Sanatan Seva Samiti Punjab and Ved Prachar Mandal Punjab jointly organized an award ceremony on Saturday at BCM School to mark the successful conclusion of a year-long Vedic speech competition aimed at reconnecting students with India’s ancient knowledge systems.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP Punjab In-charge Manish Sisodia attended the event as chief guests. President of Sanatan Seva Samiti Punjab Vijay Sharma and President of Ved Prachar Mandal Punjab Roshan Lal Arya was also present on the occasion.
Addressing students and educators, Harjot Singh Bains said that education is the strongest tool to bring meaningful change in society.
“If we want to transform society, the only solution is to shape children with strong values through education,” he said. Drawing an analogy, Bains remarked that just as a young plant can be shaped with care, children can be moulded through the right guidance and learning environment.
He praised teachers for connecting students with India’s cultural heritage, moral values, and ethical principles, stating that such initiatives nurture responsible citizens. Bains also appreciated Manish Sisodia’s education reforms in Delhi government schools, calling them a unique and inspirational model in public education.
Manish Sisodia described the initiative as rare and visionary, reflecting on his decade-long experience in education and public life. He congratulated Sanatan Seva Samiti Punjab, Ved Prachar Mandal Punjab, BCM School’s principal, participating school heads, teachers, and students for promoting learning from the Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and the Bhagavad Gita.
Encouraging students to go beyond memorization, Sisodia said ancient knowledge should be understood and applied in daily life. He suggested expanding the Vedic education model from BCM School to schools across Punjab. Highlighting the efforts of 296 students from 25 schools, he praised their research and preparation, acknowledging the use of modern tools such as online platforms and AI tools like ChatGPT for learning support.
Sisodia also drew parallels between Vedic wisdom and modern scientific discoveries, noting that ancient sages realized many universal truths thousands of years ago that scientists are exploring today. He said that students who study ancient scriptures alongside science can emerge as future innovators and scientists.
The year-long competition concluded with awards presented to winners and participating school principals by Harjot Singh Bains and Manish Sisodia. The organizers presented mementos to the chief guests, and the event ended with the national anthem.
Later, while speaking to the media, Harjot Singh Bains, accompanied by Manish Sisodia, highlighted Punjab’s expectations from the Union Budget. He said Punjab has suffered massive losses due to recent floods and other damages, urging the Centre to announce a special relief package and release the state’s pending funds. He also demanded a significant increase in education funding, stating that allocating just 1–1.5% of the budget to education is insufficient and at least 10% should be dedicated to schools, colleges, and research to make India a true global leader.