26-04-2025
Indian knowledge systems centre at Vastuvidya Gurukulam shut down
Kottayam: The
Indian Knowledge Systems
(IKS) centre at the
Vastuvidya Gurukulam
in Aranmula has been shut down. The national coordinator of the IKS division, which comes under the Union ministry of education, sent a communication regarding the closure with immediate effect to the authorities of the gurukulam.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The letter states that the review committee did not recommend the continuation of the
IKS centre
and further recommended closing the centre with immediate effect. The letter also mentions that there will be no funding support from the IKS division regarding the same. The administration of the centre was also asked to submit all relevant documents.
The IKS centre in Aranmula Vastuvidya Gurukulam was one among the 27 across the country.
There are a total of five centres in the state. The IKS division was formed with the aim to rejuvenate and mainstream these knowledge systems for the contemporary world. The Vastuvidya Gurukulam was formed in 1992 under the cultural department of the state govt to preserve and foster the heritage in art and culture in the state.
In 2022, the gurukulam submitted a project report regarding
construction using mud
and ashtabandam (a natural adhesive) before All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in 2022.
AICTE approved the project alongside a funding of Rs 40 lakhs as well.
The gurukulam was also declared as an IKS centre. The IKS centre in the gurukulam developed a building construction technology using ashtabandham that was used in the construction of ancient temples and palaces, as well as recycled products obtained from demolishing old buildings.
Meanwhile, the principal investigator of the project, V Suresh, alleged lapses on the part of the governing body of the gurukulam for the closure of the IKS centre.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
"The possibility of developing this centre into a unique university was lost due to the lapses on the part of the gurukulam administration," said Suresh.
PS Priyadarsanan, secretary of Vastuvidya Gurukulam, said that the IKS status given is only for a project and is not permanent. "The IKS status was granted for a particular project, and the project is over now. We have submitted all accounts in connection with this," he said, adding that the duration of the project was for two years, and it got an extension of six months which is over now.
