Art Of Teaching

This blog is in response to Mr. Vilas Kadtare who had asked me to write on the Gurukul system of Education.

India has always talked of a rich custom in the locale of knowledge and learning since ancient times. It is well known that people from other nations such as Europe, the Middle East, and Portugal came to India to get a superior education. One of the celebrated educational systems practised in India in the ancient times was The Gurukul System.

What is a Gurukul System?

It was a residential schooling system whose source dates back to around 5000 BC in the Indian subcontinent. It was more widespread during the Vedic age where students were taught various subjects and about how to live a refined and regimented life. Gurukul was actually the dwelling of teacher ( Acharya ) and was the centre of knowledge where pupils resided till their education got complete. All were equal at the Gurukul.

This association between guru and shishya was very sacred and no fee was taken from the students. After completion of education, the student had to offer a gurudakshina which was a token of respect paid to the teacher. It was mostly in the structure of affordable wealth or a particular chore that the student had to perform for the teacher.

Medieval education

In the years that followed, the education system was of two kinds of schools — the Hindu Vedic schools and the Muslim Madrasas. The subjects taught in these institutions included mathematics, history, and verbal communication, aided by the overtures of texts. Teaching was mostly controlled around a classroom system and was a combination of older methods and Islamic influences.

These schools received big-hearted donations from the royal families of that time, which helped establish this structure for centuries to follow.

The British Era

The arrival of the British brought about a sea of modification in the Indian education system. For the first time, the English language was extensively taught in the country and was even made compulsory in many schools. In fact, if one wanted a vocation in government, an extremely desirable outlook, one had to have a strong authority over the language.

The British founded quite a lot of learning institutions that taught modern science and English literature and history.

Modern Schooling

While there are some instantly recognizable rudiments from the past in Indian education today, a lot has altered over the centuries. The government is taking accountability for education alongside independently functioning private institutes. And with the transition of the Right to Education Act, children between the ages of 6 and 14 have compulsory and free education! This has shaped enhanced admission to education, helping the nation’s literacy rates rise exponentially.

Today if we look at the education scenario, besides the CBSE and the ICSE, schools now have the alternative of choosing the IB or the IGCSE for a global outlook.

But we see that most of these schools are going in for the Gurukul type of Education. (In fact we see a merging of the traditional with the modern)

Is the Gurukul system important in present time?

The major central point of Gurukuls was on imparting information to the students in a natural surrounding where the shisyas lived with brotherhood, humanity, love, and discipline. The vital teachings were in subjects like language, science, mathematics through cluster discussions, self-learning, etc. Importance was also given on arts, sports, crafts, singing that developed their intellect and decisive thoughts. Activities such as yoga, meditation, mantra chanting, etc generated positivity and peace of mind and made them fit. It was also compulsory to do daily household tasks on own with an objective to impart practical skills. All these helped in character expansion and augmented their self-confidence, sense of obedience, intelligence, and mindfulness which is necessary even today to face the world that lay further on.

Flaws In The Present Education System

Unfortunately, the above concept has departed and the modern system of education brought to India in the year 1835 by Lord Macauley is all about rat race to be ahead of others. There is a total nonexistence of personality development, creation of principled conscience and ethical education. One of the biggest flaws about this education is that it is more saleable in nature rather than an institutional perception that should communicate holistic education to the students. It devotes very less time for mental activity and the expansion of other talent sets that can help out a student to become a better human being.

Is there a need of a Gurukul System in Indian Education?

Many people may consider the Gurukul system to be quite amorphous and a weird idea. The thought of living with a teacher, absence of a set of courses or a set routine can make people speculate how exactly will a child learn anything?

 However, the modern-day educationalist has taken a view backward and realized that there are many coaching approaches from the Gurukul system that can be inculcated in the present-day educational system. Here is a list that will also help us comprehend why the gurukul system is important.

• Modern infrastructure – healthy learning of the students can take place only when focusing on giving practical knowledge. But our present-day education just believes in bookish knowledge and rote- learning which is not sufficient.
• Applied knowledge– that prepares the students in all fields of life. In present times it can be done by creating a perfect combination of academics and extracurricular activities along with teaching in mindfulness and spiritual consciousness to make the students better persons.
• Holistic education – The present-day education mostly focuses on a rank-based system which is determined by hostility towards their peers.

Not to forget the assertive parents who judge the comprehension of students only by academic performance. The importance of the Gurukul system can work on a value-based system where focus can be given on the exclusivity of a child so that they can stand out in their area of interest. This will also build a good temperament which is far away from brutal antagonism and augmented stress levels that typically leads to depression.

• The relation between teacher and student- The most of present times is to make certain that teachers and students contribute to a sociable relation and respect. This is when the children feel protected and have faith in the teacher and then they are most liable to imitate the same. This was present in the Gurukul system which can be inculcated today through the events, and training workshops to bond with the students.

The IGCSE and IB syllabus follows a learning pattern modeled on the renowned University of Cambridge curriculum, which allows students to pick from over 70 subject combinations.

The global outlook together with the choice offered tries to make the students idyllically placed to confidently take on the world.

The environment of these international schools following the curriculum paves the pathway to holistic growth of the students

The students are nurtured in a pragmatic fashion that can help every student find their hidden talents. They do not just want the students to be academically strong, but to become imaginative and critical thinkers who come up with lots of ground-breaking solutions.

Most of these international education system in India follow the the Gurukul system which is a representation of the philosophy, principles and goal of true education in totality.

Following the Gurukul system these international education systems equip the students with ethical attributes, devout insights, sturdy disposition and sharp intelligence so that they may withstand the difficult challenges of life.

The fundamental aim of The Gurukul education system imbibed by these schools is to prepare the students, not for examination but life. The Gurukul system focuses on the extent of human values, integrity of character, and purity of thoughts which are essential to survive and excel in this multifaceted world.

The current NEP 2020 has tried to inculcate the theory of this traditional with the modern outlook except for the language fiasco. With this they hope to rewind the parents’ outlook because today we see that parents are very much attracted towards these foreign curriculum and ready to pay any price for admission of their wards.

Final Word: On the whole the idea of inculcating a Gurukul system in Indian education is important to assist the children in understanding the notion of a balanced life. This very philosophy of balance should be taught to the kids from a young age so that they make knowledgeable decisions about work, food, exercise and the way they wish to live their lives.

This is important not only for the future generation but for the country at large to prosper.