Renowned philosopher and bestselling author Acharya Prashant challenged the necessity of the human ego during a special session at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital (SOA) on Wednesday. Addressing a packed audience of medical students and faculty, he described the ego as a "fraudster" and a psychological error rather than a reality.
The event, jointy organized by SOA and NIFT Bhubaneswar, served as the culmination of the author’s city tour. Acharya Prashant dismantled the common belief that ego drives success, stating that life can function more effectively without it. He argued that the modern pursuit of "success-attainment-consumption" fails to provide lasting happiness because it stems from an "inner hollowness."
Crucially, the philosopher linked the ego’s "insatiable hunger" to the global ecological crisis. He asserted that environmental issues cannot be solved by technology alone, as they are rooted in a spiritual problem of greed.
"By clinging to the ego, we are holding burning coals in our own hands," he warned. The session concluded with a felicitation by Dean Prof. (Dr.) Sanghamitra Mishra and Prof. Goutam Saha, marking a significant dialogue on mental clarity in higher education.