Symbiosis was established with the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam which also resonates well with Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophy of Vishwabharati.
Over the years, many foreign students have found Symbiosis conducive to education, which has given life to the more prominent motto of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. This has been a great learning experience for the Indian students from all States of India studying in Symbiosis. They witness so much diversity as they interact with students from diverse cultures and ethnicities, eat different food and speak different languages. It is an exposure for international students and Indian students as it becomes a two-way learning process. Dr. S. B. Mujumdar the Founder of Symbiosis also promotes the philosophy of ‘AntarBharati’ which was propagated by great Indian social thinker Sane Guruji. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister of India promotes the philosophy of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat.’ He says that India will only become stronger when it becomes one.
One such initiative of the Govt of India is the Look East Act East policy to empower the North Eastern states. Several initiatives are underway to align the people from the Northeast regions with mainland India. People from the Northeast States of India feel alienated because they look different and at times are even considered as ‘foreign’! While we have diverse cultures within the country and live in unity, yet the North Eastern people feel that they need to be assimilated well in mainland India.
In 2014 Dr. Mujumdar established the Symbiosis Ishanya Education and Cultural Centre to bring the North-eastern culture to mainland India. Every quarter, cultural events are held to make Indian students and international students aware of the cultural practices of North-eastern India. However, he also felt something more concrete was required to exhibit the Northeast’s culture. Therefore, the Symbiosis Ishanya Bhavan was built at Viman Nagar in Pune which houses a beautiful exhibition hall, a state-of-the-art auditorium, conference hall and a hostel. I am pleased that students from all across India will be staying in this hostel and mingling and learning from each other.
Symbiosis also offers scholarships to students from the Northeast. Pune city also hosts more than 8000 people from North East states. For them, the Symbiosis Ishanya Bhavan will be like a home away from home. I feel happy that the Ministry of Education has acknowledged Symbiosis’ ’s efforts. The Hon’ble Minister of Education, GoI Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji, was here on the 7th of Oct ’23 to inaugurate the Ishanya Bhavan along with the Minister of Higher & Technical Education, GoM Shri Chandrakant Dada Patil.
I am sure that in due course of time, Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophy of Vishwabharati and Sane Guruji’s philosophy of Antarbharati will be imbued in the minds of the young students who pass out of Symbiosis and thus help to live Symbiosis’ philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam!