India has been an education hub for centuries, and its roots are deep in the ancient scriptures. Today, the modern world has its own ways of teaching its students through books and different technologies.
However, whatever education system exists today in the modern world has taken ideas from the ancient Indian educational system. Ancient education system of India has evolved over the years and has been adapted very well by today’s world. There was the existence of religious texts in the form of Vedas which was once taught to students in the learning process. Now, everyone has just forgotten the existence of such religious books that were once adapted by every modern learning center today.
Ancient and modern education system in India goes hand in hand because if there was no Indian Vedas or scriptures, today the world would be a different place. As whatever you see today, Indian education system has a great role in shaping the modern educational system. Whether be it in the spiritual world, intellectual, science, or astronomy, everything has been originated from the ancient history of the Indian education system.
Today, here in this article we will learn about how ancient education system of India has affected the modern education in shaping the future of the students since ages:
Did you know that today even competitive exams have been adapted from the old education system in India? Whether written or oral tests everything has its approach being derived from the ancient educational tradition of India.
Ancient Indian Education System is among the oldest of all types of education in the world. Let’s know how:
- The Gurukul era: In this period of learning in ancient India, students or shishyas were allowed to stay with their gurus or teacher in the camp or ashrams for their knowledge. This was the place where it was surrounded with nature, therefore, giving them the abundance to showcase their knowledge by living close to nature and their gurus.
- Holistic approach: This way of learning had helped students in shaping their minds using tangible, intellectual, emotional feelings and spiritual techniques. It therefore, helped students in gaining practical knowledge through moral values that includes disciplines, punctuality. Understanding human emotions were also seen as a holistic approach of education that helped students in learning the psychological behavior of humans.
- Guru and shishya relation of education: This form of education helped students in maintaining an elderly respect and relation with the teacher. They learned how to behave with their teachers, show respect and care. The gurus were the ones who distributed knowledge of wisdom in the minds of their students.
- Oral education: Ancient education was based on verbal communication in the form of oral texts using recitation, memorization techniques that were passed down from gurus to shishyas through ages.
- Varied curriculum system: In this old age education system in India, Studies have been emerged as subjects in the form of Vedas, Upanishads, Vedangas, Ayurvedas, Moral values, psychological behavior, mathematics, arts and literatures. It was more advanced and dynamic.
- Study of self-worth: Ancient studies also taught the importance of self worth along with ancient scriptures. This type of education helped students to gain knowledge in knowing their worth in the universe, human nature, compassionate towards each other, non-violence etc.
- The Social agenda: Modern schools aren’t restricted to any class or gender. However, ancient education in India was primarily received by the Brahmins and the high class. This was the time when other schools and institutes emerged for lower class to access education in India.
- Learning centers: Ancient India had some renowned institutions like the Nalanda University and the Takshashila. Therefore, such institutes became the greatest of knowledge hub in ancient India which became popular due to the easy accessibility to students across world.
- Long-lasting legacy: India is now home to the long and ever-lasting legacy of knowledge having its roots originated from the ancient scriptures that have been found in the history of India. The overall education of modern society has derived its knowledge from the ancient India and its rich heritage that lies in their culture. Therefore, ancient education and culture have shaped today’s human behavior in the form of morality, spirituality, intellectuality, psychology and science.
How Modern Education System in India Evolved from Ancient India?
Ancient education in India became so popular because of travelers coming across different parts of the country. Knowledge and interests began to develop in every individual to pursue their child education from these centers such as Nalanda and Takshashila universities.
People began to urge knowledge for their child’s career and overall development because ancient Indian education had everything to shape a child’s behavior for its modern society.
Ancient studies were primarily based on oral texts that were derived direct from their gurus through knowledge of wisdom using verbal theory. Moreover, they were also given practical knowledge such as using the bow and arrow, spiritual knowledge such as meditating and many more. On the other hand, modern knowledge used these methods and adapted to form an advanced level of education that was more practical and knowledgeable.
Ancient India was known for its culture and respect towards elders and society. Therefore, this knowledge were imparted to modern students in the forms of moral values, arts and literatures, study of human behavior, intellectual knowledge, knowledge of cosmic worlds, self-worth and so many other.
Holistic approach was taught to modern students in the forms of self-discipline, trust-worthy, peace, non-violence, respect for elders etc. Vedas and Upanishads were adapted to teach students about behaving with oneself such as treating with care and humanity to society including their family members, performing their duties, punctuality.
Conclusion
Old education system in India has great impact on modern societies of learning system because writings and medical transcriptions and knowledge are all reliable on it. Sushruta was a very popular and ancient medical practionist who discovered medical treatise and treated people with his knowledge. So, we can greatly and proudly say that modern teachings are heavily reliable on our ancient education system of India.
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