Prof U R Ananthamurthy’s ‘Philosophy of Education’ has been recently awarded the PhD

By Richard D’Souza
Bellevision Media Network

Manipal, 27 June 2024: Research on renowned writer Prof U R Ananthamurthy’s ‘Philosophy of Education’ has been recently awarded the PhD recognition by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), the deemed university and the Institution of Eminence. (IoE). The thesis was prepared and presented by Prof Varadesh Hiregange under the guidance of Dr H Vinod Bhat who is currently the Vice-Chancellor of The Apollo University, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh.

 

The thesis has tried to explore the ’philosophy of education’ which emerges from a close study of Prof U R Ananthamurthy, one of the finest writers who also happened to be the Vice-Chancellor at MG University, Kottayam and a life-long professor at Mysore University). Drawing both from Western and Eastern sources, the study examines his autobiography, other writings and talks on education, convocation addresses, class-room lectures and interviews to formulate a thesis on his philosophy of education (PoE).

 

 

Going beyond his much-repeated words such as modernity, equality and spirituality, the thesis develops the concept of Eco-Egalitarian Advaitism to describe his philosophy per se.

 

Going beyond his words such as ’equality, excellence and extension’ in the context of PoE, the study delves into all the specifics of his PoE such as the purpose, curriculum, methods of teaching and communication, role as a teacher, medium of teaching and role as an educational leader, which basically spring from his PoE.

 

Going beyond the usual recognition of socialism and existentialism in Ananthamurthy’s thought process, the thesis recognises Gandhian, Tagorean and Ambedkarite elements in his PoE, which melt into his own unique ’materialist spirtualism’. which the thesis prefers to call as Eco-Egalitarian Advaitism.

 

Prof Varadesh Hiregange, a journalist in his initial career, currently heads the Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences (GCPAS), MAHE. He was also the Director of Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC), MAHE earlier. His guide Dr Vinod Bhat also happened to be the Vice-Chancellor of MAHE University earlier. MAHE Pro Chancellor Dr H S Ballal and Vice-Chancellor Lt Gen Dr M D Venkatesh have expressed happiness over this research.