Abstract:
India, one of the ancient civilization of the world, embraced and
evolved a unique system of 'education'; a system which was essentially
(caste) community affair. This kind of education system lasted hundreds
of years without many mutations. However, with the advent of British
system of education community-based system of education was replaced
by state-centric centralized system of education. This intervention by
British had freed system of education from caste cover. However, in the
process, system of education was uprooted from community. Local
community lost its role in deciding and providing education to its masses.
After independence, the then National leadership of the country
decided in favour of a democratic polity. They also recognized the fact
that the successful functioning of any democracy in any country largely
depends upon active and conscious participation of the people in political
processes. The active and conscious participation of the people, in tum,
depends upon their education. There fore, to create democratic citizenry,
constitutional framers and political and educational leadership instilled
faith and hope in education. At the same time, they also very rightly
recognized that unless educational opportunities are democratized, it is
well nigh impossible to democratize the polity. This appreciation of the
nexus between universal, equal educational opportunities and democracy,
at the dawn of independence, manifested in the form of article 45 of
Directive Principles of Indian Constitution. Article 45 reads, "The State
shall endeavour to provide within a period of ten years from the
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commencement of this constitution, for free and compulsory education for
all children until they complete the age of fourteen years." It is very clear
from the above citation that provision of elementary is the obligation of
the state.
