202 Unit 3
202 Unit 3
202 Unit 3
Education
Life Sketch
Viswakavi (World Poet) Rabindranath was born on May 9, 1861 in
Bengal. His father Maharihi Devendranath Tagore was a rich man
and an aristocrat and his mother was Sarada Devi. Rabindranath
Tagore was not sent to any school. He was educated at home by a
tutor. Rabindranath was not happy, getting educated within the four
walls. He was a curious and creative child.
Though he was educated at home, he studied many subjects and
there was a method in his studies. He would get up early. After
physical education he would study Mathematics, History,
Geography, Bengali and Sanskrit. In the afternoon, he learnt
drawing, English and play games. On Sundays he would learn music
and conduct experiments in science. Reading plays was of special
interest to him. He was happy to read plays of Kalidas and
Shakespeare. He had a special interest in Bengali, which was his
mother-tongue.
For further studies, he was sent to a public school at London, where
he became a student of Prof. Henry Morley whose lectures influenced
Rabindranath to take interest in English literature. He developed
interest in English culture, traditions and literature. While studying
in England, he wrote a poem “Broken Heart”. After 18 months in
England, he returned to India without taking any degree.
Rabindranath started writing poetry. “Gitanjali” is a well-known
collection of his poems. Rabindranath Tagore was awarded the Nobel
Prize for literature in 1913. Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian
to get a Nobel Prize and the British Government conferred on him
knighthood and gave the title of “Sir”.
Rabindranath started a school at Bolpur, a village 112km. north of
Kolkata. This school developed into Shantiniketan. Students come to
Shantiniketan from many countries. It specializes in arts, crafts,
music and dance besides rural reconstruction.
He established Viswabharathi University near Santiniketan in 1921.
It is now a university of the Central Government.
Rabindranath Tagore was also a good artist. He started to learn
painting at the age of 60. He drew more than 2000 pictures, which
were exhibited in many countries. What makes Rabindranath Tagore
special for Indians is “Jana gana mana” and it is our National
Anthem. Rabindranath Tagore wrote it when he visited Madanapalli
in Andhra Pradesh on the eve of the Rishi Valley School Anniversary
at the invitation of Dr. Arundale, the Principal. Mahatma Gandhi and
Jawaharlal Nehru had the greatest respect for Rabindranath Tagore.
He was a great philosopher and a teacher. He was called “Gurudev”
by all. He breathed his last on August 7, 1941, leaving his thoughts
and ideas for all to follow.
Philosophical Idea
Rabindranath was a philosopher, poet, dramatist, teacher, essayist
and painter of outstanding repute. His philosophy of life was based
on the ideals of dedication, patriotism and naturalism. Although he
was an ideal philosopher, but the thoughts of naturalism,
pragmatism and individualism are also reflected in his philosophy.
The values which contributed a lot towards enrichment of his life are
discussed as follow:
(1) Idealist:
Tagore believes that man should realize the "ultimate truth" which
will liberate him from the worldly bondage. Experience according to
him is within the world of illusion (Maya). He thoughts the world is
the place of both truth and illusion (Maya).
In Tagore's view man is born with enormous surplus force which is
excess of his physical need. This surplus is the limitless potentiality
of human personality and creativity. In this lies the infinite future of
man. The surplus potentiality manifests itself in man's religious
spiritual and moral activities. As an idealist he was an ardent
supporter of truth, virtues and values. According to Tagore, "By art
man can experience the wholeness of life. The fine arts were nothing
but intellectual and spiritual discipline. He said Bhakti can
spiritualize Kama.
(2) Humanist:
Tagore said nature and man are created by supreme power. There is
a strong link between man and nature. So man should act naturally
to feel the presence of superpower within him. Love fellowmen in a
natural way. Realization of self is the essence to realize the Godhood.
(3) Naturalist:
Tagore said nature is the great teacher which is not hostile to man.
Nature is kind, generous and benevolent like mother. In his view,
"Education diverted from nature has brought untold harm to young
children." Man should develop his relation with the nature as his
fellowmen.
(4) Patriotism:
Tagore was a great poet and patriot. His writings were filled with
patriotic values. He had joined in freedom movement to make the
country free from foreign yoke. Sense of national service, patriotic
feeling, dedication etc. was fostered through his writings. "Jana Gana
Mana Adlii Nayak Jai Hai" is the famous National song which elicited
a strong sense of integration.
(5) Internationalist:
Rabindranath Tagore was in favour of one world creation of unit
amidst cultural, colour and religious diversities is the need of the
time for peaceful co-existence in the globe. Forgetting selfishness one
we should work to establish world culture based on love, affection
fellow feeling and mutual understanding. Cosmopolitan feelings are
explicit in his writings and paintings. Tagore's internationalist
thought and attempt for making united world is appreciated all over
the world.
(6) Vedantist:
Tagore's philosophy reveals that he was a vedantist in true sense of
terms. He had faith in one Supreme Being that is the Brahma. He
finds unity in diversities in the world and a spiritual unity between
man and man, man and nature. The relationship between god and
man must be like the relationship between love and joy. He believes
both the presence of God in all manifestation of matter and spirit.
Educational Idea
Rabindranath Tagore was primarily an educationist rather than a
political thinker. He put emphasis on 'naturalism' for framing
educational model. In education, freedom is the basic guiding force
for inculcating interest within a student who will derive inspiration
from nature to pursue any branch of knowledge he likes. The
establishment of Shantiniketan fulfilled the desired goal of Tagore in
the educational front.
4. Freedom to learner:
Tagore had championed the cause of freedom. The same he wanted
to implement in the field of education. With that object he had opened
Shantiniketan, Sri Niketan and Brahmachari Ashram. Accordingly,
he gave free choice to students to develop their interest in any field
they like. To him, education should be after the heart of a man. He
explained freedom in three-categorized ways i.e. freedom of heart,
freedom of intellect and freedom of will.
Education imparted in a natural way will lead to the fulfillment of
these three freedoms. One may pursue the vocational education or
education of an intellect, or education in any branch of the arts or
one may become a sansei by observing celibacy.
Aims Of Education
The aims of education as reflected in educational institution founded
by Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan are as follows:
(1) Self Realization:
Spiritualism is the essence of humanism; this concept has been
reflected in Tagore's educational philosophy. Self-realization is an
important aim of education. Manifestation of personality depends
upon the self-realization and spiritual knowledge of individual.
(2) Intellectual Development:
Tagore also greatly emphasized the intellectual development of the
child. By intellectual development he means development of
imagination, creative free thinking, constant curiosity and alertness
of the mind. Child should be free to adopt his own way learning which
will lead to all round development.
(3) Physical Development:
Tagore's educational philosophy also aims at the physical
development of the child. He gave much importance to sound and
healthy physique. There were different kinds of exercises. Yoga,
games & sports prescribed in Santiniketan as an integral part of the
education system.
(4) Love for humanity:
Tagore held that the entire universe is one family. Education can
teach people to realize oneness of the globe. Education for
international understanding and universal brotherhood is another
important aim of his educational philosophy. The feeling of oneness
can be developed through the concepts like fatherhood of God and
brotherhood of man all creatures are equal on this earth.
(5) Establishment of relationship between man & God:
Man bears the diverse qualities and potentialities offered by God.
These qualities are inborn and innate. The relationship between man
and God is strong and permanent. However the dedication to
spiritualism and sacredness will lead to the harmonious relationship
with man, nature and God.
(6) Freedom:
Freedom is considered as an integral aspect of human development.
Education is a man-making process, it explores the innate power
exists within the man. It is not an imposition rather a liberal process
their provides utmost freedom to the individual for his all-round
development. He says, Education has leaning only when it is
imparted through the path of freedom".
(7) Co-relation of Objects:
Co-relation exists with God, man and nature. A peaceful world is only
possible when correlation between man and nature will be
established.
(8) Mother tongue as the medium of Instruction:
Language is the true vehicle of self-expression. Man can freely
express his thought in his mother-tongue. Tagore has emphasized
mother tongue as the medium of instruction for the child's education.
(9) Moral and Spiritual Development:
Tagore emphasized moral and spiritual training in his educational
thought. Moral and spiritual education is more important than
bookish knowledge for an integral development of human
personality. There must be an adequate provision for the
development of selfless activities, co-operation and love fellow feeling
and sharing among the students in educational institutions.
(10) Social Development:
According to Tagore, "Brahma" the supreme soul manifests himself
through men and other creatures. Since He is the source of all
human-beings and creatures, so all are equal. Rabindranath Tagore
therefore said, "service to man is service to god". All should develop
social relationship and fellow-feeling from the beginnings of one's life.
Education aims at developing the individual personality as well as
social characters which enables him to live as a worthy being.
Method Of Education
(1) Teaching through Tours and Trips:
Tagore believed that the subjects like history, geography, economics
and other social sciences can be effectively taught through
excursions and tours to important spots. By this students will get an
opportunity to observe numerous facts and gain first-hand
knowledge through direct experience.
(2) Learning by activities:
Rabindranath Tagore said that for the development of child's body
and mind, learning through activity is essential. Therefore he
included activities like climbing tree, drama, jumping, plucking
fruits, dancing etc. in his educational programs.
(3) Narration-cum-discussion and debate method:
Narration-cum-discussion and debating activities were organized
Tagore's education center to develop oratory abilities of the students.
Students were encouraged to solve problems of various areas through
rational debate and thorough discussion.
(4) Heuristic Method
Rabindranath Tagore introduced heuristic method as an important
method of teaching in his educational institution. In this method
first, the students, are asked questions to clarify their doubts on
topics and teachers try to satisfy them by their correct answers. Then
the teacher asks the questions to students to evaluate how far the
students are able to comprehend the topic discussed in the class.
INTRODUCTION
Mohan das Karam chand Gandhi was a great leader, a practical
philosopher, and an educational thinker of great repute. He wanted
to establish a free and casteless society with no exploitation and
racial discrimination. For this purpose, he used education as an
instrument. His philosophy of education was the outcome of his long
experiences of political, social, and economic life of the country. The
meaning of education, according to Gandhiji, is to promote the
physical, mental, and spiritual development of an individual. Reading
and writing is only a means of education, and it is not all. To Gandhiji
no education is worth the name unless it makes boys and girls good
citizens. Gandhiji’s basic education was the practical embodiment of
his philosophy of education. The main aim of basic education was to
purify the heart and mind of all people and create a society free from
all exploitation and aggression. Viewed in this light Gandhiji was a
great educationist also.
2. Mother – tongue.
DEMERITS
v The over emphasis on crafts and productive activity has often been
criticized as child labour.
v It neglects education in terms of personality development and
development higher mental abilities,
v The craft centeredness has resulted in enormous wastage of material
as small children are not in a position to produce anything worth –
while.
v Schools would degrade as trade centres.
v It may arrest the child’s spontaneous development.
v The call for correlation becomes forced and unnatural.
v The basic scheme overlooked the possibilities of higher intellectual
development of children.
v To serve as a medium for education the basic craft selected must
answer the test of universality.
v Making handicraft as nucleus of teaching will amount to throwing the
country further behind in this age of science and technology.
v It is not up to the aspirations of the new generation of a digitalized
world.
GANDHIJI’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION
Gandhiji’s contribution to education is unique. He was the
first Indian who advocated a scheme of education based upon the
essential values of Indian culture and civilization. His important
contributions to education are the following:
· Gandhiji put forth a very comprehensive and practical system of
education suited to genius of our country. It is a constructive and
human system integrated with needs and ideals of national life.
· Gandhiji was the first educationist to advocate the large scale use
of handicraft, not only as a productive work but as a pivot round
which the teaching of different subjects should be undertaken.
· He presented a practical scheme of education based on the
principles of equity, social justice, non – violence, human dignity,
economic well being and cultural self respect.
· Gandhiji gave a very broad - based concept of education describing
it as all round development of human personality.
· He recommended immediate and ultimate aims of education
which are in accordance with the Indian socio political, economic,
cultural and social aim of education.
· He suggested a very practical and broad based curriculum. It is
needed an integrated curriculum which is psychologically sound.
· The method of teaching suggested by Gandhiji is highly pragmatic
and pedagogically sound.
· Gandhiji’s educational model was not only holistic and practical;
it was highly decentralized and integrated, with a demonstrated
capacity to motivate the entire community and place responsibility
and accountability at the community level versus the state.
· Gandhiji’s educational scheme revived India’s economic, social
and cultural life through the instrumentality of a handicraft.
· The basic scheme of education was a practical solution for rural
unemployment. Gandhiji succeeded in presenting a type of
education which can provide the necessary economic self sufficiency
and self reliance.
CONCLUSION
Gandhiji’s contribution to education is unique. He was the first
Indian who advocated a scheme of education based upon the
essential values of the Indian culture and civilization. The methods
and techniques advocated by him and the environment he prescribed
revolutionized Indian thinking and way of living. At heart he was
devoted to idealism. He wanted to translate his ideals and values into
practice. His philosophy of education is a harmonious blending of
idealism, naturalism, and pragmatism. According to Gandhiji,
“Education is an all round drawing out of the best in child and man
– body, mind and spirit”. He advocated that literacy should never be
the end of education or even the beginning. True education according
to him is that which draws out and stimulates the intellectual and
physical facilities of children. He gave greater importance to the child,
than the techniques and method of education. It was him firm belief
that a sound education should produce useful citizens of the entire
humanity. Education in its true and broad sense is a lifelong process,
which begins with beginning of life and ends with the end of life going
on unceasingly.