At the age of 10, Govind Krishnan M left conventional schooling and began studying the Vedas at a traditional gurukula in Thrissur. Four years later, he returned to formal education, eventually pursuing engineering and a career in India’s space sector.
Govind’s days at the gurukula began around 5 a.m. and followed a structured routine involving Vedic chants, spiritual practices and disciplined study. Much of his Vedic education was conducted orally. Rather than relying on textbooks or written material, students learned by listening to their teacher and memorising what they heard.
His journey began after he completed Class 4 at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Payyannur. In 2011, he left regular schooling and joined Bhramaswam Madham in Thrissur to undertake traditional gurukula education.
The decision was encouraged by his father, Hareesh Kumar, a former Indian Navy officer who had taken voluntary retirement. The family had previously lived in several locations because of his father’s service before returning to Kannur.
Govind underwent his upanayanam, or sacred thread ceremony, while he was in Class 4. He subsequently joined the gurukula, where he and four other students chose to study the Yajurveda.
The course was designed to take five years, but Govind completed it in four. He recalled that the initial period was challenging because he was young and away from his family for the first time.
During his time at the gurukula, he was also enrolled in a nearby government school, primarily attending for examinations. His daily routine was highly structured, with early-morning lessons and additional sessions later in the day.
By the fifth year, Govind returned to regular schooling while continuing his gurukula studies. He attended Vivekodayam Boys Higher Secondary School in Nadakkavu for Classes 8 to 10.
Balancing the two forms of education required a demanding schedule. His gurukula sessions continued into the morning and evening, after which he studied conventional school subjects. He completed Class 10 with full A+ grades.
After leaving the gurukula, Govind joined Alva’s College in Moodbidri, Mangaluru, for higher secondary education. He also prepared for engineering entrance examinations and qualified in both JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
His performance in JEE Advanced led him to the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, where he began a BTech programme in Electronics and Communication in 2021.
For Govind, his traditional education and later scientific studies were not necessarily conflicting experiences. He continued many of the practices he had learned at the gurukula even after returning to conventional education.
He described the practice as a way of developing concentration, memory and mental clarity. Although the routine became less rigid over time, he continued to devote time to it each day.
His former gurukula classmates largely followed traditional paths associated with their families, including priesthood. Govind chose a different direction, pursuing engineering and space science.
He has also explained that studying the Vedas alone does not qualify someone to become a temple priest. Additional training is required for priesthood, although he has learned certain traditional rituals.
Govind’s academic journey eventually brought him to India’s space programme. In 2025, he was selected through the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board process and was scheduled to join the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram.
The transition from memorising Vedic verses in a gurukula to studying electronics and preparing for a scientific career marked a significant change in his educational path. However, Govind has said that he does not view the two stages of his life as mutually exclusive.
He hoped to continue his spiritual practices after beginning his professional career and expressed an interest in eventually teaching children what he had learned.
His journey combines two very different educational traditions: an early childhood spent learning the Vedas through oral instruction and discipline, followed by formal schooling, engineering studies and preparation for a career in space science.
For Govind, the practices he developed during his years at the gurukula remain an important part of his approach to learning, concentration and daily life.
