There is a story from ancient India. In an examination, a student was asked to search out neighbouring areas and find out one plant, which didn't have any utility for our life. The student wandered for kilometers and returned back with an answer that he could not find a single plant or species which is not useful. The student was appreciated by his Guru and allowed to complete graduation. The rigour of the ancient education system was so commendable that every student would understand the ecosystem and living beings (beyond human beings) all around us. They devleloped compassion for this ecosystem and never developed technologies that could harm the ecosystem.

Education should in true sense enlighten us to enable us to lead a more thoughtful and conscious life. However, we find that the engineers and scientists of modern times lack the compassion for our ecosystem. They develop technologies that ruthlessly destroy our natural habitat. Rivers are channelised, forests are cut down, birds and animals are encaged and entire ecosystem is stifled. In the present day education, we are missing the bondage to the nature. Any attempt to bring education back to nature should be welcome.

Over the last few decades, we have insisted on infrastructure, buildings, technologies but ignored the most important aspect - learning from nature. The results are also visible. Today's students are good in technologies, but fail to appreciate the nature. The technologies that they develop cause harm to nature. There is a mismatch between nature and the new generation. Regulatory bodies continue to insist on buildings and infrastructure but fail to insist on visit to nature. Their requirements and standards are with reference to the size of class-rooms, office etc (for example, the Govt of Rajasthan insists that the classrooms should be of the size of 30 feet x 30 feet - even if the expected class strenght is less). However, no regulatory body insists on connecting youth to nature - while it can contribute a great deal towards learning, still there are no such requirements or standards.

With this pace, we will soon find that our actions are our worst enemies as we will keep causing harm to nature. It is a fact that the students can learn far more in nature and develop a compassion towards our environment if they are exposed to nature. However, most of the educational institutions try to explain nature through photographs in the printed books or through other means. Growing emphasis on infrastructure has curtailed possiblities for us to experience nature.

In a time, when it is difficult to find initiatives to connect the youth to nature, we must appreciate all such initiatives that take out students to nature. We really miss the "Gurukul" system, which insisted on indoctrinisation of students in a natural environment. How to bring back the amazing educational systems that were the foundation of great Indian philosohpies and life-style? How to channelise our modern educational institutions to think about nature and our mother earth? How should we give a chance to our youth to experience nature?

Prof. T V Ramchandra has introduced educational innovations that bring nature back to education. He has introduced such initiatives, which cements a passion to understand and appreciate nature. He connects students to nature and participates with them in exploring and understanding nature. He organises many events and academic exposure visits for the students, which enable students to understand nature closely. Prof. Ram Ramchandra organises Lake Festival, wherein the students study the ecosystem of lakes. They see the flora and fauna and study the impact of human encroachment on their existence. These students study the dwindling forests and endengered species and think about restoring our eco-system. These students immerse themselves in the nature and experience its beauty and diversity. These students understand science though immersion. They walk through nature and develop the consciousness that will connect them to the surroundings.

Let us revive the lost practices of age old "Gurukuls" whereby we will be able to prepare conscious scientists, who will immerse into the ecosystem and prepare sustainable technologies and solutions. 

Getting into Thick Forests - We Find Bundles of Joy
Trees, Wild Life and Ecosystem  - All Full of Joy
Lets Love the Life - Care for Every Creature
Lets Abandon Closed-rooms - to Embrace Nature

Beyond Boundaries - Leaping Through Forests
Protecting the Unprotected - Endangered Habitat
Brinking Joy and Ecstasy - Nature's True Rewards 
Lets Love our Surroundings - Just Feel

Lets Feel The Mother Earth - With an Open Arm
Lets Celebrate Humanity - through Love and Care