Swami Vivekananda (1863 1902), a great thinker and reformer of India, embra e!

! ed" ation, whi h for him !ignifie! #man$making%, a! the ver& mi!!ion of hi! 'ife( In thi! )a)er, whi h )"r)ort! to e*)o"nd and ana'&+e Vivekananda%! view! on ed" ation, an endeavor ha! been made to fo "! on the ba!i theme of hi! )hi'o!o)h&, vi+( the !)irit"a' "nit& of the "niver!e( ,hether it on ern! the goa' or aim of ed" ation, or it! method of a))roa h or it! om)onent )art!, a'' hi! tho"ght!, we !ha'' ob!erve, !tem from thi! dormant theme of hi! )hi'o!o)h& whi h ha! it! mooring! in Vedanta( Vivekananda rea'i+e! that mankind i! )a!!ing thro"gh a ri!i!( -he tremendo"! em)ha!i! on the ! ientifi and me hani a' wa&! of 'ife i! fa!t red" ing man to the !tat"! of a ma hine( .ora' and re'igio"! va'"e! are being "ndermined( -he f"ndamenta' )rin i)'e! of ivi'i+ation are being ignored( /onf'i t! of idea'!, manner! and habit! are )ervading the atmo!)here( 0i!regard for ever&thing o'd i! the fa!hion of the da&( Vivekananda !eek! the !o'"tion! of a'' the!e !o ia' and g'oba' evi'! thro"gh ed" ation( ,ith thi! end in view, he fee'! the dire need of awakening man to hi! !)irit"a' !e'f wherein, he think!, 'ie! the ver& )"r)o!e of ed" ation( The Goal or Objective of Education Vivekananda )oint! o"t that the defe t of the )re!ent$da& ed" ation i! that it ha! no definite goa' to )"r!"e( 1 ! "')tor ha! a 'ear idea abo"t what he want! to !ha)e o"t of the marb'e b'o k2 !imi'ar'&, a )ainter know! what he i! going to )aint( 3"t a tea her, he !a&!, ha! no 'ear idea abo"t the goa' of hi! tea hing( Swami4i attem)t! to e!tab'i!h, thro"gh hi! word! and deed!, that the end of a'' ed" ation i! man making( 5e )re)are! the ! heme of thi! man$making ed" ation in the 'ight of hi! over$a'' )hi'o!o)h& of Vedanta( 1 ording to Vedanta, the e!!en e of man 'ie! in hi! !o"', whi h he )o!!e!!e! in addition to hi! bod& and mind( In tr"e with thi! )hi'o!o)h&, Swami4i define! ed" ation a! #the manife!tation of the )erfe tion a'read& in man(% -he aim of ed" ation i! to manife!t in o"r 'ive! the )erfe tion, whi h i! the ver& nat"re of o"r inner !e'f( -hi! )erfe tion i! the rea'i+ation of the infinite )ower whi h re!ide! in ever&thing and ever&$where$e*i!ten e, on! io"!ne!! and b'i!! (!at hidananda)( 1fter "nder!tanding the e!!entia' nat"re of thi! )erfe tion, we !ho"'d identif& it with o"r inner !e'f( 6or a hieving thi!, one wi'' have to e'iminate one%! ego, ignoran e and a'' other fa'!e identifi ation, whi h !tand in the wa&( .editation, fortified b& mora' )"rit& and )a!!ion for tr"th, he')! man to 'eave behind the bod&, the !en!e!, the ego and a'' other non$!e'f e'ement!, whi h are )eri!hab'e( 5e th"! rea'i+e! hi! immorta' divine !e'f, whi h i! of the nat"re of infinite e*i!ten e, infinite know'edge and infinite b'i!!( 1t thi! !tage, man be ome! aware of hi! !e'f a! identi a' with a'' other !e've! of the "niver!e, i(e( different !e've! a! manife!tation! of the !ame !e'f( 5en e ed" ation, in Vivekananda%! !en!e, enab'e! one to om)rehend one%! !e'f within a! the !e'f ever&where( -he e!!entia' "nit& of the entire "niver!e i! rea'i+ed thro"gh ed" ation( 1 ording'&, man making for Swami4i !tand! for ro"!ing man! to the awarene!! of hi! tr"e !e'f( 5owever, ed" ation th"! !ignified doe! not )oint toward! the deve'o)ment of the !o"' in i!o'ation from bod& and mind( ,e have to remember that ba!i! of Swami4i%! )hi'o!o)h& i! 1dvaita whi h

)rea he! "nit& in diver!it&( -herefor, man making for him mean! a harmonio"! deve'o)ment of the bod&, mind and !o"'( In hi! ! heme of ed" ation, Swami4i 'a&! great !tre!! on )h&!i a' hea'th be a"!e a !o"nd mind re!ide! in a !o"nd bod&( 5e often 7"ote! the 8)ani!hadi di t"m #na&amatma ba'ahinena 'abh&ah%2 i(e( the self cannot be realized by the physically weak( 5owever, a'ong with )h&!i a' "'t"re, he har)! on the need of )a&ing !)e ia' attention to the "'t"re of the mind( 1 ording to Swami4i, the mind of the !t"dent! ha! to be ontro''ed and trained thro"gh meditation, on entration and )ra ti e of ethi a' )"rit&( 1'' !" e!! in an& 'ine of work, he em)ha!i+e!, i! the re!"'t of the )ower of on entration( 3& wa& of i''"!tration, he mention! that the hemi!t in the 'aborator& on entrate! a'' the )ower! of hi! mind and bring! them into one fo "!$the e'ement! to be ana'&+ed$and find! o"t their !e ret!( /on entration, whi h ne e!!ari'& im)'ie! deta hment from other thing!, on!tit"te! a )art of 3rahma har&a, whi h i! one of the g"iding motto! of hi! ! heme of ed" ation( 3rahma har&a, in a n"t!he'', !tand! for the )ra ti e of !e'f$ ontro' for !e "ring harmon& of the im)"'!e!( 3& hi! )hi'o!o)h& of ed" ation, Swami4i th"! bring! it home that ed" ation i! not a mere a "m"'ation of information b"t a om)rehen!ive training for 'ife( -o 7"ote him9 #:d" ation i! not the amo"nt of information that i! )"t into &o"r brain and r"n! riot there "ndige!ted, a'' &o"r 'ife(% Education for him means that process by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, and intellect is sharpened, as a result of which one can stand on ones own feet( ethod or !rocedure 5aving ana'&+ed the goa' or ob4e tive of ed" ation, the ne*t 7"e!tion that nat"ra''& ari!e! i! abo"t the method of im)arting ed" ation( 5ere again, we note the Vedanti fo"ndation of Swami4i%! theor&( 1 ording to him, know'edge i! inherent in ever& man%! !o"'( ,hat we mean when we !a& that a man #know!% i! on'& what he #di! over!% b& taking the over off hi! own !o"'( /on!e7"ent'&, he draw! o"r attention to the fa t that the ta!k of the tea her i! on'& to he') the hi'd to manife!t it! know'edge b& removing the ob!ta 'e! in it! wa&( In hi! word!9 #-h"! Vedanta !a&! that within man i! a'' know'edge even in a bo& it i! !o and it re7"ire! on'& an awakening and that m" h i! the work of a tea her(% -o drive hi! )oint home, he refer! to the growth of a )'ant( ;"!t a! in the a!e of a )'ant, one annot do an&thing more than !"))'&ing it with water, air and man"re whi'e it grow! from within it! own nat"re, !o i! the a!e with a h"man hi'd( Vivekananda%! method of ed" ation re!emb'e! the he"ri!ti method of the modern ed" ationi!t!( In thi! !&!tem, the tea her invoke! the !)irit of in7"ir& in the )")i' who i! !"))o!ed to find o"t thing! for him!e'f "nder the bia!$free g"idan e of the tea her( Swami4i 'a&! a 'ot of em)ha!i! on the environment at home and ! hoo' for the )ro)er growth of the hi'd( -he )arent! a! we'' a! the tea her! !ho"'d in!)ire the hi'd b& the wa& the& 'ive their 'ive!( Swami4i re ommend! the o'd in!tit"tion of g"r"k"'a ('iving with the )re e)tor) and !imi'ar !&!tem! for the

)"r)o!e( In !" h !&!tem!, the !t"dent! an have the idea' hara ter of the tea her on!tant'& before them, whi h !erve! a! the ro'e mode' to fo''ow( 1'tho"gh Swami4i i! of the o)inion that mother tong"e i! the right medi"m for !o ia' or ma!! ed" ation, he )re! ribe! the 'earning of :ng'i!h and San!krit a'!o( ,hi'e :ng'i!h i! ne e!!ar& for ma!tering ,e!tern ! ien e and te hno'og&, San!krit 'ead! one into the de)th! of o"r va!t !tore of 'a!!i !( -he im)'i ation i! that if 'ang"age doe! not remain the )rivi'ege of a !ma'' 'a!! of )eo)'e, !o ia' "nit& wi'' mar h forward "nham)ered( "ields of #tudy Vivekananda, in hi! ! heme of ed" ation, meti "'o"!'& in '"de! a'' tho!e !t"die!, whi h are ne e!!ar& for the a''$aro"nd deve'o)ment of the bod&, mind and !o"' of the individ"a'( -he!e !t"die! an be bro"ght "nder the broad head! of )h&!i a' "'t"re, ae!theti !, 'a!!i !, 'ang"age, re'igion, ! ien e and te hno'og&( 1 ording to Swami4i, the "'t"re va'"e! of the o"ntr& !ho"'d form an integra' )art of the "rri "'"m of ed" ation( -he "'t"re of India ha! it! root! in her !)irit"a' va'"e!( -he time$te!ted va'"e! are to be imbibed in the tho"ght! and 'ive! of the !t"dent! thro"gh the !t"d& of the 'a!!i ! 'ike <ama&ana, .ahabharata, =ita, Veda! and 8)ani!had!( -hi! wi'' kee) the )erennia' f'ow of o"r !)irit"a' va'"e! into the wor'd "'t"re( :d" ation, a ording to Swami4i, remain! in om)'ete witho"t the tea hing of ae!theti ! or fine art!( 5e ite! ;a)an a! an e*am)'e of how the ombination of art and "ti'it& an make a nation great( Swami4i reiterate! that re'igion i! the innermo!t ore of ed" ation( 5owever, b& re'igion, he doe! not mean an& )arti "'ar kind of it b"t it! e!!entia' hara ter, whi h i! the rea'i+ation of the divinit& a'read& in man( 5e remind! "! time and again that re'igion doe! not on!i!t in dogma! or reed! or an& !et of rit"a'!( -o be re'igio"! for him mean! 'eading 'ife in !" h a wa& that we manife!t o"r higher nat"re, tr"th, goodne!! and bea"t&, in o"r tho"ght!, word! and deed!( 1'' im)"'!e!, tho"ght! and a tion! whi h 'ead one toward! thi! goa' are nat"ra''& ennob'ing and harmoni+ing, and are ethi a' and mora' in the tr"e!t !en!e( It i! in thi! onte*t that Swami4i%! idea of re'igion, a! the ba!i! of ed" ation !ho"'d be "nder!tood( ,e note that in hi! inter)retation, re'igion and ed" ation !hare the identit& of )"r)o!e( $hy religion forms the very foundation of education becomes clear in his following word!9 #In b"i'ding ") hara ter, in making for ever&thing that i! good and great, in bringing )ea e to other!, and )ea e to one%! own !e'f, re'igion i! the highe!t motive )ower, and, therefore, o"ght to be !t"died from that !tand)oint( Swami4i be'ieve! that if ed" ation with it! re'igio"! ore an invigorate man%! faith in hi! divine nat"re and the infinite )otentia'itie! of the h"man !o"', it i! !"re to he') man be ome !trong, &et to'erant and !&m)atheti ( It wi'' a'!o he') man to e*tend hi! 'ove and good wi'' be&ond the omm"na', nationa' and ra ia' barrier!(

It i! a mi!inter)retation of Vivekananda%! )hi'o!o)h& of ed" ation to think that he ha! overem)ha!i+ed the ro'e of !)irit"a' deve'o)ment to the "tter neg'e t of the materia' !ide( Vivekananda, in hi! )'an for the regeneration of India, re)eated'& )re!!e! the need for the eradi ation of )overt&, "nem)'o&ment and ignoran e( 5e !a&!, ,e need te hni a' ed" ation and a'' e'!e whi h ma& deve'o) ind"!trie!, !o that men, in!tead of !eeking for !ervi e, ma& earn eno"gh to )rovide for them$!e've!, and !ave !omething again!t a rain& da&( 5e fee'! it ne e!!ar& that India !ho"'d take from the ,e!tern nation! a'' that i! good in their ivi'i+ation( 5owever, 4"!t 'ike a )er!on, ever& nation ha! it! individ"a'it&, whi h !ho"'d not be de!tro&ed( -he individ"a'it& of India 'ie! in her !)irit"a' "'t"re( 5en e in Swami4i%! view, for the deve'o)ment of a ba'an ed nation, we have to ombine the d&nami!m and ! ientifi attit"de of the ,e!t with the !)irit"a'it& of o"r o"ntr&( -he entire ed" ationa' )rogram !ho"'d be !o )'anned that it e7"i)! the &o"th to ontrib"te to the materia' )rogre!! of the o"ntr& a! we'' a! to maintaining the !")reme worth of India%! !)irit"a' heritage( 1nother im)ortant a!)e t of Swami4i%! ! heme of ed" ation i! women%! ed" ation( 5e rea'i+e! that it if the women of o"r o"ntr& get the right t&)e of ed" ation, then the& wi'' be ab'e to !o've their own )rob'em! in their own wa&( -he main ob4e tive of hi! ! heme of fema'e ed" ation i! to make them !trong, fear$'e!!, and on! io"! of their ha!tit& and dignit&( 5e ob!erve! that a'tho"gh men and women are e7"a''& om)etent in a ademi matter!, &et women have a !)e ia' a)tit"de and om)eten e for !t"die! re'ating to home and fami'&( 5en e he re ommend! the introd" tion of !"b4e t! 'ike !ewing, n"r!ing, dome!ti ! ien e, "'inar& art, et whi h were not )art of ed" ation at hi! time( %onclusion -he e*)o!ition and ana'&!i! of Vivekananda%! ! heme of ed" ation bring! to 'ight it! on!tr" tive, )ra ti a' and om)rehen!ive hara ter( 5e rea'i+e! that it i! on'& thro"gh ed" ation that the ")'ift of ma!!e! i! )o!!ib'e( -o refer to hi! own word!9 -rave'ing thro"gh man& itie! of :"ro)e and ob!erving in them the omfort! and ed" ation of even the )oor )eo)'e, there wa! bro"ght to m& mind the !tate of o"r own )oor )eo)'e and I "!ed to !hed tear!( ,hen made the differen e> ?:d" ation@ wa! the an!wer I got(% 5e !tate! it em)hati a''& that if !o iet& i! to be reformed, ed" ation ha! to rea h ever&one$high and 'ow, be a"!e individ"a'! are the ver& on!tit"ent! of !o iet&( -he !en!e of dignit& ri!e! in man when he be ome! on! io"! of hi! inner !)irit, and that i! the ver& )"r)o!e of ed" ation( 5e !trive! to harmoni+e the traditiona' va'"e! of India with the new va'"e! bro"ght thro"gh the )rogre!! of ! ien e and te hno'og&( It i! in the tran!formation of man thro"gh mora' and !)irit"a' ed" ation that he find! the !o'"tion for a'' !o ia' evi'!( 6o"nding ed" ation on the firm gro"nd of o"r own )hi'o!o)h& and "'t"re, he !how! the be!t of remedie! for toda&%! !o ia' and g'oba' i''ne!!( -hro"gh hi! ! heme of ed" ation, he trie! to materia'i+e the mora' and !)irit"a' we'fare and ")'iftment of h"manit&, irre!)e tive of a!te, reed, nationa'it& or

time( 5owever, Swami Vivekananda%! ! heme of ed" ation, thro"gh whi h he wanted to b"i'd ") a !trong nation that wi'' 'ead the wor'd toward! )ea e and harmon&, i! !ti'' a far r&( It i! high time that we give !erio"! tho"ght to hi! )hi'o!o)h& of ed" ation and remember! hi! a'' to ever&$bod&$#1ri!e, awake, and !to) not ti'' the goa' i! rea hed(%