Visions of Education in India

The present volume seeks to review education in India through a matrix of nation-building, democratization process, identity, power, social and economic divisions, and social hierarchies – all in the overall framework of globalization and neo-liberalism. The book revisits the visions of education of some of the great Indian philosophers and leaders, deconstructs some of the seminal documents on education in India, brings out the significant role played by the people’s movement in shaping education, and analyses the trends and progress in the implementation of educational programmes and policies. An attempt has been made to elaborate the contours of various vision of education – those coming down from the past and those of recent vintage. In the complex pluralistic society of India, it is nearly impossible to choose a single vision of education that satisfies all our needs and aspirations. What is important is to be able to reconcile the differences among the visions to the extent possible and bring the best elements of these visions within a unified policy framework.