.

4.2 Indian knowledge system encompasses the geographical and demographical aspects of India, emphasizing the importance of those who are born and live in the country in understanding its unique culture.

4.3 Indian culture is defined by those who have experienced its traditions and rituals, and it is important to read Indian works to truly understand their meaning without relying solely on dictionaries.

4.4 Knowledge in Indian systems is derived from deep thinking, observation, and validation, and can be oral or written, with a classification into literary and non-literary categories, including regional and foreign adaptations.

4.5 Indian knowledge systems, including mathematics, shipbuilding, and regional literature, have made significant contributions to various fields, such as art and science, and have been preserved through oral traditions and methodologies.

4.6 The speaker discusses the importance of embracing diversity and catering to individual uniqueness in education.

43:51 🔑 The British dismissal of Indian languages and literature, Mahatma Gandhi’s criticism of the current education system, and the need to incorporate Indian knowledge systems into engineering education are highlighted as important challenges and solutions for today’s education.

5.1 The British dismissed the value of Indian languages and literature, considering them useless and inferior to European literature, which is a challenge that needs to be addressed.

5.2 Mahatma Gandhi criticized the current education system in India, stating that it is unaffordable and advocated for a return to traditional Indian education systems like gurukulas.

5.3 The story illustrates that we are all sitting on a wooden box, and until we open it, we will never know the hidden treasures within.

5.4 Implementing Indian knowledge systems in the engineering curriculum requires understanding the fundamental principles of Sanskrit and the need to infuse grace into the existing curriculum, as translations by foreigners have contaminated the original content.

5.5 The speaker emphasizes the need to incorporate Indian knowledge systems into engineering education from the beginning, rather than treating them as disconnected electives, and suggests that the real solution lies in establishing universities based on the principles of Indian knowledge systems.

5.6 The speaker emphasizes the importance of incorporating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in education and expresses concern about the lack of focus on IKS in a specific university program.

52:53 📚 The speaker discusses the challenges of implementing Indian knowledge systems in education, emphasizing the need to start from schools and suggesting the possibility of having a completely alternate board that is equally recognized alongside existing curriculums.

6.1 The speaker discusses the challenges of implementing the teachings of the Arthur sastra in education, emphasizing the need to start from schools and mentioning the government’s efforts in revising the National curriculum framework to incorporate knowledge of India.

6.2 Introduce courses in higher education to familiarize students with Indian Knowledge Systems, encourage research through PhD and Masters thesis, and operate at a schooling level to create an ecosystem.

6.3 The speaker emphasizes the importance of investing in education from ages 7 to 17, even if it is not perfect, and suggests that the solution to the lack of qualified teachers is for the son to become a great acharya, as constraints and challenges can be seen as opportunities for growth.

6.4 The correlation between the printing of Indian texts and the truthfulness in society is deeper than just the availability of information, as it is rooted in the fundamental principle of karma and the perspective of life ingrained in Indian culture.

6.5 The speaker emphasizes the significance of Indian knowledge systems in today’s education, highlighting the difference it can make in one’s beliefs and actions, and suggests the possibility of having a completely alternate board that is equally recognized alongside the existing curriculums.

6.6 The speaker emphasizes the need to change the approach to education by drawing from Indian traditions and concepts, rather than relying on traditional textbooks, in order to achieve a deeper understanding and rootedness in India.

01:05:02 📚 The Indian knowledge system, utilizing binary mathematics and the concepts of “lagu” and “guru,” can unlock the potential of computers and material success, but modern education lacks the ethical aspect and fusion of different knowledge systems, leading to barriers and unfair practices.

7.1 The Indian knowledge system utilizes binary mathematics, specifically the concept of “lagu” and “guru,” to fully exploit the potential of computers and create material success.

7.2 Deep Brew and debru in cycle length 3 were discovered in 1983, and there are different stages to understanding and applying this knowledge, but currently, the speaker is not equipped to do so.

7.3 India had the highest GDP until Europeans arrived, and the speaker argues that modern knowledge management systems lack the dharmic (ethical) aspect, leading to barriers and unfair practices, as seen in the case of Pfizer’s vaccinations.

7.4 Modern education lacks the fusion of different knowledge systems, focusing solely on winning, while the speaker emphasizes the importance of the art of dying and the significance of the dharmic tradition in one’s life.

7.5 Teaching without fees and instilling a belief in the concept of karma can bring about positive change in education and daily life.

1. 01:11:16 📚 Many students feel they are not learning anything in school and the idea that the future can change drastically is a positive and energizing vision.

Q&A

Q: How did the Indian knowledge system contribute to the construction of granite temples in India?

A: The Indian knowledge system played a significant role in the construction of granite temples in India. The Pallava and Pandya Kings pioneered the use of granite for these temples, which consisted of intricately carved pillars. These pillars had the unique ability to produce musical sounds when tapped. This required a deep understanding of sound engineering, showcasing the advanced knowledge and craftsmanship of ancient India.

Q: How was the Indian knowledge system undermined by Western perspectives?

A: The Indian knowledge system, which has a rich history dating back thousands of years, has often been undermined by Western perspectives. Western narratives tend to ignore or discredit the significant contributions made by ancient India. This oversight perpetuates biased narratives that fail to recognize the vast knowledge and innovation present in the Indian culture. It is essential to challenge these biases and acknowledge the immense wisdom and expertise of ancient India.

Q: What are some examples of advanced technologies and techniques developed by ancient Indians?

A: Ancient Indians were skilled in various advanced technologies and techniques. They had expertise in metalworking, such as extracting zinc using a downward drift distillation process. They produced industrial-grade zinc in large quantities as early as the 11th century A.D. Indian metalworking skills extended to metals like copper and gold as well. Additionally, Indians had advanced knowledge of watershed management, as evidenced by the impressive stepwells used for water management in regions like Rajasthan and Bihar. Their knowledge of astronomy was also notable, with numerous temples dedicated to celestial bodies like the Sun. These examples demonstrate the vast technological and scientific innovations of ancient India.

Q: How is Indian culture best understood?

A: Indian culture is best understood through lived experiences and not just through dictionaries. The meaning of words and concepts in Indian culture cannot be fully grasped solely by referring to a dictionary. Deep thinking, observation, and validation are required to acquire a comprehensive understanding of Indian culture. Indian culture encompasses both oral and written traditions, and there are various methodological frameworks used to classify and analyze this rich cultural system. By actively engaging with the people, traditions, and practices of India, one can gain a deeper insight into its culture.

Note - This content is generated by AI, we believe it is accurate, but we don’t claim any liability of inaccuracies in the AI generated content.

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