The State of Gurukulas in Nepal Today
Upon observing the situation at the Naimishranya Gurukula, I discovered that these institutions generally do not receive the same government support as public schools. Since gurukulas do not charge fees for education and residence, they constantly face financial challenges. Most of their needs — food, clothing, stationery — are met through donations from locals and well-wishers. This reliance on charity often leaves them financially strained.
The educational approach at the Gurukula was also a matter of concern. On the positive side, they taught Sanskrit and Vedas, basic classical music, and other valuable subjects and life skills that are often omitted in private and public schools. They excelled in preserving and transmitting the traditional knowledge and wisdom of the Upanishads and the rhythms of the Chhandas. However, they lacked the direction and strategy to incorporate modern-day subjects such as science and computer studies. Although Mathematics and English were part of their curriculum, the lack of full-time teachers or proper teaching methods resulted in students being significantly weaker in these subjects. This limitation reduces the career options for gurukula graduates, who often continue in roles related to Karmakanda and teaching.
Bridging the Gap: Our Initiatives
It became clear to me that if these students had a solid foundation in subjects like math, computer science, and English, combined with their knowledge of Sanskrit and Vedas, it would be truly empowering, not just for them but also for society. With this thought, we embarked on our first project with Shree Bageshwari Gurukula in Chitwan, where we set up a small computer lab and taught basic computer skills. The following year, we built two more computer labs at Naimisharanya Gurukul in Kavre and Gorakhnath Gurukul in Dang. We even started online Zoom classes, teaching English, science, and mathematics. We extended our classes to Manakamana Gurukul in Kapilvastu as well. As our programs became more refined, we began to see positive changes in our partner gurukulas. This year all our partner gurukulas achieved a 100 percent pass rate in SEE. While there is much more to be done, these small positive results often motivate our team and the well-wishers to keep contributing to the vision we behold.
A Vision for the Future
As we move forward, our vision is to transform gurukulas to offer the same quality of education as public and private schools, making them equally appealing to parents. Many parents hesitate to send their children to gurukulas due to concerns about the quality of education. Addressing these concerns can make gurukulas a viable and attractive option. We hope to work one-on-one with each Gurukulas in Nepal at various levels and capacities to reform them.
One thing I would like to highlight is that Gurukulas in Nepal still face significant financial and educational challenges. The central and local governments should consider allocating budgets to these institutions to help build necessary educational and sanitation infrastructure.
Gurukulas, rooted in the tradition of passing down the wisdom of rishis and yogis, can represent a complete education model for contemporary Nepal when they incorporate essential subjects like math, English, science, technology, and computer skills. Together, we can create a holistic and empowering educational experience for the students of Nepal.
