Vishvaguru

Vishvaguru (Sanskrit: विश्वगुरु, romanized: Viśvaguru) or Vishwaguru is a Sanskrit phrase and idea which translates to world or global teacher,[1][2] world guru,[3] tutors of the world,[4] world leader,[5] or teacher to the world or universe.[6][lower-alpha 1]

Not to be confused with Jagadguru or the film Vishwaguru.

Translation

Viśvaguru (Sanskrit: विश्व गुरु) consists of two words: vishva (transl. 'to pervade' – transl. 'universe') and guru (lit. transl. 'teacher').

References in the modern world

In 1999, Rajendra Singh, the fourth Sarsanghchalak, or leader, of the Hindu nationalist volunteer organisation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), wrote "people have to forego and limit their personal pleasure and work for the realisation of the dream of making Bharat the Vishwaguru again. Great men such as Swami Vivekananda, Savarkar, Dr. Hedgewar, Subhas Chandra Bose, Aurobindo Ghose, saw this dream and did wonderful work towards its realisation."[4] The phrase has also been used by the sixth RSS head Mohan Bhagwat.[4][5][7]

The word has been used during the premiership of Narendra Modi as a political catchphrase, as a long-term strategy, and to remind Indians of past glory.[4][8] The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu, used the phrase with reference the India's National Education Policy of 2020.[1] M.S. Swaminathan, widely known as the Father of the Green Revolution in India, has been called a "Vishwa Guru in Agriculture, a teacher and a scholar who continues to leave his inspirational, ideational thought prints on the world" by Naidu.[9]

Shivshankar Menon, India's fourth National Security Advisor, has commented on the usage of the phrase under Modi, saying that India is not now, or anywhere near, being a net exporter of knowledge and ideas.[10] On a more practical level, Menon says that it is not clear "how vishwaguru status would address the immediate problems of livelihood and security that the Indian people and nation face".[10]

Further reading
  • Naidu, M Venkaiah (5 September 2018). "Make India Vishwaguru again". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  • Murugkar, Milind (24 February 2021). "An anxiety-ridden Vishwaguru". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 November 2021.

References
Notes
  1. Vishwa Hindu Parishad is translated as Universal Hindu Council
Citations
  1. "NEP will once again make India 'Vishwa Guru': Pokhriyal". Livemint. PTI. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  2. Lahiri, Swaroopa (14 May 2017). "Soft Power - A Major Tool in Modi's Foreign Policy Kit". Journal of South Asian Studies. 5 (1): 39–47. ISSN 2307-4000.
  3. Hall, Ian (1 January 2017). "Narendra Modi and India's normative power". International Affairs. 93 (1): 113–131. doi:10.1093/ia/iiw004. ISSN 0020-5850.
  4. Noorani, A.G. (15 February 2021). "What the RSS as 'Vishwaguru' Means for India and the World". The Wire. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  5. "India is rising to become 'Vishwa Guru': RSS chief". Lokmat English. IANS. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  6. "Time has come for India to emerge as knowledge hub, become 'vishwa guru' again: Vice President". The Hindu. PTI. 5 September 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  7. Ray, Meenakshi (22 November 2021). "India doesn't need to be a superpower, should aspire to be 'Vishwa Guru': Mohan Bhagwat". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  8. "India on way to become Vishwa Guru under Modi: Shah". Outlook India. PTI. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  9. "Prof. M.S. Swaminathan is a Vishwaguru in Agriculture: Vice President". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  10. Menon, Shivshankar (20 April 2021). "Modi's India plans to be 'vishwaguru' but forgets soft power is useless without hard muscle". ThePrint. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
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