Integrating Indian Knowledge System: Revitalizing India’s Educational Landscape

The Indian education system has evolved significantly, transitioning from informal home-based education to more structured institutions, both private and state-sponsored. Key drivers of this evolution include colonialism and westernization, which continue to shape the system today due to the impact of globalization and capitalism. Colonialism significantly influenced the Indian education system. During the colonial era, British rulers established formal educational institutions to serve their administrative needs. These institutions propagated western knowledge, languages, and cultural norms. As a result, traditional Indian systems of education were marginalized. The Indian National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 marked a significant paradigm shift in the country's approach to education, including the introduction of Indian knowledge systems as a foundational component of the curriculum. The NEP-2020 acknowledges the significance of safeguarding and advancing India's vast legacy of knowledge systems, encompassing traditions in philosophy, language, science, and the arts. It recognizes that the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) may provide insightful opinions and viewpoints that enhance contemporary education. The policy is meant to encourage the next generation to recognize the significance that traditional knowledge formerly had. The term “Indian Knowledge System (IKS)” referred in new education policy is different from that of indigenous knowledge system. The National Educational Policy document specifically quoted that “Knowledge of India” will incorporate knowledge from ancient India and its contributions to modern India, and it neglected the inclusion of the indigenous knowledge prevalent during Muslim rule in India. However, utilization of indigenous and traditional learning methods as well as tribal knowledge was emphasized in the policy, but a major portion is devoted to the inclusion of knowledge from the ancient period. This study aims to explore how traditional Indian knowledge systems can rejuvenate the Indian education system. The paper will delve into an examination of these ancient knowledge systems, exploring ways to seamlessly integrate them into the current educational framework.