hat is education? Learning a few things from books and being able to reproduce them in the examination to finally obtain a degree is not just enough. It is said that "Education is something that is left after you have forgotten all that you learnt in school".

The different dimensions of human values are material, societal, psychological, aesthetic, ethical and spiritual. A harmonious development and relationship of all these values helps us to grow as a true human being. Our technical education should be based on ideas drawn from both classical Indian value tradition and modern Western humanistic thoughts. The main objective of such an education would be:

-How to be a good human being? -How to live a good life? -How to help create a good society?

The academic enquiry pursuing into these varied dimensions of human life can be generally described as Human Values.

Of late we find a growing awareness amongst the educationists in the professional field, particularly in Technology and Management to incorporate courses like human values, ethics, professional ethics etc in their under-graduate and post-graduate curriculum. Those who value money, power and status most will direct all their efforts for achieving these objectives ignoring the social, human and ethical implications. In the highly intellectual Greek tradition the ultimate values are -TRUTH, GOODNESS and BEAUTY. In the Indian Vedantic tradition ultimate reality is SAT, CHIT, and ANANDA that is, existence, knowledge and bliss.

In the Buddhist tradition it is liberation from bondage that leads to NIRVANA meaning, NO REBIRTH or MUKTI that is, complete liberation.

All the great religions over the centuries have aimed to expand and uplift the value consciousness of human beings.

The main teaching of Indian Philosophy has been "Plain Living and High Thinking." The Indian thought on values has been DHARMA which covers -

Sense of values or DHARMA is essential for distinguishing between human beings and animals. Hunger, Sleep, Fear and Sex drive are common urges of both animals and human beings. In the Indian school of thoughts an integrated view of life consists of DHARMA (Religion), ARTHA (Money), KAMA (Desire) and MOKSHA (Liberation).

What is Happiness?

Quality of life is largely affected by the work by which we earn our livelihood. Our work shapes our attitudes and personality. We often have conflicts between individual value and value in work life. These conflicts can be categorized under the following: At the second level work means gaining social prestige, esteem and authority. Farmers, artisans, laborers have a lower social status than managers, business owners, bureaucrats and politicians who enjoy a higher status in the society.

At the third level through work we use our talent, sharpen our skills and develop our creativity and get opportunity to learn, grow and improve our knowledge, skills and human relationship. It is said, Work is Worship meaning, our work in reality, is an offering (PUJA) to Good.

A worker is paid his salary/wages and in return he is expected to contribute his best to the organization. Without such an ethical consideration the employer/employee relationship becomes exploitative with little trust and cooperation between them.

The second dimension of work ethics is a sense of loyalty to the organization. A loyal employee does not promote his personal interest at the cost of the organization.

The third dimension is that the organization must have a written, as well as, an unwritten rules/norms and ways of working. Team working and team spirit are the essential strengths of a successful organization.

Personal honesty and integrity are most important. The following attitudes must be avoided:

? Misrepresentation of facts ? Going back on words and promises

? Promoting selfish or hidden agenda ? Corruption and bribery ? Scams, frauds, kick-backs, accepting gifts, favors, even donation for charities etc. c) Organizational Values :

Organizations are Social and Human units. Purpose of a business is not just making profit; the fundamental value lies in the special worth of its products/services and its impact on quality of life.

Value education is particularly important for students in professional and technical courses like Engineering, Management, Medicine, Law etc both in Under-graduate and Post-graduate levels. It is important to understand in the wider social and human context the impact of their chosen profession on the society at large. Creation of value concept in the appropriate climate will encourage emergence of good human beings, a band of worthy as well as socially responsible professionals and will eventually lead to the creation of a good society.