EXPLORING THE ROOTS OF THE CONCEPT OF GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION IN INDIAN ETHOS

This paper explores Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and its connection with ancient Indian texts with a view to establish how these texts can foster GCED that thrives on responsibility, care and interdependence of the world. GCED is designed to incite global awareness and practice towards sustainable living through the acknowledgement of the intertwined economic, social and cultural foundations of a common human experience. Principles such as Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), Atithi Devo Bhava (the sacred hospitality) and Lokah Samastah Sukhinu Bhavantu (universal well-being) of the Indian scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads have GCED values, embedded as inclusivity, empathy and oneness. Content analysis method is used in this qualitative research to demonstrate how this texts construct a spiritual and cultural basis for global citizenship education which promotes harmonious and coexistence and respect for diversity. Such ideals also focus on the global ethic that recognizes people from the different parts of the world to embrace the highest standards of activeness through being kind citizens of the world. India is one of the richest sources of thoughts on unity and interconnectedness, and the findings reveal that Indian philosophical traditions can provide a timeless blueprint for a globally conscious and culturally sensitive society. The integration of these ancient teachings opens up possibility to bring a holistic, ethic-based framework that promotes the values of global citizenship in nurturing a peaceful and sustainable world.