The Katha Pratha Project: Storytelling Pedagogy for Self-Transformation
Introduction
Welcome to Illuminating Education: Research, Awareness, and Meditation in the Classroom, brought to you by Bharatversity in collaboration with Osho Fragrance. I’m your host, Dhwani Shah, and today we have the distinct honor of introducing a speaker whose work uniquely bridges ancient wisdom with modern pedagogy: Dr. Bharat Dash.
Dr. Dash is a renowned management trainer, teacher, and educator, specialising in using the timeless wisdom of Panchatantra stories to connect with, communicate, and correlate the finer aspects of self and organisational development. His expertise is deeply recognised at the national level, evidenced by his appointment as a Master Trainer by the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) Division of the Ministry of Education, and his role as a trainer for the prestigious Malviya Mission Teacher Training Program (MMTTP).
A true multidisciplinary expert, Dr. Dash holds a PhD in Nitishastra and Panchatantra and is an IT engineer by training, with significant corporate experience at firms like Infosys and HCL. Today, he serves as the Deputy Director at the Centre for Indian Knowledge System at Sri Sri University. He is here to talk about his initiative, ‘Katha Pratha,’ which aims to disseminate the teachings of Panchatantra for self-transformation.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Bharat Dash, as he discusses The Katha Pratha Project: Storytelling Pedagogy for Self-Transformation.
Topic Covered:
- IKS & Pedagogy: As a Master Trainer for the Indian Knowledge System (IKS), how does the Panchatantra specifically fit into the modern Malviya Mission Teacher Training Program (MMTTP) Curriculum?
- Katha Pratha’s Core: Could you briefly explain the methodology behind your ‘Katha Pratha’ project and how storytelling acts as a direct tool for self-transformation?
- Nitishastra & Action: Your Ph.D. is in Nitishastra and Panchatantra. What is one key ethical lesson (Nitishastra theme) from a Panchatantra story that you feel is most crucial for a professional or leader today?
- Holistic Education: Drawing on your Yoga Instructor certification, how does the wisdom in Indian classical education, like the Panchatantra, address the holistic mind-body connection in a way Western pedagogy often overlooks?
- Corporate Relevance: Given your background at Infosys and HCL, how do you directly apply the Panchatantra’s timeless lessons to foster “organisational development” in a contemporary corporate setting?
