Dharampal's Vision on the Need for an Indigenous System of Education: An Analysis

Abstract

India has a long and rich history of educational development. Indian education traditionally adopted both formal and informal forms. From ancient times, education was accessible to people across different sections of society and was intended to make the individual, society, and nation self-reliant. Prajna, Shila, and Samadhi were regarded as its core values. Education was not confined to teaching and learning within schools; an individual also learned from the family, society, and nature. However, the British attempted to destroy this rich system through their policies and introduced English as the medium of education. As a result, people became distanced from their values, traditions, arts, and skills. Since education became expensive, access to education increasingly became concentrated among the higher classes. Dharampal attempted to demonstrate that if India is to become strong and self-reliant and build a robust nation, education based on Indian values must be restored. This requires collective efforts by individuals, families, and society. This, according to the argument, would represent India's own form of modernity, distinct from Western modernity.․.