Kejriwal, Dalai Lama launch 'Happiness Curriculum'

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Monday launched 'Happiness Curriculum' for its school students, with the Dalai Lama gracing the occasion and saying that India can lead the world by uniting the modern and ancient knowledge and help it overcome 'negative emotions' of the mankind. Launching the curriculum for students of nursery up to class 8, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal termed the occasion 'historical'.

Congratulating Delhi government for its initiative to include 'Happiness curriculum' in its schools, the Dalai Lama said: "only India has the ability to combine modern education with ancient knowledge which is necessary for the fulfilment of human emotions." He said such a combination will pave way for physical and mental well-being, solving troubles caused due to negative and destructive emotions like anger, hatred and jealousy. The Dalai Lama called for a revival of the ancient Indian knowledge in the country of its origin and its subsequent spread across the world including the countries following Buddhism.

Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal termed the 'Happiness curriculum' as the third stage of reforms in education initiated by his government after focusing on infrastructure development and motivation of teachers in the government schools.

"Education is our topmost priorities. The Centre and other state governments should give one year, focussing on education at a war footing," he said. The CM said that there was a need to 'overhaul' the present education system that has not been able to produce 'good human being' and added that 'Happiness Curriculum' was a 'solid step' towards this aim. Deputy CM and in charge of Education department of Delhi government, Manish Sisodia, who conceived the curriculum, asserted that the experiment might one day spread across the country and the world as well.