Indian and Western Meaning of Education
The term "education" has been widely discussed and interpreted by different thinkers, philosophers and educationists with reference to its aims, functions and implications. It is a very comprehensive as well as a complex idea. Hence, divergent opinions and views have been expressed by the Indian as well as the Western thinkers about education in different ages with reference to their philosophies, needs and tempo of the social order.
Meaning of Education in India
According to the ancient Indian educational thinkers, the term shiksha has been derived from the Sanskrit verbal root shas which means "to discipline", "to teach", "to instruct" or "to control". Thus, shiksha means education which denotes the act of teaching, training or instructing. Another term, vidya has also been derived from a Sanskrit verbal root, vid. Vid refers to education which implies knowledge. Hence, disciplining the mind and imparting knowledge, by controlling and teaching the child, are the basic meanings of education.
We find four words-siksha, adhyayana, vinaya and prabodha in the Indo-Aryan literature. These words correspond to the modern word `education'. Siksh is found in the Vedic hymns which means "to learn to recite". The word adhyayana found in the Brahmanic Upanisadic and Sutra literature denotes to go near and express the views of pupils going to some Guru (teacher) for education. In the institution, upanayana is the ceremony which refers to taking near, i.e., parents in the ancient period took their children to the Guru (teacher) for their education. The term vinaya denotes to lead out in a particular way. It emphasises the drawing out or leading out and development of the inborn powers of the child. The fourth term prabodha is used by the famous poet Kalidas to express the outcome of education. Prabodha implies `awakening' or `enlightenment' which is created in the child through teaching and learning.
Indian thinkers have placed special emphasis upon the development of spiritual aspect of education. Swami Vivekananda says, "Religion is the inner most core of education". In the words of A S.Altekar, "Education has always been regarded in India as a source of illumination and power which transforms and enables our nature by the progressive and harmonious development of our physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual powers and facilities". Education was used as an instrument to enable the individual to rise above and to attain the truth, the beautiful and the good. In fact, education in India passes through four ashramas into which human life has been divided. The first stage brahmacharya ashram is considered as the life of education and preparation. The second stage Grahastya is the life of the householder in which an individual has to execute his social responsibilities. The third stage, vanaprastha, is the life of retirement and meditation for which he has to withdraw himself from the worldly life. The last stage is sanyasa in which an individual cuts off all social and family ties and leads a holy life to attain salvation.
Meaning of Education in the West
The meaning of education in the West is found in Plato's work. According to him, "education is a life long process starting from the first year of childhood and lasting to the very end of the life". He also points out in his Republic that true education will have the greatest tendency to civilize and humanise people in their relation to one another and to those who are under their protection. Education has been taken as a process of inculcating values. He says, "Now I mean by education that training which is given by suitable habits to the first instincts of virtue in children". His views have been widely accepted in the West as well as in the East.
Western Educational Philosophers have generally accepted that the growth of the human child is the essence of education. In the words of Robert R.Rush, "Education is the enhancement or enrichment of personality and the embodiment of universal values". Thus, education is the process of development which means the gradual and continuous progress of mind and body. Through this development, the child acquires:
(a) the knowledge of the environment by which he is surrounded;
(b) the necessary motor control to fulfil his individual needs;
(c) linguistic abilities to enable him to converse; and
(d) knowledge of individual and collective relationships.
The development of all these elements begins at home. The task of the educator is to encourage it while the child is at school.
According to the western educational thinkers, education is a deliberate and organized activity through which the physical, intellectual, aesthetic, moral and spiritual potentialities of the child are developed. It enables the individual as a member of society to lead the fullest and richest life in the earth and attain Moksha (reaching God or liberation) in the world to come after death.
