An Overview of Gandhian Philosophy on Education

“ By education I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in the child and man- body, mind and spirit”

-M.K.Gandhi

In 20th century Gandhi emerged as a most prominent personality. He had an extra mile outlook on education and life. In all the arenas of a human life Gandhi diverged with a vision of humanity and spirituality. For more than 5 decades he continuously wrote and stood firmly for the Holistic values of education. Unlike an armchair thinker Gandhi put great theories in to practice and even developed his own firm convictions about education.Gandhian educational values were purely based on the supreme value of “Truth”. In all walks of his life truth occupied a prominent role and he had given paramountsignificance to it. For Gandhi, truth is the supreme principle along with numerous other principles. On 2nd October the entire world is celebrated Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth anniversary. Real celebration would be achieved only by implementing the Gandhian values in our day to day life. Education remains instrumental in this execution and transformation of the society. Gandhi was a great believer of ancient Indian education system. He himself was proud about the way he had received education in his childhood. He also believed in the ancient principle of education “Sa VidyaYaVimktaye” or education is that which liberates. So, for his educational philosophy Self-Realization remained the corner stone principle. Later, he had built up his other philosophical ideas like freedom from hunger, fear, exploitation, slavery, Sarvodaya, Swaraj, along with it. His education was an endeavour for life long process. It also included the nationalistic goals. He ardently believed and recommended education is for the body, mind, life and soul. (Sam Daniel,2013) Gandhi devoted his entire life to stand and speak for truth and lived his life in accordance with truth. According to him truth was not a philosophical speculation undertaken in the abstract way.A close nexus between his principle of truth and quality of education transforming lives remained a key in the study of various educational theories over the years. One tangible and undeniable Truth is that modern education has increased social discrimination instead of eradicating it. Gandhi always opted for alternative educational program which was very much people oriented and rejected those developments that dehumanize and degrade people’s lives such as biased industrialization. According to him education not only shapes generation, but replicates a society’s essential assumptions about itself and the individuals which construct it. For this he innovated and developed a system for the complete reformation which is unique in nature and at the same time for the wellbeing of the entire humanity, which is called ‘Sarvodaya’ meaning comprehensive progress. His views declared that there is no teacher better than parents. Gandhi’s thorough research, introduced the ideas of education through productive work that is vocational education. He strongly believed that education cannot remain aloof from the powerful social and economic forces which are changing the social economic pattern of our society. Hence, he designed an education for all round development even in the field of science and technology for improving the economic life of people and therein eradicating poverty from the country. Gandhi’s development in education emphasized and focused on spiritual and moral development and character formation. He felt that when children are engaged in handy-crafts they enjoy the process of learningand a sense of creativity is developed in them. The thirst for knowledge should not be based only by mere bookish knowledge. It should also include vocational training to develop skills in children for employment. So, he designed craft education in schools where students can earn from their craft products which would help them to become self -sufficient and thereby enhance the social-economic conditions of life. Apart from craft education importance in the field of technical education and training for various occupations was given due significance which would facilitate in self-discovery and self- discipline of an individual. Gandhi was greatly influenced by the American pragmatic school of education. John Dewey, the most outstanding exponent of pragmatic education in America developed a system of education based exclusively on the value of life experiences, experiments and activity centered teaching. Based on these principles he correspondingly developed his concept in educational philosophy. Gandhi intended an individual be provided with opportunities to know his intrinsic value of action. Right from the commencement of education, an individual be assisted to undertake introspection, reasoning and analysis of his own action. It is to be emphasized that every minute of man’s life is to be utilized in a productive manner so his value as an individual is augmented and proliferates in the society he lives in. Thus, the goal of Gandhian education covers a wide spectrum of values that relates to the total development of both individual and society. Fr. Dr. Shibu Varghese is the Principal of MGM College, Dimapur and Vicar of St.Gregorious Orthodox Church, Midland, Dimapur. He can be reached at frpsvarghese@gmail.com