1. A Presentation on
The History of Education in
India
By
Prayash Chandra Padhan
20MF10025
2. Education in Ancient India
• The roots of education in ancient India can be traced back to
the Vedic era, which spanned roughly from 1500 BCE to 500
BCE.
• The four Vedas laid the foundation for a sophisticated system
of knowledge transmission.
• Education was primarily imparted orally through the Guru-
Shishya tradition.
• Students learned not only academic subjects but also moral
values, social ethics, and life skills, emphasizing holistic
development.
3. During Maurya and Gupta Period
( circa 300 bc to 500 ce)
• Buddhist monasteries emerged as centers of learning.
• Cities like Nalanda ,Vikramashila ,and Valabhi flourished
• The University at Nalanda emerged as a renowned seat of
learning attracting students from all over Asia
• Students from different social, cultural, and religious
backgrounds were welcomed
• Examinations took place for admission to this university
4. Medieval Period
• The medieval period saw the establishment of Jain and
Muslim educational centers.
• While religious and philosophical subjects were central,
secular subjects like literature, poetry, grammar,
mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and administration were
also taught
• The patronage of education by medieval Indian rulers played
a crucial role in the flourishing of educational institutions
5. • Women's education in medieval India was limited but not
nonexistent
• Social hierarchies, caste-based discrimination, and gender
disparities restricted access to education for marginalized
communities.
• Moreover, political instability, invasions, and conflicts
disrupted the functioning of educational institutions, leading
to periods of decline and stagnation.
• Growth of science in the country slowed down.
• During this period society was becoming increasingly rigid
and narrow in character.
• There had been a setback in urban life and communications
due to growing religious orthodoxy.
6. 18th Century Onwards-Under British Rule
• Education imparted was still traditional which could not
match with the rapid developments in the West
• Knowledge was confined to religion, philosophy, literature
and excluded the study of physical and natural sciences,
humanism etc.
• Early initiatives were taken by Jonathan Duncan, Warren
Hastings, Wellesley and Raja Rammohan Roy.
• Lord Macaulay, 1835 held the view that Indian learning was
inferior and soon the government made English as medium
of instruction in its schools and colleges.
• The British emphasized on the downward filtration theory.
• After the 1854 Wood’s Despatch many universities opened
up.
7. • The British thus wanted to use modern education to
strengthen their political authority.
• Mass education was neglected leading to high illiteracy.
• Education for women was almost neglected.
• Scientific and Technical education was largely neglected.
8. After Independence
• By 1951, only 16.6% of population was literate.
• The UGC (in 1953) and NCERT (in 1961) were set up.
• 1951, the first of the 5 IITs patterned after the MIT(USA)
was set up at Kharagpur.
