Indian knowledge: traditional and modern education – a study

Abstract

Indian education has developed and modernized over many centuries through indigenous knowledge, colonial interventions, and reform. The traditional Indian education system had its backbone in the spiritual, ethical and holistic development which was largely taught in institutions like Gurukuls, monasteries, pathshalas, madrasas and universities such as Nalanda, Takshashila etc. The stress was not only on intellectual development but also moral discipline, practical training, social function, and harmony with nature. Colonial rule and the new colonial regime: change in the indigenous educational structure British education policies brought with them Western epistemologies, English language teaching, and unified curricula that eventually overshadowed traditional education. India sought to modernize its curriculum in the post-independence era whilst attempting to protect its cultural and intellectual traditions.

In this paper, we focus particularly on the relationship between Indian traditional knowledge systems and modern education. Traditional Indian education is described, while Indian education practices: A philosophical inquiry at the time is also included to show the importance of colonialism in modern education institutions, the history of new educational institutions, and the latest initiatives in integrating Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) within modern curricula. A balanced synthesis of traditional wisdom and modern scientific education will, they point out, assist in holistic human development & sustainable social progress. Moreover, the paper emphasizes on the importance of the Indigenous knowledge in ethical, environmental, health science, value-based education, and many other topics.