Unit - IV

Chapter 6 - Indian Educational Thinkers :
Mahatma Gandhi, Ravindra Nath Tagore,
Gijju Bhai, Swami Vivekananda and J. Krishnamurti

Question- State the meaning, aim and ideal of Education according to M.K. Gandhi ?

Related Short Answer - Questions
What is the Meaning of Education ?

Answer -

Meaning of Education

Gandhiji observes, "By education I mean an all round drawing out of the best in child and man-body, mind and spirit." According to him "All round" stands for harmonious development. 'Drawing out of the best' recognises a great potentiality coiled up in the child which can be realised and developed to its perfection through education. Gandhiji held, "We have up to now concentrated on stuffing child's mind with all kinds of information without even stimulating or developing him."

According to M.K. Gandhi, the word 'best' has three aspects :
(i) Body, (ii) Mind and (iii) Spirit.

The best in child and man will include harmonious development of various faculties, physical, intellectual and spiritual of child and man. M.K. Gandhi observe that the best in child and man can be drawn out by touching the hearts of the students. He said, "If I was to be their real teacher and guardian, I must touch their hearts, I must share their joys and sorrows, I must help them to solve the problems that faced them, and I must take along the right channel, the surging aspirations of their youth."

M.K. Gandhi considered that education is not literacy. He said, "Literacy is neither the beginning nor the end of education." He did not favour teaching and learning of 3Rs. as a literacy in itself is no education. He rightly says, "True education is that which draws out and stimulates the spiritual, intellectual and physical faculties of the children."

...Prev | Next...