From Upanishads to Universities: Tracing the Influence of the Indian Knowledge System on Educational Management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrjiks.2026.v3.n1.022Keywords:
Indian Knowledge System, NEP 2020, Educational Management, Holistic Education, Guru-Shishya, Curriculum IntegrationAbstract
The Indian Knowledge System (IKS) represents one of the world’s oldest traditions of holistic, value-based learning. From Vedic Gurukulas to Nalanda, and from Upanishadic philosophy to NEP 2020, IKS has consistently emphasized the harmony of Atma, Samaj, and Prakriti. This paper traces the historical, philosophical, and institutional foundations of IKS and examines its contemporary relevance for educational management in India. Through comparative analysis with Western models and case studies from IGNOU, IITs, BHU, KREA, and Visva-Bharati, the study identifies practical pathways for integrating IKS into curriculum, pedagogy, leadership, and governance. It also maps key barriers — epistemological divide, curriculum rigidity, faculty gaps — and proposes gateways aligned with NEP 2020. The paper argues that harmonizing ancient wisdom with modern pedagogy is essential to address 21st-century crises of mental health, ethics, and sustainability. The goal is to build universities that are centres of employment as well as centres of meaning, producing graduates who are professionally competent, ethically grounded, and culturally rooted.
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