INTEGRATION OF TRADITIONAL AND FOLK KNOWLEDGE WITH CURRENT EDUCATION SYSTEM: INDIANIZING EDUCATION SYSTEM AND REGAINING THE STATUS OF VISHWA-GURU

Abstract

Indian education became westernized owing the implementation of Macaulay’s Minutes on Education 1835. Gradually, not only English was taught as a language and also the medium of instruction but western literature, science and technology etc. was also taught; totally bypassing the Indian languages, science, technology and culture etc. English education instilled in young minds a western worldview even to look at their indigenous knowledge and education system. Consequently, the grand tradition of teaching-learning, science and innovation was offshored from the education system. Now, National Educational Policy (2020) recommends the integration of traditional and folk knowledge into the current education with a target to meet the contemporary global demand and simultaneously Indianization of education and knowledge system in the country.  Therefore, in the backdrop of modernization, its synchronization into a global village, locating Indian cultural heritage and gyan prampara, the objective of this paper is to investigate if the Indianization of education and knowledge system, through the integration of Indian traditional and folk knowledge, can be f\more meaningful, fruitful and useful than the western education system and a great bridge to make Indian students proud of India’s gyan prampara.

The study proves that the folk and traditional knowledge is not only scientific, logical, and relevant even today but more practical too which may help future generations learn easily, use that knowledge in the time of need, establish the Indian knowledge system at a global level and restore its gyan prampara and also take pride in India and its Indianness.