NEO-VAISHNAVISM OF SANKARADEVA AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES OF THE NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020: A COMPARISON

Srimanta Sankaradeva was a great Vaisnavite scholar, saint, poet, artist, economist, educationist and a socio-cultural reformer of 15th century Assam. He initiated a socio religious movement called the Neo Vaishnavite movement, whose official name is Eka Sarana Hari Nama Dharma in the later part of the 15th century. The roots of his Neo-Vaishnavite movement were in the pan-Indian Bhakti movement. The Neo-Vaishnavite movement played a major role in forming the socio-economic foundation of Assam. The Movement was based on different economic activities. He also advocated mass education and development of all the sectors in the economy for rising employment opportunities. The National Education Policy (NEP)2020, is focusing on skill based education and will impart Atma Nirbhar Skills among students which will lead to emphasizing the dignity of labour. It lays particular emphasis on the development of the creative potential of each individual. These skill-based education will help the students get hands-on training experience in the vocational training like electrical repair, horticulture, plumbing, carpentry etc. This is all what Sankaradeva had done in the 15th century. This demands a comparison between the teaching of Sankaradeva and the skill development programs of the National Education Policy 2020.