The Salwan Group of Schools under the aegis of Salwan Education Trust, organized the Second Edition of Navtika National Symposium on ‘Panchakosha : Learning to Relearn and discover the essence of Contemporary Education’ under the banner of NAVTIKA in virtual mode on 5th August 2023. The speakers for this enriching session were (Prof) Dr Venita Kaul, Dr. Seema Negi, Ms. Seema Tuli, Ms. Amrit Nagpal, Dr. Shipra Suneja, Dr. Vasavvi Acharjya and Ms. Devika Nadig. Pancha Koshas, originating from ancient Indian philosophy, refers to the five layers or sheaths that comprise an individual’s existence, emphasizing the holistic nature of human beings. Dr. Venita Kaul in her keynote address threw light on Play-Based Pedagogy. The playschool programme should provide all necessary foundational skills and competencies like the sensory, cognitive, concept, language, physical motor and socio-emotional development for school preparedness. She believed that teachers need to shift gears and must have a common vision. Another very significant tool for a teacher is Action Research where teachers are given the autonomy to do their research, explore and see what works. Finally, most importantly, she pinpointed that teachers should be celebrated and appreciated for the efforts they put in. 

Dr Seema Negi emphasized that the entire ecosystem of the school must resonate with varied practices. For children, everything should revolve around play. Obstacle activities like crawling, jumping, running, and allowing them to play in the mud enable them to come out of their comfort zone. This further helps in developing their Annamaya Kosha and Mano Maya Kosha. She summed up the essence in one statement ‘Shiksha ka udaishya hai manushya banana.’ In the end, she also gave the five pillars of learning which are crucial to a child’s overall development. Dr. Shipra Suneja underscored the pertinent fact that the whole concept depends on how children sense the world. Each child should be perceived as an active participant. There has to be a connection between mind, body and spirit. She emphasized that curricular experiences help in encouraging innate qualities like a sense of inquiry, curiosity, imagination and use of language. An integrated approach in education can facilitate synchronous learning in a child. Dr Seema Tuli firmly said that equal responsibility leads to equal opportunities. Communities collaborating for the common mission leads to acceptance, promotion of social integration and active involvement in the holistic development of our children. Ms Amrit Nagpal shared her in-depth knowledge by comparing the term Pancha kosha with the peels of an onion which are interconnected and are often described as five layers or sheaths that envelop the core of our being. The aim is to realize the highest goal of our life through Pancha kosha i.e. Self-Realization. The next panelist Dr. Vasavi Acharya delved into five domains/ sheaths of Panchakosha and how it can be integrated or weaved into the learning process and help children imbibe multiple skills so that a bigger Pancha Kosha supports the socio emotional development of children and the establishment of positive relationships in ECCE environment. She said that a child is born with a ‘tabula-rasa’ or an open mind and slowly they get introduced to varied concepts with the help of the environment. Therefore, when he steps into the school, the educator must understand the level of the child and should proceed from the known to the unknown. The second step is all about experiential learning where he learns to explore, discover, observe, discuss, and evaluate his learning process. The third step is the ‘Abhayasa’ where the concept learnt is reinforced. When children are learning academic concepts, they also learn values. She talked about the next step which was about integrating their knowledge into real-life applications. Ms. Devika Nadig brought to the fore her valuable inputs from her vast experience on the Universality of the Panchkosha concept in terms of Assessment. She highlighted the very fact that Pancha kosha is all about connecting with the highest inner self i.e., reaching the Anandmaykosha- where joy should not be compromised upon. She concluded by saying that she was happy that the Progress card will now have a section for parents’ comments and now they are looking forward to 360-degree holistic development of a child. 

The interactive session on the Pancha Koshas provided a transformative journey into the intricacies of human existence, offering participants a new lens through which to view their children and their world, and how integrating the wisdom of the Pancha Koshas into their children’s lives can bring forth their holistic progress.