“When a course on Jeevan Vidya is introduced teachers will be expected to help the students to clear the course, in the same manner as other courses”, say the teachers. There is no transformation. The other extreme reaction was that Bagariaji (the discussion leader) looks like Jesus, Gandhi and great saints of India and they feel themselves quite fortunate to learn about values from him. In between there were other reactions, not denigrating the importance of values but finding it a bit difficult to practice. A few other typical reactions are as follows:

“It was a good time to relax. People are away from the hectic schedule of work and quite relaxed.”

“I can more clearly recognize that the causes of problems of relations in family or friends were within me only. I am changed and I will have better relations in the future.”

“I have attended several Shivirs. Initially I found it to be just another exercise in moral codes. Gradually I started understanding more and more of it and I have benefited in the sense that I have much better relationship with family members and friends.

“I go to Shivirs only because the boys keep on calling me to attend it. I do not find anything new in it and it is always the same. “I” and “Me”, janna aur manna (knowing and assuming), janchna aur parakhna (testing and verifying).

“It’s great that people trained in and/or working in IIT set up are having such a wonderful idea of values.”