Mahatma Gandhi: The Representative of the Wisdom and Culture of Modern India

Mahahtma Gandhi is the most authentic and celebrated representative of the wisdom and culture of modern India (B.Chakraborthy, 2006). In this post modern digital era children must be guided with knowledge, wisdom and ethics. One must be proud about the rich culture of their land. The education which we are imparting with cultural heritage will bring a long impact in the history of the land. For that every nation has to have an integrated way of educational philosophy.

This integrated way of learning was well rooted in Ancient Indian education system. The magnificent Indian teachers had practiced integrated Vedic education to see the body, mind and spirit in a fundamental way. From the Indian ancient educational system, built up more in holistic concept, had undergone many changes and has accomplished in today’s advanced form of education. Education is for the enhancement of life. Life in its fullest perception. Gandhi had developed and practiced a system of education widely accepted and known as ‘Basic Education’ for all round development of a child.

On 2nd October, 2019, the entire world celebrated Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th Birth anniversary. Real celebration would be achieved only by implementing the Gandhian ideas and values in our day to day life. Education remains instrumental in execution and transformation of the society.

Character building was the primary concern of ancient education. As seen in Gestalt Theory with its slogan ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts’, education with a holistic view point is the need of the hour. Being a great believer of ancient Indian education philosophy, Gandhi emerged as a great exponent of all-round development concept. Through his vibrant and innovative educational idea over the years he had given a good foundation to holistic view of education. Self–realisation remained the corner stone of his educational philosophy of education. Education is a continuous process for the emancipation of life. It also included the nationalistic goals. He ardently believed and recommended education is for the body, mind, life and soul. (Sam Daniel, 2013).

The great Indian philosopher and former president of India, Dr. S Radhakrishan in his book ‘Eastern Religion and Western Thought’ (1939), illustrated ignorance as avidhya, is the source of our anguish. His philosophy was well rooted in Advaita Vedanta. He explained that one must overcome his ignorance by attaining proper vidhya that is wisdom. Vidhya is the intellectual knowledge, which produces self-consciousness and self–will to a person. This Vedanta philosophy had influenced Gandhi to have a higher order thinking about then existed education.

Gandhi always opted for alternative educational program which was very much people oriented and rejected those developments that dehumanise and degrade people’s lives such as biased industrialisation. He had developed ‘Swaraj’ and ‘Sarvodaya’ concepts for the benefits for the mass and linked that with mass education for the development of all the people beyond the barriers of caste and creed.

Gandhi holds that teaching of ethics is indisputably a function of the state (M.K.Gandhi, Young India; 6-12-1923). The student should be educated to develop the habits of understanding and appreciating the concepts of various religions of the world in a spirit of reverence and tolerance (M.K.Gandhi, Young India; 6-12-1923). India, as a secular state, has got a strong socio-cultural background. Ancient times onwards the socio-cultural values were reflected in the educational system of the country. Though, Gandhi had a strong opinion that religious education is the sole concern of the religious institutions, he never mixed religion and ethics. For Gandhi truth is God and God is Truth. He had a strong belief that fundamental ethics of all religions are same. It is the duty of the state to ensure that the future generation is made aware of the precepts of the fundamental ethics. This in other words, means that ethics is not invariably connected to religion, although, there is an intrinsic relationship between religion and ethics.

The Gandhian educational concepts have given new outlook to Indian way of understanding education in a highly amazing way. Gandhi added values along with wisdom and ethics in education by making it more adaptable and life oriented. Thus he has given a new outlook to Indian education system to make every individual a universal citizen, independent and self-reliant.

Fr. Dr. PS Varghese is the Principal of MGMHSS & MGM College, Dimapur and Vicar of St.Gregorious Orthodox Church, Midland, Dimapur.