PHILOSOPHY OF Dr. RADHAKRISHANAN
I. Dr. RADHAKRISHNAN’S BRIEF LIFE SKETCH
Introduction:
1. He was born in 1888 in TamilNadu.
2. He got his
early education in the Christian schools
3. He started
his teaching career as professor of philosophy in different universities.
4. He wrote
Tagore’s philosophy.
5. His notes on
western philosophy attracted by the westerners.
6. His book is
history of Indian philosophy.
7. He was
invited by the oxford university to lecture on “The Hindu View of Life”.
8. He was the
vice-chancellor in Andhra
University in 1931.
9. His book
eastern religion and western thought appeared in 1939.
10. In 1952, he
was elected as the first vice-president and chairman of the Rajyasabha.
11. In 1962,
this philosopher became the second president of Indian republic.
12. He was got
award for the “Bharat Ratna”, the highest national distinction in 1967.
13. He won the
international 50 thousand dollar award just a month before his death.
14. Dr.
Radhakrishnan’s contribution to education has been unique and irreplaceable.
15. He had first
hand experience of educational institutions and their multifarious problems.
16. His
educational thinking needs to be studied in the context of his view of life.
17. His function
of philosophy is to order life and guide action.
II.DR.RADHAKRISHNAN’S VIEW OF LIFE
Philosopher’s vision and
educationist’s combination
Dr. Radhakrishnan’s philosophy is
idealism. Idealism means that life has a purpose, and ideals and values are the
dynamic forces that give direction to life and help it to achieve its goal. The
function of Philosophy is to order life and guide action.
Matter and spirit:
The matters show the superiority
of the human mind. We are not merely a part of nature; there is a non natural
element in us, an element which exceeds the quality and potentiality of matter.
The element is the spirit of man. The man sprit which controls matter. Men may
be nuclear geniuses, but they remain ethical dwarfs.
Divinity of Human Soul:
Spiritually,” to be or not to
be that is the question”. The world over
the unleashed tendencies that crush the human spirit and degrade and dehumanise
the mind are on the rampage. The divine uses the human individual. Every human
individual has in him this eternal spark, this creative element. If we overlook it, we are untrue, unfaithful,
to our own education, to our own humanity. Religions emphazise this
aspect. Man seeks and aspires/ Man is
not a helpless toy in the hands of great cosmic forces. The invincible spirit within him must triumph
over the gravitational downward pull of circumstances.
Place of religion:
Dr. Radhakrishnan believes that
the way of religion is the remaking of man, a complete integration of his
being. Religion introduces an entirely new sense, a totally new set of values.
But religion is not doctrinal conformity of ceremonial piety. It is a personal
encounter of the individual with the supreme.
Religion and science:
Emphasis on religion does not be
little the role of science in our life.
Science and religion are not opposed to each other. Both seek truth. The
achievement of science have induced in our minds a mood of despair, making us feel like homeless
exiles, caught in a blind machine. This cannot be counted as the failure of
science. It is, in fact, the failure of man. Men sometimes become unmindful of
their moral implications and social consequences.
III. MEANING AND FUNCTIONS OF
EDUCATION
1. Education – Training of Intellect, heart and spirit:
“Education, to be complete, must
be humane; it must include not only the training of the intellect but the
refinement of the heart and the discipline of the spirit”.
2. Humanism in education:
No nation in this world can hold its place of primacy in perpetuity. Let us, therefore, try and develop the
qualities of charity in judgment and compassion for people who are suffering.
If we adopt such an approach, the tensions of the world will diminish rapidly.
3. Education for Democracy:
The cause of democracy is the cause of the human individual of the free
spirit of man with its spontaneous inspiration and Endeavour. When an
individual is trained or appreciate his own holy being, he will develop a
chastity of mind and sprit and approach with inner trembling another’s
sanctuary.
4. Education to develop scientific spirit:
A lively development and use of
intellectual curiosity, imaginative power, technical skill, acceptance of goals
that stretch one’s talent and energy to their uttermost extent and the
simultaneous rejection of all clinches of thought. These are the
characteristics of the young person who is anxious to defend his individuality
against the ever present corrupting force of habit and tradition and social
pressure for conformity. All this possible with single minded devotion.
5. Education and Humane Values:
There is a great deal of
intellectual and technical skill but the ethical and spiritual vitality is at
low ebb. There is nothing wrong about science; what is the wrong is the use we
make use of it. Education should give us a purpose.
Coarseness of feeling, darkness of mind and the very causal way in which
we inflict
Cruelties all these indicated inward emptiness.
6. Education and spiritual values:
Education is the means by which
we can tide up our minds, acquire information as well as a sense of values.
Education gives to us that bent of mind, that attitude of reason, that spirit
of democracy which will make us responsible citizens of our country. A True
democracy is community of citizens differing from one another but all bound to
a common goal.
7. Education – A search of integration:
Education aims at making us into
civilized human beings, conscious of our moral and social obligations. We must have an idea of the general plan of
the universe and the search for truth.
When we attain truth or burdens are lightened and our difficulties are
diminished. It lights up our pathway with the radiance of joy.
8. Education to develop his spirit of enquiry:
We
should develop the spirit of enquiry and dedication to the pursuit of science
and scholarship. We have enough material
but it is not funded properly. We need
education in character.
9. Education to train people for freedom and democracy:
The future of democracy in Asia depends on our willingness to submit to discipline,
undergo personal sacrifice. If India is to
remains free, united and democratic, educational institutions should train
people for freedom not obedience, for unity and not localism, for democracy not
dictatorship. Our young should have a sense of purpose.
10.
Education and self-discipline:
We must train the young to the
best possible all around living, individual and social. We must make them intelligent and good. They observe unwritten laws of decency and
honour felt by good men but not enforced by any statue.
11.
Education institution to preserve the
spirit of the Youth:
Unless we preserve the spirit of
youth, keep an open mind and change our belief and practice, we cannot endure.
To preserve thought, spirit and inspiration of this ancient land and let them
inform our customs and institutions are the tasks assigned to this generation
of scholars.
12. Education of Women:
Women are human beings and have
as much right to full development as men as women have.
In regard to opportunities for
intellectual and spiritual development, we should not emphasize the sex of omen
even as we do not emphasize sex of men.
In all Human beings, irrespective of their sex, the same drama of flesh
and the spirit, of finitude and transcendence takes place.
IV.DR. RADHAKRISHNAN EDUCATION
COMMISSION (1948-49)
1. University education commission 1948-1949 also known as Radhakrishnan
commission which was the first education commission set up in independent India.
2. University commission recommended teaching that life has a meaningful.
3. University grants commission
should be set up for allocation of grants.
4. The commission recommended that objective tests should be constructed.
5. Most of the recommendation of the university commission was repetition
of earlier reports.
6. Educations should be research oriented.
7. The commission recommended 180 working days.
OBJECTIVES:
The education should not only
help the students earn their living but also help them to lead a life which is more and to attain highest
human values.
CURRICULUM:
The curriculum of university
education must have it’s base on Indian history and Indian Philosophy. The
spirituality as well as material knowledge should be find equal place in the
curriculum of the university.
TEACHING STANDARDS:
The teacher should adapt new
teaching methods to narrow, down the gap between teacher and student.
Tutorial system should be
introduced.
REFORMS IN THE EXAMINATION SYSTEM:
There is not much use in conducting
examinations once or twice a year.
The teacher must evaluate the
students continuously in the classroom itself.
He must evaluate those often
using objective tests.
LEARNIG THROUGH MOTHER TONGUE:
Learning, teaching and writing exams should be in one’s mother tongue
itself.
The text books should be prepared in the respective mother-tongue itself.
MORAL INSTRUCTION:
At every stage of educational system, moral instructions should be
imparted.
Moral values of all religions should be given.
EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS: The
educational standards among students, the age of admission of the students to
the colleges should be increased.
The school and collegiate
education should be for eleven and three years respectively.
ELIGIBLITY CRITERION FOR
ADMISSION:
Only eligible students must be admitted to
arts and science course in the colleges.
STANDARD OF TEACHERS:
Well disciplined talented teachers
should be employed in the educational institutions.
Education commission is instrumental in formulating National education
policy of India.
V.RECOMMENDATIONS OF RADHAKRISHANAN
EDUCATION COMMISSION:
- Dr, Radhakrishnan formulated the aims of the university education in independent India as follows,
- To provide leadership in politics, administration, industry and commerce.
- To enable the country to attain in as a short time as possible freedom from wand, diseases and ignorance.
- To make the universities serve as the homes of intellectual adventure and as the organs of civilization.
- To provide a coherent picture to the universe and an integrated way of life.
- To develop a love for higher values of life such as though for the poor and the suffering, regard and respect for women and so on.
- To help the students make a critical study of our past and to appreciate our cultural unity.
- To promote patriotism as well as international understanding among the pupils.
Reference:
1.
Theory and principles of education - J.C. Aggarwal
2.
Education challenges in Indian society -
Dr. A. Meenakshi Sundaram
3.
Education for India - Kokila Thangasamy
Vice Chancellor, TNTEU, Chennai, Tamilnadu
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