Dr. Asim Pada Chakrabarti
India as a nation is going to celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, popularly held as the ‘Father of our Nation’. After his pathetic demise in 1948, Gandhi’s life, philosophy, views, ideals and activities had been thoroughly researched and analyzed by scholars all around the world and thousands of articles and books were written on him. Gandhi, the shrewd practical politician, a great social reformer, a deeply religious saint, an unifying public figure, successful implementer of the policy of nonviolence and peaceful resistance as formidable political weapon to fight against imperialist power in the struggle for freedom – all of these different aspects of his life and times created endless interest in the minds of scholars who tirelessly tried to understand the great soul of India. Gandhi in his own lift time witnessed two World Wars that brought great changes in the socio-political, economic and intellectual life of world population. During the last quarter of the last century, world had seen the fall and demise of the Communism in Soviet Union which was a great shock in political climate of the world and also witnessed the end of Cold War and the rise of capitalism and open market economy. Another great change that made a revolutionary effect in all aspects of life of world population was the process of globalization and unimaginable technological development in the field of worldwide communication through the use of internet and other social media. At present, by the small device of a cell phone all information of the world is now available in our palm and on our finger tips. The ideals, views and thoughts of fifty years ago now need to be adjusted with the demand of time. Agreeing to that, this is true that some thoughts and ideals of Gandhi still have relevance in the first part of 21st century. In this regard, time has come to look and analyze Gandhian views on education. In this brief article, an attempt has been made to discuss the subject.
In his philosophical dreams Gandhi’s thought on the role of the government and student community were categorically stated a structural basis for the nature and shape of educational policy and approach. Though his time has changed and current socio-political and economic conditions are completely different from his time. But the basic needs for a useful and effective educational policy still exist. The objective and goal of spreading compulsory and free primary education trough out the nation had not changed. The need for giving special technical and vocational training to the students for building a strong and self-dependent society still did not change. Formulating a basic academic standard for the students of the whole country still exists.
More importantly, the duties and role of students in different universities and colleges in different states and centrally governed academic institutions created a worrisome situation. Gandhi in his writings pointed out clearly about what should be the role and duties of the students within educational institution. Active political participation of the student community deeply influenced by outside and national and international politics now has become a highly debated and controversial issue. Gandhi’s philosophy on education is, therefore, as relevant today as it was in the past.
To Gandhi education is the backbone of society and is largely responsible for complete improvement of the society. Gandhi was critical of age-old traditional education and believed that “By education, I mean an all-around drawing of the best in child and man in body, mind and spirit.” Gandhi spoke for some basic objectives in his educational program. Those are (1) Free and Compulsory primary education for the students between the age of 7 to 14. : (2) Craft –Centered education. Development in handicraft education of the child should begin with useful and productive craft. The craft should aim at developing the intellect of the pupils.: (3) Self-Supporting educational system should be created. The crafts made by students should have markets for sale and the sale proceeds of the products should be utilized to meet the educational expense.: (4) Mother-Tongue should be the medium of instruction.:(5) The Creed of Non-Violence should be included in the training of the child as a prospective citizen of the world: (6) Dignity of Labor should be taught to student from the very beginning with special emphasis on dignity of manual labor through active participation in productive work.: (7) Emphasis on Practice rather than Theory which means an activity-centered education where the child will not be a passive recipient of knowledge, but active participant in the learning process. (8) Social awareness and Service by which Gandhi believed that social awareness and responsibility can be developed through the involvement of students in programs of community service. Gandhi held that “The end of all education should surely be service” to society and motherland. These basic aims and objectives are fundamental pillars of Gandhian views on education which cannot be challenged, but questions can be raised about the implementation aspects for matching with the current need of the time.
Another important aspect of Gandhi’s educational view is his ideas on the issue of individualism. Gandhi wrote in Harijan of May 27, 1939,”I value individual freedom, but you must not forget that man is essentially a social being. He has risen to the present status by learning to adjust his individualism to the requirements of social progress. Unrestricted individualism is law of beast of jungle.” To Gandhi individual development and social progress are complementary to each other. He further wrote ,” A nation cannot advance without the units of which it is composed advancing and conversely , no individual can advance without the nation of which it is a part also advancing.”
Gandhi also strongly favored inner discipline through self-control and not by being free to follow stray impulses. He said that self-discipline is voluntary discipline which emanates from following pure life, self-restraint, fearlessness, sacrifice, usefulness and practice of non-violence.
Gandhi believed in religion and moral education very strongly. He held that religion paves the way for development of personality and character. True religion means an abiding faith in the absolute value of Truth, Love, Ahimsa and Justice
Gandhi strongly advocated for equal facility and opportunity for women like men and even special facilities, where necessary. He believed that education should be provided to mothers for they could provide education to children effectively. He stressed upon the education of women, for development of nation depends upon women. He vehemently opposed Purdah system and widowhood. He wanted to free women from social serfdom. That was one of the reasons that the number of girls students increased considerably in various educational institutions in our country.
Gandhi had some specific advice to the student community. He held,
“Character cannot be built with mortar and stone. It cannot be built by hands other than your own. Character building must come from within yourself. All the scholarships, all you study of scriptures will be in vain if you fail to translate the teachings into your daily lives. Knowledge without character is a power for evils only, as seen in the instances of so many talented thieves and ‘gentlemen rascals’ in the world. He advocated the students to work in their spare time for the educational and social improvement of the down trodden classes in the society. Gandhi urged the students to invest all of their time, energy, labor and attention to their study until they remained in academic institution. He held that the life of the students is to correspond to the life of a Sanyasi up to the time of his studies end. They should follow strictest discipline and non-indulgence in dissipation, drinking and smoking like unhealthy addiction.
Gandhi was strongly against of student’s participation in politics until they are finished with study. Gandhi could not accept student’s participation in politics while they were studying in educational institution. When he called for Non-Cooperation movement in 1919 when people from all professions quitted their professions and joined the movement Gandhi made it clear to the student community that they could join the movement only after quitting their educational institutions. Gandhi disallowed to accept any student to join the movement when they were still studying in educational institution.
Gandhi wanted to keep the students away from politics. He believed that if the students will participate in the politics they will be pawn at the hands of politicians who will utilize them for fulfilling their desire. This will hamper development of a student and education will suffer a setback. So, he advised the students to keep themselves completely away from outside politics.
At present, we see a completely reverse situation and as a result we witness regularly indiscipline and rowdy situations in higher educational institutions all over our country where the students demonstrate complete degradation of moral and ethical values to such an extent that can be stamped as a crisis situation and the future of student community is in the verge of a total collapse causing great danger to future of the nation. Today’s students will run the tomorrow’s government and it is a cause of great worry and anxiety that how much our nation will be safe in the hands of those rulers who had no sense of values and no self-restraint. In this aspect remembering the teachings of Gandhi becomes more relevant than any time in the past. Political leaders of all the parties must consider the gravity of the situation and do something concrete to reverse the current situation. If this current situation is allowed to go on the nation will drive to the direction of self-destruction. Clock is ticking and time is passing in natural speed. Something must be done immediately before the situation gets out of control. The nation is desperately crying for SOS.