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TRANSCRIPT
Educational Implication of Gandhian Economics in the
Era of Globalization
At this point the Gandhian economics have been discussed
thoroughly. So in the light of globalization Gandhian economics
enshrines the various educational aspects and has tremendous
implications or you can say if not tremendous then the most
significant ones, For the present times. These are-
1. Education for all
Economic ideas of Gandhi were for an ideal social order, non-
exploitative and egalitarian society. According to him, True
economics stands for social justice and it promotes the good of all
equally. All the above stated characters will be possible only when
all our people will be educated and will know their rights and duties,
they will be able to discriminate between right and wrong, good and
bad, able to take right decisions at the national and individual
progress and development and for attaining an egalitarian society and
ideal social order.
2. Moral Education
According to Gandhi "That economics is untrue which
ignores or disregards moral value" and grinding pauperism an
lead to anything else than moral degradation. Thus moral
education according to Gandhi is a must for the welfare of
humanity as a whole and it should be enveloped in every subject,
then only the knowledge of other subject would be useful. In the
present era of globalization when morality is towards degradation
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special emphasis has to be given for its education and it should
become a part and parcel of the life.
Gandhi has two points to make that one should be concerned
with the good of all rather than just with those of majority and that
one should not be exclusively concerned with material prosperity but
also with the moral aspects of action.
So, for the welfare of all, for the proper and balanced
development of society, moral education is a must and should be a
necessary part of the curriculum. Teachers should be trained for
making the education of morals a part of their subject while teaching
in class.
3. Education for Ethics
Since Gandhi did not draw any sharp distinction between
economics and ethics and for him economics that hurt moral well
being of an individual or a nation are sinful. Thus the economics that
permit one country to prey upon another are immoral.
Thus education for ethics should be given along with every
subject like biology, chemistry, literature social sciences etc. so that
after being employed in various jobs people always remember ethical
standards and work along with ethics in their workplace and
profession and become fruitful for the society thus they would be able
to contribute for the development of an ideal and balanced society.
Ethical aspect of teaching profession is also significant. Teachers
should be taught about the basic concept of ethics and how they can
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be taught to student. How their outlook and perception towards
ethical aspect of every profession is to be developed.
4. Value Education
In the present scenario, value education has become very
significant. In the era of globalization values have changed but it
is required that we preserve the basic human values which are
must for the betterment of humanity and mankind.
Since orthodox economics has been laying under emphasis on
the values of many and material wealth to the exclusion of moral and
human values, But as we are already witnessing the end of the
economic man, and a evolution of economic standards is now a vital
necessity.
Thus value education in present times is relevant and it should be
included in the curriculum of secondary education as well as higher
education and teacher education. Teacher should know how to
inculcate values among students and make their outlook positive.
How to correlate various subjects with embedded values and cultivate
them among students.
5. Professional Education
According to Gandhiji "Mechanization is good where hands are
few for work intended to be accomplished. It is an evil where there
are more hands than required for the work as in case of India the
problem for us is not how to find leisure for the teaming million
inhabiting our village. The problem is how to utilize their idle
hours."
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He wanted work for all and skilled, employable youth should be
produced from our education system. so skill development
programmes and professional courses should be a part and parsal of
present education system. Today we have so many professional
courses but they should be according to our national requirement and
not for only profit generation Education has become an industry
nowadays and profit making is prime motive thus this should be
avoided. National character of education should be maintained along
with professional education so that everyone could get a job and give
his or her best to the country and society.
Other significant points which we can draw from Gandhian
economics and are always relevant for the society are –
Dignity of labour
To Gandhiji, Labour was the law of nature and its violation is
the pinetal cause of our present economic muddle. "It is a tragedy of
the first magnitude that millions have ceased to use their hands as
hands. Nature is revenging herself upon us with terrible effects for
this criminal waste of the gift she was bestowed upon as human
beings."
Thus teachers should teach to their students about the importance
of manual labour and motivate them for doing labour and earn their
bread with honesty.
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Ideal Citizenship
Ideal citizenship is one of the implication of Gandhian
economics where he wants everyone to be equal and have right to
work and get employed and have a contribution in the development
of nation and society. Education of citizenship should be given by
the teachers along with the curriculum through co-curricular
activities and other works included in the course practical and
theoretical. Teachers should be well versed in educating the children
about the role of a good citizen and train them about the duties of a
citizen of a nation.
Social justice
According to Gandhiji, man lives in a society and all economic
activities concern not only the individual in isolation but they create
social relation thus all wealth is socially produced, and socially
produced wealth must be equally divided among all those who are
instrument in producing it.
Teachers should not discriminate among his or her students and
always motivate them regarding the co-operation among themselves
and with parents irrespective of caste, creed and sex. Thus the
concept of social justice should be included in the curriculum directly
or indirectly. Teachers should be trained for the inculcation of
outlook among students regarding the concepts of social justice so
that after becoming the active member of society youth always
remember to work for the attainment of social justice i.e. equal
distribution of wealth and other things among the members of society
and try to lessen the gap between haves and hev-nots.
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Employment for all
Gandhian economics emphasizes for employment for all, work
for every hand. Under his system it is labour which is current coin,
not metal any person who can use his labour has that coin, is
wealthy.
So employment should be generated for everyone and for all so
that every hand get the work according to their ability and skill and
earn their bread by labour so our education system should be such
that every get the job opportunity professional and technical courses
should be added at secondary and higher level. Students should be
counseled for the best choice of subject according to their ability and
motivated for pursuing the courses so that they get the job
opportunity as early as possible and do not waste their time.
Policy makers should keep in their mind that everyone get the
good education and then employment. Labour and time should not get
wasted of anyone. Every passion should be engaged in same form of
productive work.
Human values
It is one of the significant implications of Gandhian economics
Since every subject, every action is for the welfare of humanity so
we should always remember the human values and it must be
embedded in every school subject and teachers should be trained for
the inculcation of those values among students. Various stories of
having human values should be taught to students and in social
subjects that should be brought from history, from various countries
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and from various governments values in science subjects should also
be taught.
In teacher education programme and in service courses teachers
should be trained for such an outlook and approach of viewing each
subject. In the era of globalization human values are deteriorating and
are required significantly. Environmental values are must for the
present world so everything related to human welfare is important
today and all the time so those values required to attain it must be
taught by the parents and the teachers.
Simplicity
Education of simple living and high thinking must be given to
students then only the development of values, preservation of our
cultural heritage and national character will be maintained. Students
should not blow with the western cultural and should always attach
with their mother land and its soil.
Since the present western civilization attaches the greatest
importance to material welfare and maintain that the goal of a
progressive individual or nation should be the ever-increasing
accumulation of physical comforts and luxuries. If we set our minds
after such needs, we would become slaves and lose our moral fiber.
So education is the only weapon which can develop the right outlook,
mindset and approach among students.
Physical Education
Since Gandhiji, gave special emphasis on manual work so that
every class of society could get the job earn their bread. No one
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should be idle or have leisure in this way everyone will have a
contribution for the national economy and have confidence and will
utilize their time properly.
Since health is wealth and a healthy man can only do the
manual labour so physical education should be an important part of
the curriculum it should be practiced sincerely.
Social work
Gandhian economics lays stress on social work since every
policy and subject has been made and developed for the welfare of
humanity. Concept of social work should be taught to students.
Problem of centemporary society should be discussed with them and
their solution should also be taught. Ways to deal with social
problems, emotional empathy for poor and deprived sections should
be taught ethics, values, for an ideal society and how to achieve that
should be taught and discussed.
Socially Useful And Productive Work
As this as a subject is already in the curriculum in many
schools named as S.U.P.W. but not taken seriously. It should be
taught seriously and practiced so that children become skillful
and employable as well as active, logical and analytical. Socially
useful and productive work will also be helpful for the society
and its welfare.
Democratic values
Democratic ideals and values come out from the philosophy of
Gandhian economics. It says for the equal distribution among the
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members of society. That means, there should be an equal say in the
economic development of society. In this way everyone will have
self confidence and self respect. Everyone's potential will be exposed
completely. This system or these values will motivate people for free
thoughts & free expression.
In classroom also teachers should follow democratic ideals and
should be democratic while teaching. While asking question while
evaluating etc. Thus democratic values should be a part and parced of
life.
Decentralization
Gandhian Economics emphasizes for decentralization of
power. Power should be equally distributed at each level and every
citizen should feel that he/she has an equal say in the development of
country. Every unit of society should be self sufficient. Power should
not accumulate in one hand. Power which is equivalent to money
should be equally distributed among members of society. Everyone
should earn according to one's ability and have with them according
to their need and rest given to the society so that every member
should possess a minimum standard of living.
Discipline
Self discipline is emphasized in Gandhian economic. Everyone
should think for the welfare of others and give their earnings for the
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same without any external imposition Discipline in life should be
self imposed and in the right direction children should be taught and
motivated for Self-Discipline and it should be cultivated in their
thoughts and action.
Peace Education
In this era of globalization, where many negative forces are
operating for the destruction of society at this time peace education
is very much necessary not as a separate subject but inculcating the
various affects of peace education in other subjects at school level is
necessary and teachers must be trained for giving these concepts
along with core subjects. At higher level it should be included as a
subject of social relevance.
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Some experts and Gandhian activists were contacted and
were asked a few question related to the research. Here are their
views
R.P. Diwedi
HOD, Gandhian Center
MGKVP, Varanasi
Q. What is the basic concept of Gandhian Economics?
A. Gandhian Economics paves ways for the establishment of a non-
exploitative economy where everyone gets his/her share in return
of their contribution. He gave importance to production by masses
not the mass production and also to manual labour.
Q. Is Gandhian economics relevant for the present world?
A. Of course it is relevant for the global as well as post global society.
Q. How it can be implemented?
A. It could be implemented through the state intervention and by
self- motivation. Since the second path is long enough to achieve
the first is primarily considered important.
Q. How it can be implemented by means of Education?
A. By the formation of a new educational policy frame work giving
importance to various ideals and principles of Gandhian
economics.
Q. Is there any possibility to make a balance between the process
of globalization and ideals of Gandhian economics?
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A. Yes, here the role of state is important, that How much, it will
open its, down for foreign companies, their education, technology
etc, and how to curb its ill effects on our youth and children.
J.S. Rajput
Former Chairman
NCERT
Q. What is the basic concept of Gandhian Economics?
A. It aimed at the welfare of all, upliftment of have nots were the aim
of his economy. Personally he achieved the degree of Bar at law
from London but he plunged into the vast spread of poverty,
malnutrition, illiteracy all over the world. He was of the strong
will that without having ones basic needs, he can't think of his
education and welfare. That is why, Gandhian economics is
essential to study. The Gandhian economics which provides do to
eradicate, poverty and illiteracy which aims at creating a
developed society and state.
Q. Is Gandhian economics relevant for the present world?
A. Technical knowhow and advancement of knowledge has given the
society a high speed of development. The mechanized production,
industrialization and irrational urbanization and modernization
have caused a wider gap between the have and have nots. The
peripheral countries are even now facing the basic challenges of
life like food grain, cleanliness, medical health and education.
These can only be solved on the application of Gandhian
economic fore have nots which provide work in their hands.
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Q. How it can be implemented?
A. It could be implemented by the state intervention only. State is the
means which can enforce the people by making policies
accordingly that not to accumulate wealth and making minimum
level up to which one can accumulate.
Q. How it can be implemented by means of Education?
A. In the long run, Gandhian principles could be implemented by
means of education though self motivation, self control, discipline
from inside and preservation of moral, ethical principles through
generation to generation.
Q. Is there any possibility to make a balance between the process
of globalization and ideals of Gandhian economics?
A. Being optimist is the only way to get out of the whirlpool of
problems facing the world today. There is always a possibility to
bring a utopian character of the society.
Balamurali Balaji
Activist
Q. What is the basic concept of Gandhian Economics?
A. Gandhi envisioned a sustainable economic structure for free India.
Accordingly he set certain goals like.
a) End of exploitation
b) Economic equality
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c) A world order free from war
In order to meet these goals he set certain principles which
formed the fundamental aspects of his economics structure they –
a) Cooperation and sharing.
b) Universal participation in physical labour.
c) Voluntary limitation of wants.
d) Decentralization of economic activities.
e) Swadeshi.
f) Transformation of private ownership of mean of production
into trusteeship.
g) New technologies in consonance with the new goal.
Q. Is Gandhian economics relevant for the present world?
A. Gandhian economics hold good and followed even today and is
highly relevant in these days of Globalization except that modern
economy has paved ways for.
a) Accomodating Videshi power in Indian soil.
b) Diversifying economic activities beyond the boundaries
of the nation (MNCs) instead of Decentralizing.
c) Excess reliance on foreign good (oil, technology,
Intellect, strategies etc.)
d) Prioritizing money than Production and service
Q. How it can be implemented?
A. Not to blame globalization for all problems or the term itself
means competing with global powers at any cost, through any mean,
to attain equal economic status globally.
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India opted for this race decades ago and today we see the
results. In order to see a change in the current trend, we must
follow the principle, limitation for wants.
Q. How it can be implemented by means of Education?
A . a) By changing the curricular framework and syllabi at various
levels.
b) By strengthening the teacher education course.
c) Not only in theory but applying Gandhian principle in practice.
Q. Is there any possibility to make a balance between the process
of globalization and ideals of Gandhian economics?
A. Globalization is not unfair in itself but the way it has been
managed by developed countries is the problem. A balance
approach is required for making proper use of globalization in our
country along with the preservation of Gandhian ideals and
principles.
A. Annamalai
Director of Gandhian study center
Chennai
Q. What is the basic concept of Gandhian Economics?
A. Gandhian economics paves the way for sustainable economic
development by promoting environment friendly key industries,
developing village republics, giving importance to physical labour,
employment to every hand and ultimately the welfare of all.
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Q. Is Gandhian economics relevant for the present world?
A. Yes, Gandhian economics is the best policy to develop India in a
sustainable manner for eg, we celebrate allopathy and call our
native medicine as alternative medicine, the same thing has
happened with our economy, now, instead of strengthening our
foothold in agriculture as Gandhi asked us, me invited MNCs to
invest in every field in India.
A foreign firm sets up a company only to earn more or use the
cheap labour available here. If his profits plummed, he simply
shuts up without bothering about the worker, and consumer. So we
have to understand that foreign investment happenes because
MNCs want to flourish and are not bothered about the welfare of
Indians. As far as possible we should have decentralized
production and distribution of all goods.
Q. How it can be implemented?
A. By investing and improving agriculture. Most people relate
Gandhian economics with bullock cart economy and think it
suitable only for villages. Gandhi also preached distribution of
wealth. If you think a car is an essential need, it should be made
available for the last citizen of this country. Ours an agro based
country, unless we invest and improve agriculture, we won't be
able to see growth and empowerment to the common man.
Privatization and Globalization are not the road maps for super
power India. Why should be depend on MNCs to eat potato chips
and gulp soft drinks? Can't we produce and sell than locally?
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Localization and Swadeshi consumerism should be encouraged to
free us from MNCs and fight economic slowdown.
Q. How it can be implemented by means of Education?
A. Government should invest more in education sector especially
teacher training programme and recruiting Talented people in
teaching profession.
Q. Is there any possibility to make a balance between the process
of globalization and ideals of Gandhian economics?
A. Yes, if we follow the Gandhian Globalization where he wanted the
co- existence of different cultures and flourshing each.
Giriraj Kishore
Literaturer
Q. What is the basic concept of Gandhian Economics?
A. Since Gandhi himself lived the life of a common man. He was
always concerned with the problems of a common man raised his
voice for that very cause and in persuasion he brought the
economic principles on which the policies, education should be
laid down. He talked of social justices, equality, non- exploitation,
trusteeship, simple life and lastly Sarvodaya.
Q. Is Gandhian economics relevant for the present world?
A. Yes, without any second thought it is urgently required of India.
They are Universal thought and since related to humanity, ethics,
value, our indigenous culture so are always relevant.
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Q. How it can be implemented by means of Education?
A. It can be implemented by state enforcement to some extent and by
the realization of self Realization of self is a long process but
sustainable and it requires role models in society in disguise of
parents, teachers, leaders, social workers etc.
Q. How it can be implemented by means of Education?
A. Realization of self as I said earlier is dependent on role of teachers
in society. they are responsible for a great cause and can effect
generation.
Q. Is there any possibility to make a balance between the process
of globalization and ideals of Gandhian economics?
A. Globalization is good, when it works in favour of us and it all
depends on our own decision and policies that up to which extent
we are going to use the benefits of Globalization.
So what, how and when to use the various processes of
Globalization gives a way to make a balance between
Globalization and Gandhian economics.
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