Education
System: Let us revive the Ancient Indian Education
The British when they
took over India, had a problem of managing their organizations with the locals.
How do they communicate? Hence, they planned to train a section of Indians
(British Clones) whom they could entrust with their work and see that they in turn
communicate with others for effective functioning. The Britishers tried to take
control of the industrial set up is through establishing a new system of
education that would replace the indigenous Indian education. In the words of
Macaulay – “We must at present do our best to form a class, who may be
interpreters between us and the millions we govern; a class of persons, Indians
in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and in
intellects.” It is difficult to debate whether Thomas Babington Macaulay ever said like that or not.
However, we can observe the fact how the Indian system of education changed its
form since then and by observing so, we can assume that TB Macaulay may have
the intention to change the system of Indian Education. Also, contrary to what
I said, there are few other who complain that some of the Freedom fighters have
crossed the boundaries and got exposure to foreign education. How do we
understand this? Yes, the observations maybe correct. A choice to go and learn
the system of education and understand the global perspectives is entirely
different from willfully changing the system of education without the consent
of Indians. An Indian having strong foundations of Indian education can take
the choice of understanding different cultures but, he cannot be forced to pull
from his indigenous education and forcibly inculcate foreign values in his
mind? How does one define the system of education given to us by the
Britishers? The education I think it is not called. Because, education as said
by Swami Vivekananda – “is the manifestation of perfection already in Man”.
Hence, the ancient system of education always emphasise on “realization”.
Realisation leads us to be original and free from any “Conditioning”. Till
Britishers have started this exploitation on us, we are a country which has the
gravitation to pull people from all of the world and teach them what they are
interested to learn and not what we are interested to offer. Nalanda was
established in the 5th Century A.D in Bihar, India. It was devoted
to teach Buddhism, but the University also trained students in fine arts,
medicine, mathematics, astronomy, politics and the art of war. Likewise,
Ancient Takshasila in ancient Gandhara, now in Pakistan was an early Hindu and
Buddhist center of learning. The Vedas and the eighteen arts, which included
skills such as Archery, Hunting and elephant lore were taught in addition to
law school, medical school and school of military science. India is proud to
say that the famous treatise Arthashastra (Economics) by Chanakya is composed
in Takshasila itself. Also, the famous Ayurvedic healer, Charaka studied in
Takshasila.
When, during 5th and 6th Centuries our
system of education is so strong, why we lost it, how we lost it? Are Indians
so weak to lose the roots of education? Or Is it that the Greeks, the Europeans
exploited our Innocence. I personally feel that those who invaded India, were
led by aggressive mind but we are directed by compassionate heart. Even though
our system of education is replaced, they cannot be vanished from India’s
Collective Unconscious. If we refer to our Ancient Seers, we learned all the
Wisdom through listening and realization. Indians never had any problems of
memory. Memory for Indians is a Childs play. Take an example – Nowhere in the
world there is a concept of “Avadhanam” which is a literary feat from the very
ancient days. It requires immense memory power and test a person’s capability literature
and grammar and verbalize multiple questions starting from 8 to 1000 by
Prucchaka (one who asks questions to Avadhani) simultaneously. Till date this
great memory feat called “Dharana Shakti” is demonstrated by living literary
personalities. Hence, we can summarise the fact that Indian system of education
is covered with dust and it is the time we rub the dust open the pages of
Indianised Wisdom.
Let’s take an example, the present engineering education has been
narrowed down to cater only to Information Technology. The students who pursue
Computer Science are designated as Software Engineers. What are they working
for? Where are they working? Are they victims of Macaulay system of education?
Are they Westerners Clones? A Civil Engineer is also forced to enter into
Information Technology. Are there no opportunities for Civil Engineering
Students or do Civil engineering students are not aware of creating
opportunities. Let us take an example of Ramappa Temple which is located 77 kms
from Warangal. The City of Warangal happened to be the ancient capital of
Kakatiya Dynasty. The inscriptions on Ramappa Temple dates to the year 1213 AD
and was built by a General Recherla Rudra during the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati
Deva. The Wikipedia informs us that it stands
majestically on a 6 ft high star shaped platform. The hall in front of the
sanctum has numerous carved pillars that have been positioned to create an effect
that combines light and space wonderfully. The temple is named after the
sculptor Ramappa, who built it, and is perhaps the only temple in India to be
named after a craftsman who built it. History says that it took 40
years to build this temple. The main structure is in a reddish sandstone,
but the columns round the outside have large brackets of black basalt.
These are carved as mythical animals or female dancers or musicians, and are
"the masterpieces of Kakatiya art, notable for their delicate carving,
sensuous postures and elongated bodies and heads". Are these details not
relevant for a Civil Engineering Student to appreciate the Art works of Ancient
India? The Ancient Civil Constructions are timeless. These ancient
constructions have to face the continuous aggressions of external invaders.
What are left in front of us are the broken forts and broken pieces of rock on
the idols. Archeological Department has taken the ownership of the temples. It
is understood from the tourists that inside the Sanctum Sanctorium, devotees
were unable to perform the abhisheka (offering water or milk on the Shiva
Linga). Since 30 years after performing many abhisheka the water got stagnated
and no room left for the water for easy disposal. Similarly, in Warangal, we also
find 1000 pillar temple constructed by the Kakatiyas for over 70 years. The
temple is constructed on the sand which is a mystery for Civil Engineering
these days.
There are
plenty of opportunities for Civil Engineering Students to work for Ancient
Caves, Forts, Monuments, Temples etc. The good news is that they need not
create or build Ancient temples as they were constructed during ancient times.
But, they can learn the civil engineering principles and see that the current state
of Ancient Monuments is retained without any further damage. The course
structure, syllabus and modules should be revised according to the needs of the
India and not according to Western Influences. Likewise, a Doctor is observed
as God according to Indian traditions because he is the one who is a representation
of God cures our physical health issues. India is proud to bring into light the
ancient system of medicine in the form of Ayurveda. This Ayurveda is a concept
of medicine which is extracted from the natural elements available in plenty in
the earth’s atmosphere. But, the Western influence on Medicine is resulting in
degradation of health by allopathic medicines which are causing collateral
damage to the human immune system. Slowly, the Westerners are understanding
what life is and how they can nourish their lives but physically and mentally.
Hence, they are looking at East and Settling in India. Their missionary
practices are unable to help them to be calm in the most disturbing conditions
of life. Hence, Westerners liked the concept of our ancient system of
Meditation and Yoga because they feel this concept is more logical and
unconditional to understand the truth.
To
summarise, the purpose of education is not to support the knowledge acquired to
our selfish activities but protect the mankind and nature from the threats and
offer a perfect living to the next generations to come. Otherwise, the next
generations would curse us for all the damage that we have done for the
extinction of life on earth.
Dr. B. Ravikanth
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