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Home > Books > Education at the Intersection of Globalization and Technology

Indian Education: Ancient, Medieval and Modern

Submitted: 03 July 2020 Reviewed: 17 July 2020 Published: 27 October 2020

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.93420

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Education at the Intersection of Globalization and Technology

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Education is a platform in which young generations are trained and make them future-ready. Education provides knowledge and skills which help the person to be employable. The Indian education system is very popular and diversified among other countries’ education systems due to its change in the evolution from ancient to the modern education system. During the ancient and medieval periods of education, students were trained by teachers in such a manner that they can survive and live in that era. After independence, there is a tremendous growth in the Indian education system providing teaching and training in all aspects, but it does not satisfy the global demands of the market. This chapter focuses on teaching methodology, curriculum, characteristics, methods of learning, aims of the Indian education system during the ancient and medieval period and how it differed in today’s modern education and what are the things that our today’s modern education need to learn and implement from ancient and medieval education. The mentioned points are used to differentiate ancient, medieval, and modern education with advantages and disadvantages. Through this chapter, students, teachers will get to know the difference in the education system and what else to be adapted in the future to overcome all the problems.

Author Information

Mangesh m. ghonge *.

• Department of Computer Engineering, Sandip Institute of Technology and Research Centre, Nashik, Maharashtra, India

Aniket Singh

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

Technological improvement has boosted the economic growth in India. Science and technology have an important role in the economic development of India. Compared to other developed countries, India has more youth manpower. Proper education will play a significant role in making youth future-ready and increasing economic growth by providing skilled persons which will also boost industrial development. In the modern era of education, every institution or university is adapting new teaching methods using their teaching methodologies. Indian education is the biggest and well-known education systems in the world. During ancient education, there were 5 big well-known universities like Takshashila, Nalanda, Vallabhi, etc., which focus on the all-round development of students and those in the medieval period there exists 2 institutions madrasah and maqtabs which mostly focus on building student religious and leaders of the future. In modern education, there are well known autonomous institutes like IITs and IIMs which are famous all around the world.

During ancient education, students live away from their parents, their education comprises of subjects like physical education, mental education, politics, economics, etc. They were shaped in a way that they can live in any condition considering how difficult the situation will be? Medieval education also followed the same protocol as ancient education in spite that their education mostly focuses on religion. In today’s modern era of big institutes like the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), everything is changed like the living standard of students, curriculum, all-round development. The principle objective of the student has been to just achieve its goal and be successful. Only the big institutes like IITs, IIMs, and some other private and aided universities have adopted modern methods of learning. There is a difference in curriculum, teaching methods, and living standards of students in every institute. The syllabus of the current education system is not industry-oriented and also not according to new upcoming trends. The main objective of education is mostly theoretical and not practically implemented [ 1 ].

The main purpose of this paper is to convey what all the things need to adopt in our current education system from ancient and medieval times and also some new trends associated with it. The paper is mainly categorized into three sections Ancient, Medieval and Modern education system, including sub-sections such as curriculum, method of learning, the aim of education, characteristics of education, educational institutes, higher educational institutes, advantages, and disadvantages of the particular education system.

2. Ancient education

During the ancient period, two systems of education were developed, Vedic, and Buddhist. The medium of language during the Vedic system was Sanskrit, while those in the Buddhist system were pali. During those times the education was of Vedas, Brahmanas, Upnishads, and Dharmasutras. From the Rigveda onwards, our ancient education started with the objective of developing the students not only in the outer body but also on the inner body. The ancient education focused on imparting ethics like humility, truthfulness, discipline, self-reliance, and respecting all creations to the students. The education was mostly imparted in ashrams, gurukuls, temples, houses. Sometimes pujaris of the temples used to teach students. The education system of ancient India has some special features and uniqueness which was not found in any other ancient education system of the other countries. The education was mostly given in forests under the blue sky, which keeps the student’s mind fresh and alive. During ancient times people used to live a simple life and doing their work with devotion and hard work [ 2 ].

2.1 Aim of education

The main objective of education was to equip the students with a good quality of education. The education mostly focused on the enrichment of culture, character, and personality, development, and cultivation of noble ideals. The objective was gaining the mental, physical, and intellectual personality of students, to make the students future-ready and survive in any situation [ 3 ].

2.2 Characteristics of education

During the ancient period, the state government and the people did not interfere in designing curriculum, payments of fees, regulation of teaching hours. There was a strong bonding between teacher and student. Every student was allotted with one teacher and more emphasis was given to the student-teacher relationship, each student used to meet teachers personally to learn and gain instructions from them. During ancient times, royal families, as well as kings of states, used to donate their wealth to improve the education system and quality. The syllabus was designed in accordance with the demands of that era. At that time students used to leave their houses and went to live with their gurus until their education was completed. During the early Vedic period, women’s education was also given more emphasis. The education focuses on the physical and mental development of students. The course duration was about 10–12 years, as there were no books so students used to memorize all things, memory played a crucial role during learning. The education was imparted in forests away from cities and peoples to give students a pleasant and silent environment of study.

2.3 Curriculum

Curriculum plays an essential role in the education system. It was dynamic and not static; it was made up of different stages. The fundamental goal of building a good curriculum was to develop students physically and mentally. The curriculum consists of four Vedas, six vedangas, Upnishads, darshanas, Puranas, Tarka Shastra. The six vedangas were Shiksha, Chhandas, Vyakarana, Nirukta, Jyotisha, and Kalpawhile the darshanas were Nyaya, Baiseshika, Yoga, Vedanta, Sankhya, Mimasa. Algebra, Geometry, and grammar were also given more importance at that time. Panini was famous in the domain of grammar at that time. The curriculum of the Buddhist system consists of pitakas, Abhidharma, and sutras. Besides this medicine, Vedas were also given importance. Hindu learning was a part of Buddhist learning, although more emphasis was given to Buddhist learning. Both the systems were going hand in hand at that time. The education was totally through orals and debates, and the exams were conducted every year. The education system of the ancient period focused on subjects like warfare, military, politics, religion.

2.4 Methods of learning

At that time books were not there, so students had the habit to learn and memorize all the things taught in the class, and teachers also helped them in memorizing.

The students used to deep dive into the concepts taught by their teachers and explore new methods to learn it.

Listening, Contemplation, and concentrated contemplation were some new methods of exploring the way of learning.

The teachers used the storytelling methods to teach the students.

Students used to ask questions about the topics taught by the teachers and these topics were discussed and then answered to the students.

The education of that time mainly focused on practical knowledge of the topics taught in the class.

The students got plenty of knowledge through seminars and debates conducted at frequent intervals.

2.5 Educational institutions

Gurukul was the hometown of teachers where students come after completing their initiation ceremony and learn until the completion of their study. The parishads or academies were the places of higher learning and education where students learn through discussions and debates. Goshti or conferences were the places where the kings of the states used to invite scholars from every institute to meet and exchange their views. Ashramas or hermitages were the other learning centers where students from various parts of the country used to come and learn from saints and sages. Vidyapeeth was the place of spiritual learning founded by great Acharya, Sri Shankara in places like Sringeri, Kanchi, Dwarka, and Puri, etc. Agraharas was an institution of Brahmins in villages where they used to teach. Viharas were the educational institutions founded by Buddhists where the students were taught the subjects related to Buddhism and philosophy.

2.6 Higher educational institutions

Takshashila or Taxila: Takshashila was the famous center of learning, including religion and teaching of Buddhism in ancient times. It was famous for his higher education learning comprising of subjects like ancient scriptures, law, medicine, sociology, astronomy, military science, and 18 silpas, etc. The well-known scholars from the university were great grammarian Panini, he was an expert in his subject of grammar and published his work on Ashtadhyayi, Chanakya who is skilled in statecraft both studied here. Students from Kashi, Kosala, Magadha, and also from different countries flocked into the university despite a long and arduous journey. Takshashila was an ancient Indian city currently situated in north-western Pakistan was the well-known center of learning and has been declared as an archeological site and world heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1980.

Nalanda: When Xuan Zang came to Nalanda it was called Nala, which was the center of learning in many subjects. The students used to come here from different parts of the country and the world to study here. Different subjects were taught, including the Vedas, fine arts, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy. Xuan Zang itself became the student of Yogashastra. Nalanda which is currently situated in Rajgir, Bihar, India was also declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The other famous institutes around ancient times were Vallabhi, Vikramshila, Ujjain, and Benaras.

2.7 Advantages

The system focuses on the all-round development of students.

More emphasis was given to practical knowledge rather than theoretical knowledge.

The students were not just involved in bringing the ranks, but their main focus was on knowledge.

Classrooms were built-in forests which provide a pleasant study environment to the students.

There was no pressure laid on students related to studies so that they can learn effectively.

The government did not interfere with the formation of curriculum, kings at that time helped in the development of education.

2.8 Disadvantages

Women were not admitted to the Gurukuls.

There was caste discrimination as only Kshatriya was allowed, Eklavya was not given admission to the Gurukul.

3. Medieval education

During the eighth century Anno Domini (A.D) a huge number of Mohammadian invaded India. Mahmud Ghaznavi captured India and set up a large number of schools and libraries in the country by the looted wealth. Later Muslim leaders established their permanent empire in India, they brought a new system of education. The ancient education system was drastically changed. The Arabs and the Turks bought some new cultures, traditions, and institutions in India, in that the most remarkable change was the Islamic pattern of education which was different from the Buddhist and Brahmanic education system. The medieval age, education system primarily focused on the Islamic and Mughal System.

3.1 Aim of education

The main objective of education during the medieval period was the spread of knowledge and the propagation of Islam. The objective behind this era of education was to spread Islamic education its principles, and social conventions. The purpose of the education system was to make people religious minded [ 4 ].

3.2 Characteristics of education

The rulers helped in the spread and development of education. They helped in the establishment of different educational institutes and funded it, big landlords also gave them some wealth in the development of institutes. There was no control of rulers over the educational institutes and also to their management. The student-teacher relation was also good like the Buddhist and Brahmanic period, although students did not live with their teachers at that time. Teachers took interest in learning, at that time teachers were used to teaching students individually.

3.3 Curriculum

During that time books were not there, therefore the students were used to write on taktis. The stress was laid on teaching the student from the beginning that is teaching them first alphabets and then words. Calligraphy and grammar were the most important subjects taught during those days. Students also learned “paharas”(multiple of numbers), and also they memorized it while learning. Arabic and Persian were the main languages of communication and these languages were important for the students who wanted to get higher posts. The recitation of the Quran was made compulsory, the students used to learn the Quran by heart as this was an important part of their curriculum. The students at their early ages were taught to recite the first 13 chapters of the Quran as a poem. Ibn Sina, an Islamic Persian scholar, and a teacher write that students during the age of 14 should be given the choice of selecting their favorite subjects for masters, for example, reading, manual skills, literature, medicine, geometry, trade, and commerce. There were two types of education during medieval times like secular and religious education. Religious education consists study of the Quran, Mohammad, and his invasions Islamic laws and Islamic history. The secular education consists of the study of Arabic literature, grammar, history, philosophy, mathematics, geography, politics, economics, Greek language, and agriculture.

3.4 Methods of learning

Orals, discussions, and recitations of the lesson taught were the main methods of learning at that age.

Emperor Akbar encouraged the students to focus more on reading and writing and to reform the scripts. He wanted the education system to be systematic and advised teachers to first teach students about the knowledge of alphabets, then words-knowledge, and then sentence formation.

More emphasis was given on practical education.

There was no half-yearly or annual examination fixed for students, but the students were evaluated based on practical situations of life.

3.5 Educational institutions

Maktabs:-Maktabs were the center of the primary education for the children of general people. Along with religious education, students were also taught subjects like reading, writing, and arithmetic. They were also taught some romantic literature of Persian example, Laila-Majnu, Yusuf-Julekha, etc. Along with practical education, letter writing applications, and accountancy were also taught in Maktabs.

Madrasas:- After completing the primary education in Maktabs, the students were sent to the Madarsas for higher education. Madarsas were the centers of higher learning and Emperor Akbar did remarkable development in the education of the medieval era. Along with religious and practical education, Akbar stopped the tradition of the Islamic religion and instructed to teach Hinduism and philosophy in many Madrasas. The subjects such as medicine, history, geography, economics, political science, astrology, philosophy, and mathematics were taught in Madarsas. Akbar made subjects like Vedanta, Jurisprudence, and Patanjali compulsory for Sanskrit students.

3.6 Important educational centers

Delhi: Nasiruddin established Madarsa -i-Nasiria under the reign of the Shiraz Allauddin Khilji and established many Madarsas with renowned teachers in them. Mughal emperor Humayun established many big institutions of astronomy and geography in Delhi. He also introduced institutions where subjects like Arabic, Persian, Grammar, Philosophy, and Astronomy was taught.

Agra: Sikandar Lodi established many Madarsas and Maktabs in Agra and attracted many students from other countries to come and study. Akbar made Agra the center of culture, fine arts, and crafts.

Jaunpur: Sher Shah Suri completed his education in one of the educational institutes of Jaunpur city. The main subjects of teaching were political science, warfare, history, and philosophy, Ibrahim Sharki set up many Madarsas in Jaunpur.

Bidar: Mohammad Gawan had established many Madarsas and Maktabs in this city and it became the famous center of learning. The city consists of a library that contains 3000 books on subjects like Islamic theology, culture, philosophy, medical science, astronomy, history, and agriculture.

3.7 Advantages

Practical education was given more importance, students and teacher’s relations were good. Students were taught from the basics and rulers also supported the development of education.

3.8 Disadvantages

Religious and Islamic education was given more importance.

The student aimed to focus on leadership for ruling the country.

4. Modern education

In the middle of the medieval age, the British invaded India and started to capture it. The modern education was introduced during the British empire. In the 1830s Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay introduced the English language. The subjects and the syllabus were limited to some extent, the main aim of modern education of the British was to spread Christianity. As time passed education started to develop and entered into the modern era that is in the twenty-first century, the era of science, technology, and innovations. And the demand and the need for education stills remain the same as it was in ancient and medieval times. In the modern era of science and technology, the industrial sector is increasing day by day. As demand increases our education sector also needs to change and adapt to that environment [ 5 , 6 ].

4.1 Aim of education

The objective of modern education was to inculcate values in students such as equality, secularism, education for all, and environmental protection, etc. To understand the culture as well as people of our country, every student must be provided at least a minimum level of education and also to provide education to the people who cannot afford it, to prepare the students with the ever-increasing demands.

4.2 Characteristics of education

The student-teacher relations remained the same as it was in ancient and medieval, but students did not live in the teacher’s house. As technology is increasing day by day, the education sector is also following the trend of technology by teaching the students through online lectures and Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). In Aviation and the medical sector, more emphasis is on practical knowledge as compared to other sectors. Women’s education is giving more importance, and the Government has launched many programs to encourage women’s education. In the modern era electronics gadgets like projectors, Light Emitting Diode (LED), and computers are used to teach the students. The Government has established many programs and there are many organizations that promote education in India.

4.3 Curriculum

In modern education along with studies, the emphasis is given on extracurricular activities and sports for all-round development of students.

4.4 Methods of learning

Students mostly learn concepts through online platforms like YouTube, Coursera, and Udemy.

Students refer to the notes given by the teacher’s side by side while learning online.

During class hours doubts are solved through discussions, debates, etc.

Pupils were assessed based on mid-sem written exams and practical exams to check their practical knowledge.

4.5 Educational institutions

Schools: Schools are the educational institutes where children are sent for their primary education. There are many private and government schools situated in India, primary education means education from Nursery to 10th standard. Children at their early ages are sent to schools to learn poems, grammar, prayers, alphabets, etc. besides this, the other subjects taught in the schools are English, mathematics, science, history, geography, and other regional languages. Schools are situated inside the city, also there are many cultural programs and sports events conducted in schools for the students to develop their interpersonal and physical skills. Private schools are run by organizations and the principal manages the academics and cultural activities in schools.

Colleges: After completing primary education from schools, students are sent to colleges for secondary education. After primary education, students are required to give entrance exams to take entry into colleges and according to the marks scored in entrance exams students are allotted colleges. In some states, during college, they are advised to choose a stream from science and commerce and then further carry on their secondary education. College education consists of 11th and 12th standard. Different subjects taught in secondary education according to their streams are physics, chemistry, geometry, algebra, accounts, and many other regional languages.

University : After the secondary education, students are required to give the entrance exams like Joint Engineering Entrance (JEE) and other state-level exams to take admissions in universities. Students are given choices to choose a stream like a computer, electronics, civil, and Mechanical and then start their career in it. The University provides undergraduate and postgraduate course comprising of course duration of 4 and 3 years, different universities in India are Savitribai Phule Pune University, Mumbai University, and many other aided non-aided and private universities. There are many cultural and sports events conducted in universities for giving students some time to joy and relax from studies.

4.6 Higher educational institutions

Indian Institute of Technology: It is one of the greatest universities in India for higher education like undergraduate, postgraduation, and many more streams. There is a total of 23 IIT colleges in India, every year lakhs of students compete to take admissions in these IIT’s. JEE-Mains and JEE-Advance are the two entrance examinations to take admission in these IIT’s, according to the All India Rank (AIR) and marks students are allotted IIT’s. Due to its high level of educational teaching and curriculum, IIT is famous all around the world.

The other top universities are Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), National Institute of Technology (NIT), Indian Institute of Science (IISC).

4.7 Advantages

Use of technology in learning, students is learning free-lancing and many other new technologies.

Many programs and missions have started to increase the employment of India.

Top class universities and colleges with good infrastructure and environment.

4.8 Disadvantages

Interference of government in education, management, and syllabus.

Lack of quality teaching as well as the environment in government schools and colleges.

Increase in fees of schools and colleges of private institutes.

Lack of practical knowledge orientation.

Due to the increase in fees, the family, which is below the poverty line cannot afford education and hence there is an increase in the number of laborers in India.

Lack of connectivity of the students who lived in rural areas.

5. Conclusion

In the modern era, industries and technology are increasing day by day. Every industry sector is looking for a person who best suits their industry. With the ever-increasing demand for industrial sectors, our current education system also needs to be upgraded. In universities, students are learning just for competing with each other to come first, no practical knowledge is gained. There is a lot of pressure and burden of work and studies on them, due to this student are committing suicide. Our education system needs to learn from ancient and medieval education system regarding the implementation of practical knowledge, student-teacher relations, ways of life student lived in that age, the contribution of kings towards the education, there was no stress laid on students and much more. The future of industries and commercial sectors will be very tough and ever demanding, so our government has to provide such an education system which will bring all-round development in students and make them future-ready and also teach them to live in any critical situation.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no ‘conflict of interest’.

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• 6. Available from: http://digitaltk.com/indian-education-system-advantages-disadvantages/

© 2020 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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• What Did The Ancient Indian...

What Did the Ancient Indian Education System Look Like?

Like the culture and traditions of India, the system of education also has a rich history of its own. Majorly influenced by the Hindu religion, the knowledge acquired by people of ancient times was passed on from one generation to another and is reflected even in the teachings of today. Here’s a brief take on what the system of education was like during the early days of the Indian civilization.

In the olden days, there was no formal education in India . A father passed on knowledge, primarily related to his occupation, to his child. Much later, two systems of education emerged – Vedic and Buddhist. The Vedic system revolved around the Vedas , Vedangas and Upanishads, while the Buddhist system preached the thoughts of the major Buddhist schools. The language of education was Sanskrit for the Vedic system and Pali for the Buddhist system.

What was unique about ancient Indian education?

Education in ancient India was quite different from the rest of the world back then. The society and state couldn’t interfere with the curriculum or the administration. To get an education, a child had to leave home and live with a teacher in a gurukul for the entire duration of his studies. No fee was charged for education; in fact, the teacher took care of everything, including food, clothing and housing. According to this system, physical labor was of utmost importance. So, even if a child was interested in acquiring philosophical knowledge, he would still have to do some manual work every day. Debates and discussions were a part of education, even in ancient days.

When could a child start acquiring education?

In the Vedic system, a child started his education at the age of five. To mark this commencement, the Vidyarambha ceremony, which included worshiping Goddess Saraswati and learning alphabets for the first time, was conducted. Leaving home and starting to live with ateacher required the child to conduct another ceremony called Upanayana . Boys practiced this ceremony at different ages according to their castes (only children of the Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya did so).

In the Buddhist system, a child started his education at the age of eight, with a ceremony called Pabbajja or Prabrajya . Unlike the Vedic system, this initiation ceremony could be practiced by boys of all castes. After this, the child would leave home and go to live in a monastery under the guidance of his teacher (a monk).

The education of women

Education for women was quite important in ancient India. They were trained in housekeeping, as well as in dancing and music . Girls also had to conduct the Upanayana ceremony. Educated women were divided into two classes – Sadyodwahas , those who pursued their education just until they got married, and Brahmavadinis , those who never married and continued studying throughout their lives. Vedas and Vedangas were taught to women, too, but were limited to religious songs and poems necessary for rituals. Some notable Vedic and Upanishad women scholars were Apala, Indrani, Ghosha, Lopamudra, Gargi and Maitreyi.

What were the subjects of study?

Both Vedic and Buddhist systems of education had different subjects of study. The Vedic system comprised of the four Vedas ( Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda ), six Vedangas (ritualistic knowledge, metrics, exegetics, grammar, phonetics and astronomy), the Upanishads , Tarka Shastra (logic and reasoning), P uranas (history), and more. The main subjects in the Buddhist system were the three Pitakas (V inaya , A bhidhamma and S utta ), the most recognized works of all 18 Buddhism schools. Certain other subjects common to both the systems were arithmetic, military science, law, performing arts, ethics, and art and architecture.

The period of learning and vocational education

Mastering one Veda took 12 years. Thus, depending on how many subjects the student wanted to learn, the study period varied accordingly. The education could go on for as long as 48 years.

In order to earn a livelihood, men needed to know an art form. As per the ancient Indian education system, there were about 64 art forms, including dance, music, jewel making, sculpture, agriculture, and medical sciences. To acquire vocational training in a particular art form, men were required to work as trainees under a master to gain expertise. They were taught without any cost, and food and boarding were also taken care of by the master.

Methods of teaching

Though teaching in groups was common back then, students were also taught individually by their teachers based on their capabilities and aptitudes. Oral recitation was the basic medium of imparting knowledge and was practiced through various methods like introspection (listening, contemplation and concentrated contemplation), storytelling, memorization, critical analysis, practical study and seminars.

Ancient educational institutions

Just as we have world renowned universities today, there were popular educational institutions here during the ancient times as well. Four of these institutions were quite prominent and known for different specializations. The University of Nalanda was famous for its Catholic and cosmopolitan character and its department of logic. Takshasila University, in an area what is now modern-day Pakistan, was well-known across the world for its medical school and was the chief learning centre in 6th century BC. What Nalanda University was to east India, Vallabhi was to west India. It was also a famous study center that specialized in subjects like law, medicine and economics, and had students attending from all parts of the country. Vikramshila was yet another esteemed institution, best known for Tantric Buddhism.

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• CBSE Notes For Class 8
• Class 8 English Notes and Summary
• Supplementary Chapter 11 Ancient Education System of India

Ancient Education System of India Summary & Notes - CBSE Class 8 English It So Happened

Summary of ancient education system of india.

Chapter 11 of the Class 8 English Supplementary Reader – It So Happened, consists of a prose – Ancient Education System of India, which explains how the education system in India has evolved since ancient times. Students can read the prose summary of CBSE Class 8 English Prose Notes – Ancient Education System of India in CBSE English Notes Class 8 format here. We hope this summary will assist them to get a detailed understanding of the chapter and prep up for their exams properly.

Students can also improve their writing section for the English exam by practising essays on various topics.

CBSE Class 8 English Ancient Education System of India Summary

The Ancient Education System of India explains the evolution of the education system in India from time immemorial. It discusses the source of different kinds of information and the evidence that education has been prevalent in the nation since ancient times in the form of stone inscriptions, palm leaf records and metal engravings. This lesson also demonstrates the existence of ancient educational institutions and the rich cultural heritage of India. The ancient education system of India was primarily focused on the holistic development of a student and skills enhancement.

Ancient Education System of India – Part 1 Summary

Several travellers from different parts of the world having diverse cultures and climates visited India. They came here to explore the rich Indian culture, religions, philosophies, art and beauty, etc. along with the educational practices prevalent in the country. The salient features of the ancient education system in India focused on the holistic development of both the inner and outer self of an individual. It emphasised on imparting rich human values such as honesty, self-discipline and reliance, humility among others.

The education system was primarily focused on the overall development of the student in terms of physical, mental, intellectual and moral aspects. The learning was particularly based on the tenets of the Vedas and Upanishads that teach students about performing their duties towards self, family and the society as a whole. The evolution of the ancient education system was derived from the Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmanas and Dharmasutras.

Some other sources of learning were the writings and the medical treatises and teachings of Sushruta and Charaka. There were several branches or disciplines such as Shastras, Kavyas, Itihas, Anviksiki, Mimamsa, Shilpashastra, Arthashatra, Varta and Dhanurvidya among others from which students were imparted learning. Besides, physical education was also considered an important co-curricular activity in the form of Krida or recreational games, Vyayamaprakara, Dhanurvidya and Yoga Sadhana These were some of the other disciplines that were taught with dedication and integrity.

Various kinds of debates among learners were also organised for assessment of their learning. Besides, students were made to live a disciplined life so that they could realise their own potential. Peer learning and teachings in groups were an integral part of education that promoted better learning among students. Different educational institutions imparted education formally or informally.

In India, the school has been considered a temple of knowledge. Gurukuls were the residential schools in and around the surroundings and the pathshalas, temples and schools were the premier institutes of knowledge. Students who wished to pursue higher education could go to universities. In ancient times, there were also women Vedic scholars. In addition to providing education through scripts, the focus was also laid on personality development and skill-based learning.

Ancient Education System of India – Part 2 Summary

From ancient times, several monasteries and viharas were set up for monks and nuns for meditation, debate and discussion purposes. For higher education, universities were set up for students coming from different countries. Kings and people of the society promoted education through Jataka tales given by Xuan Zang and I-Qing (Chinese scholars). Some of the notable universities that developed during that period were situated at Nalanda, Takshashila, Valabhi, Odantapuri, Vikramshila and Jagaddala. These universities catered to the needs of advanced level students who would develop knowledge through mutual discussions and debates with well-known scholars. The kings would also summon scholars of several universities and they would meet, debate and exchange their views.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared these universities as heritage sites that are considered the best centres of learning in the world. Takshashila was a noted religious Buddhist centre of learning that attracted students from several countries. This famous place of learning would impart knowledge through the study of ancient scriptures, medicine, law, military science, astronomy, arts, etc. as a part of its curriculum. Legendary academicians such as Panini, Jivaka and Chanakya have studied there.

The teacher also played a crucial role right from selecting students to framing the curriculum. When the teacher was satisfied that the students had developed a good understanding, the course would conclude henceforth. They encouraged oral learning among students. Nalanda was one of the most renowned institutes of higher education. The Chinese scholars such as I-Qing and Xuan Zang visited Nalanda in the seventh century CE and gave realistic accounts of the place of learning. Besides, the syllabus was diverse as it included studying from the Vedas and students were also trained in fine arts, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, the art of warfare and politics.

The role of community was also significant in promoting education as financial support was given to educational institutions by rich merchants, well-to-do parents and society. Free education was imparted in ancient universities such as Valabhi, Vikramshila and Jagaddala. In South India, agraharas served as centres of learning. South Indian kingdoms also had cultural institutions which were known as Ghatika and Brahmapuri.

Therefore, the ancient education system continued in ashrams, temples and indigenous schools. During the medieval period, maktabas and madrassas also served as educational institutions. Thus, the ancient Indian education system focused on the holistic development of the students, comprising both inner and outer self that would prepare them for life. Our present education system has a lot to learn and derive from the ancient education system. Educationists play a key role in recognising the importance of multilingual and multicultural education, thereby bridging the gap between traditional and contemporary methods of learning.

Conclusion of Ancient Education System of India

The chapter – Ancient Education System of India teaches students that the ancient education system played a vital role in developing the holistic development of students and how it has evolved over the years. Here, we present the CBSE Class 8 English It So Happened Prose Summary of Ancient Education System of India that must have helped 8th standard students to have an in-depth understanding of the chapter.

Additionally, they can visit the BYJU’S website to view resources such as CBSE Notes and CBSE study materials . They can also download BYJU’S: The Learning App and check out CBSE sample papers and previous years’ question papers.

Frequently asked Questions on CBSE Class 8 English: Ancient Education System Of India

Name some of the ancient universities in india..

Some of the notable universities of ancient India were Nalanda, Takshashila, Valabhi, Odantapuri, Vikramshila and Jagaddala.

What is UNESCO?

UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Who was Chanakya?

Chanakya was also known as Kautilya. He was an Indian statesman and philosopher, chief advisor and Prime Minister of the Indian Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.

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Difference between Ancient and Modern Education System in India

Back to: UGC NET Paper 1 Unit 10

Difference between ancient and modern education system in India

Education in India dates back to the 3rd century BC. It mainly consisted of religious training elements and imparting of traditional knowledge. The education was imparted orally by sages and scholars while palm leaves and the barks of trees were used as writing materials. Both formal education and informal education were imparted at the time and indigenous education was imparted at temples, tols, Gurukuls, and the like. The foundation of ancient Indian education was epistemological and philosophical traditions revolving around the idea of the ephemerality of life and world, concept of ultimate death, and the futility of mundane pleasures.

Difference Between Ancient and Modern Education System in India 

There are many differences between the ancient Indian education system and modern education system. A lot of advancement has been made in the sphere of education since the early days. These days, many digital initiatives are being taken to facilitate quality and convenient education which was not so during ancient days.

Speech on Education System in India

3 minutes speech on education system in india.

Good morning one and all present here. I am going to express my views through my Speech on Education system in India. Education can make people easy to lead, but difficult to drive. Also, it makes easy to govern, but impossible to enslave. This is true, that without education a man is a shade better than an animal. Thus true education is the drawing out of the mental faculties and it is essential for leading a happy life.

India has a great heritage of knowledge. For many years, knowledge has been flowing throughout.  Many scientists, mathematicians, astronomers, and other professionals have done many kinds of research. They have made many inventions through education. The Indian education system is undoubtedly one of the oldest education systems in the world.

Current Scenario of Education in India

It is a fact that our education system in India is not the best one. Lack of reforms and improvements are making it quite boring and ineffective. Students are not taking much interest in studies. There are many factors that are leading this problem of students’ disinterest in education.

People are blaming this orthodox education system. The image of studies and education has been made so reflective by the system. Education is more exploration than slogging for passing examinations and tests. However, the current system of education appears to be a burden.

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Lack of Computer-based Education

The most burdensome aspect of our education system is focusing only on books and paperwork. I just wonder why schools are not making the education system paper-free! Education should be imparted through Computer Assisted techniques in today’s world. All tasks in the education system should be totally computerized.

Improvement in Indian Education System

The schools and teachers must not corrupt the joy-giving pursuit of education by putting unnecessary burdens of unnecessary rules. Teachers must intrigue the students towards the charms of education and learning as well as gaining the knowledge.

Teachers must expose and reveal to the students the thrill involved knowledge imparting process. Classroom learning must be more interesting than a boring experience.

Many policies have been introduced by our government to overcome the drawbacks of our education system. Therefore it is a great beginning. Although, education has come a long way and has still we need to do a lot more in the coming time.

There should be a foolproof system to track students’ commuting to the school. The sensors in the identity cards are capable to send automated SMS to the parents confirming the arrival of their children at the school. Also, teachers must make the learning experience very thrilling at school.

Education is much more charming and intriguing than the temptations of distractions unnecessary. Our education policymakers must look into the problem to make a better system that is more practical and provides hands-on learning to the students.

Thus it is the need of the hour if we have to safeguard our independence. Our country has witnessed how a few thousand Englishmen, had ruled here for over a hundred years. This was due to a lack of a true education system. We should not allow this to happen again, and this is possible only by having a suitable and perfect education system. The true education system would indeed make us master our destiny.

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Speech on Education System in India

The education system in India is like a vast ocean. It’s filled with different types of schools, colleges, and universities.

You might wonder how it all works. It’s a complex structure, but don’t worry. You’ll soon understand its unique features and challenges.

1-minute Speech on Education System in India

Respected teachers and my dear friends, I stand before you today to share my viewpoints on the ‘Education System in India’.

India, a country with a rich history and heritage, boasts a unique education system that has grown and evolved over thousands of years. Today, it is a blend of traditional methods and modern philosophies, aiming to create well-rounded individuals who can contribute to the nation’s development.

However, our system has several challenges that need urgent attention. The primary concern is the intense competition and pressure that students face. The focus leans heavily towards academics, often sidelining co-curricular activities and skills-based education.

Moreover, the current education system emphasizes rote learning, where students are encouraged to memorize information rather than understand concepts. This approach fails to instill critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students, which are vital in today’s dynamic world.

Another significant issue is the lack of equal access to quality education. While urban areas have high-end schools and colleges offering superior education, students in rural areas often struggle with inadequate infrastructure, lack of trained teachers, and outdated teaching methods.

In conclusion, while the Indian education system has made notable strides in recent years, it still needs significant reforms. A shift from rote learning to a more practical-based curriculum, equal emphasis on co-curricular activities, and bridging the rural-urban education gap are some steps in the right direction.

The goal should be to create an inclusive, holistic, and student-friendly system, where every child gets an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve their potential. Thank you.

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• Essay on Education System in India

2-minute Speech on Education System in India

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I stand before you today to discuss a topic that is crucial to our nation’s progress and development – The Education System in India. Education is not merely about acquiring knowledge. It’s a tool that shapes our perspective, fuels our creativity, and equips us with the skills necessary to face the challenges of life.

India, a country with a rich history and heritage, has always valued education. From the ancient times of Nalanda and Taxila, our land has been a hub of wisdom and knowledge. However, as we progress into the 21st century, it’s essential for us to reflect upon our current education system and understand how it’s shaping the minds of our future generations.

Our system is predominantly examination-based. Students are judged primarily on their ability to memorize and reproduce information. This type of grading system emphasizes rote learning over understanding, fostering an environment that limits creativity and critical thinking. It is essential for our education system to move beyond rote learning and encourage students to understand, interpret, and apply knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Furthermore, the lack of practical exposure in our education system is another area of concern. Practical learning stimulates curiosity and cultivates a deeper understanding of subjects. For instance, learning about photosynthesis in a biology lab, using specimens and microscopes, is much more engaging and effective than merely reading about it in textbooks. By bridging the gap between theoretical and practical learning, we can create an education system that’s dynamic, interactive, and relevant.

Another challenge faced by our education system is the disparity in the quality of education offered in urban and rural areas. Many children in rural areas lack access to basic educational resources, which hampers their learning experience and academic progress. It’s important for us to ensure equal educational opportunities for every child, irrespective of their geographical location or socio-economic background.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The recent efforts by the government to revamp the education system through the National Education Policy 2020 are encouraging. The policy focuses on holistic and multidisciplinary education, breaking the rigid boundaries of arts, science, and commerce. This policy, if implemented effectively, can bring about a significant change in our education system.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that education is not only about academic excellence, but also about character building. Lessons on empathy, integrity, resilience, and civic responsibility are crucial for molding responsible and empathetic citizens. Incorporating these values into our education system is as important as teaching core academic subjects.

In conclusion, the education system in India is at a crucial juncture. We need to reorient our approach to education by emphasizing understanding over rote learning, integrating practical experiences, ensuring equitable access to quality education, and reinforcing values-based learning. It’s a challenging task, but with collective effort, we can reform our education system and ensure a brighter future for the coming generations.

Thank you for your attention.

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• Speech on the Education System in India

Introduction to Speech on the Education System in India

Education is a process of learning or teaching new skills or knowledge. Education is mostly provided in schools and universities. Education is very important for the development of the country. It helps in the economic development of the country. Education can change the life of a person. Former president of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is the best example of how education can change the life of a  person. Education if provided properly can change the perspective of people.

Here we have provided a long and short speech on the education system in India and along with that we have also given 10 line pointers about the speech on the education system.

Long Speech on Education System

Good morning to everyone present here. Today I am going to give a small speech on the education system in India. I hope you all learn new things from this speech.

Education is defined as the process of receiving or giving primary knowledge, especially at the school or university level. Education is a significant factor that helps in improving the literacy rate of the country. After Independence, the Indian government has mainly focused on providing education to everyone and for years the government has introduced new plans to improve Indian education.

The Indian education system is mainly divided into four stages namely lower primary for the children between the age of six to ten years, upper primary with children from the age of eleven years to twelve years. High school, in which the children start their school at the age of 13 and end it at 16 and at the age of 17 to 18 they finish their higher secondary school.

The Indian education system is considered to be the oldest among the education systems around the world. In spite of being the oldest, it is not the best. Lack of reforms and improvements makes the Indian education system ineffective and annoying.

From the beginning, the Indian education system is designed for a child to learn from the book and write exams just to get good grades. While it helps in improving the children's reading and writing ability, it does not help in learning the skills required to survive in the world.

We often hear on the news that unemployment in India is increasing day by day and in spite of many graduates having fancy degrees, many of them fail to land a job. So what is the reason for that? The answer is our Education system. The Indian education system is designed for students to score marks and get good grades and repeat the process but it was never designed to teach the students the skills required to survive in this world.

The education and the knowledge we receive from reading various books is unmatchable and I totally agree with that. But while the Indian education system provides theoretical knowledge for the students it is very important to also teach the students how to apply that knowledge practically which many students fail and that is the reason why there is an exponential increase in the unemployment rate in India.

It is the responsibility of the teachers to allow the students to think differently. The teachers should also make the student understand that classroom learning is important and should teach them how to practically apply it. In addition to this the teachers should be open to the idea of learning new things from the students.

Our education system could be improved if important steps are taken. Instead of encouraging students to study for the exam, where they only muggup the textbooks just for the sake of scoring well, more practical knowledge should be given to the students. The education authorities should give the students opportunities to apply the knowledge they have learned in the textbooks practically.

Our educational system should also allow the students to learn about the financial knowledge that would help them in surviving in this world. The education authorities should teach students about budgeting money, saving money, and the ways through which the money could be invested in different assets like stocks, gold, silver, etc. This will help the students to prepare for the future.

According to the United Nations Organization(UNO), India ranks 145 out of 191 in the world for providing education. We are not even in the top 50 in the world. This shows the level of improvement we need to do to update ourselves. If we want our country to grow and move forward we have to start by improving the education we provide for the children. As the saying goes “The children of today are the future of tomorrow”, we should start by updating the Indian education system from the primary level. Instead of only allowing the students to learn theoretical knowledge, the educational authorities should introduce practical methods through which children can apply the knowledge they learned through the books.

If by moderating our education system, we can bring a wave of revolution then we have to do it for the sake of a brighter future. Thank you.

Short Speech on Education System in India

Good morning to everyone present here. Today I am going to give a 3-minute speech on the education system in India and I hope you all get new information from this speech.

Education is defined as the process of learning or teaching new things. Education is mostly provided at the schools or the colleges.

Indian education is considered to be the oldest in the world. It has been involved through centuries and has produced many scholars and great achievers. But as the world changes the education system should also change. But sadly this has not been the case with India. Sadly the education system in India has not changed which leaves room for progress.

The Indian education system is all about reading textbooks to score well in exams and get good grades but it does not teach the students how to apply theoretical knowledge. It teaches the students to only muggle the textbooks and score well in the exams, we need to change this. The Indian education system desperately needs to be modernized and if it does not then the students will now grow in life.

The students should be encouraged to learn new things by the teachers. They should teach the students how to apply theoretical knowledge.

Financial education is also not taught to students in schools. The students should be taught the skills that could help them in making money. Education institutes should teach the students the methods in which money could be invested such as stocks, gold, real estate, etc.

To conclude this speech I want to say that the entire education system teaches the students about “what to know” through textbooks for scoring in exams but it does not allow the students to learn about “what and all they should know”. It is very important that the students should be taught about financial education and this can only be done by only modernizing the entire education system.

10 Lines About the Speech on the Education System

In the Indian education system, the knowledge learned through textbooks is given the most importance.

Education is defined as the process of giving information or receiving it from schools or colleges.

The Indian education system is considered to be one of the oldest in the world.

In spite of being the oldest, it is not the best as there are many loopholes in it.

Indian education is divided into four stages and that is lower primary, upper primary, high school, and higher secondary school.

The students should be allowed to do practical work for the theoretical knowledge they learned through books.

Education costs should be reduced as many people cannot afford education.

The government has given scholarships to students to complete their higher education.

The teachers should encourage students to think differently.

Unemployment in India has increased in spite of many students having a degree. This is because students don’t have enough practical knowledge.

FAQs on Speech on the Education System in India

1. What is the importance of delivering education speech?

We all are aware of the importance of education in our society. Education helps to shape our future and enlighten us about the various aspects of our society. Education helps to diminish the darkness of our minds by illuminating our minds with the light of knowledge.

The purpose of delivering an education speech is to reach a larger audience and make them understand the importance of education in our society and especially for women and children. The purpose of being educated can only be served when the knowledge will help others to get motivated and drive them towards acquiring knowledge and education.

Proper education can reshape our thinking ability and boost the power of thinking rationally. The purpose of education is to make this society safe and ideal for the growth and nourishment of the minds of the children. It can only happen when a larger percentage of the inhabitants of our society will understand the value of education.

Delivering a proper education speech will make the members of our society ponder over the significance of education and the influences it can have on the minds of the future generation. They will understand the value of justice and equality for all the members of our society and will help each other to make society a gender-neutral platform.

2. What are the points that should be included in an education speech?

An educational speech should be formatted properly because only then it can draw the attention of the audience. While drafting the manuscript of your education speech that you are going to deliver, remember to include only the main ideas and the facts that are considered of prime significance behind the idea of educating people. Including too many ideas that are not relevant to the topic will deviate the readers from grasping the significance of education.

You should always communicate your thoughts and ideas in lucid language so that the audience can understand your point of view and analyze them in their minds. Do not forget to hold your personal opinion and suggestions to improve the education system in our country. A personal touch in any speech can inspire the audience.

You should always start your speech by discussing the key points that should be considered while talking about the influences of getting educated. Always include facts that are proven and mention the latest studies and findings regarding the subject matter. You can also share your own opinion and solutions that people should work on to improve the standard of the education system.

While delivering a speech, always remember to connect with the audience by addressing them in the second person. Maintaining proper eye contact with the audience is highly important because they should not be treated as separate identities. Also, prepare your speech considering the time limit you will have.

3. What are the points that should be included in an education speech while discussing ideas to make the education process enjoyable?

Students enjoy learning when the classroom is student-oriented and not teacher-centric. That means that students should be provided with equal opportunities to communicate and share their own thoughts and ideas on a particular topic. The students should also go through the content they should learn in the next classes so that they can also equally participate in the discussion with the mentors. Preparing beforehand will provide them with the opportunities to clarify their doubts with the mentors. Since the content included in your education speech should be customized, it is better that you participate in brainstorming new ideas that you can talk about while delivering the speech.

4. How to come up with new ideas for delivering a proper education speech?

Brainstorming sessions are ideal to come up with new ideas. The more time you will invest in thinking about the different aspects regarding a particular topic, the more the content will be relevant and attract the attention of the audience. Since education is one of the most popular and important topics that one can talk about, the speakers should always include only the key points. In order to make the speech interesting, the speaker should always establish direct communication with the audience by asking them a few questions that they can answer in 'yes' or 'no'. They should also work on thinking about some unique strategies and ideas that can make their speech more relatable.

5. How to learn the methods of delivering an education speech?

The articles published on Vedantu can give you a clear idea of how to deliver a speech. You can also go through the articles that are subject-specific. For more details, you can download the printable materials from the website. The articles published on the website of Vedantu consist of the content that should be delivered through a long or a short speech.

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Opinion | Naya Bharat Needs a New Education System — An Indianised One

Written By : Francois Gautier

Last Updated: May 08, 2024, 18:50 IST

New Delhi, India

Time is ripe for the government to Indianise the education system. (Representational image via PTI)

Only when Indians are proud of their roots, not in a coarse or superficial way, but with the precise and knowledgeable consciousness of why India is ancient and great, the country will never become a true superpower

One of the biggest challenges of the Narendra Modi government is education. The education that is imparted in India today, from kindergarten to universities, is Western in its outlook and does not teach Indians to be proud of themselves. If you are an American, even if you come from a non-white ethnicity, you are taught right from childhood about America’s great poets, painters, statesmen, and the glorious, short and mostly imaginary history of the Far West… In the same way, I was brought up to be a proud Frenchman: We learned, right from kindergarten, about the great French poets, writers, statesmen and warriors. Indeed, Napoleon, the Shivaji Maharaj of France, has been given a huge space, not only in French history books and curriculums, but also on national television, in newspapers, in hundreds of books, and so on.

I was born in the 7th district of Paris, near Napoleon’s Museum, in Les Invalides. It is not only a beautiful museum, right in the middle of Paris, where Napoleon’s remains are resting, but also a place of national celebration, where great ceremonies happen in the presence of the French President and Prime Minister. Compare this with Shivaji Maharaj, who is only given a few lines in Indian history books — and sometimes even called ‘a plunderer’. What is ignored, is the courageous, lone, daring, extraordinary side of Indian history, embodied by the outstanding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, who, with a handful of men, stood up against — and defeated — the most powerful army of the world then: that of Aurangzeb.

Indian students need also to know the dark side of their history: There is no greater holocaust in the world than that of the Hindus, not only at the hands of Muslim invaders, but also due to British or Portuguese colonists. History remembers that 500,000 Hindus taken as slaves, died of cold on the Hindu Kush, or that Timur killed in one day 100,000 Hindus in Delhi — not a mean feat when they were no bullets then to finish a man quickly — or the 10 million Indians who died in the 19th and 20th century British-induced famines. Conservative estimates say that at least 100 million Hindus lost their lives brutally, from the first Islamic invasion to the Mumbai terrorist attacks of 26/11.

Very few students in India know that plastic surgery was invented by Ayurvedic doctors 4,000 years ago, that Vedic mathematics could do in three operations what it took ten at the same time in the West; that democracy existed in India long before America; that Kalidasa is one of the greatest poets ever, in the history of the world; that the Mahabharata or Ramayana are as intricate and far-reaching in their stories than the Greek Iliad  and Odyssey , or Shakespeare’s immortal plays; or that the spirituality that props-up Hinduism from behind is universal in its outlook; that India never invaded other countries to impose its religion; and that its wonderful tools, like meditation, Pranayama or Hatha Yoga, are owed to Hindus.

After ten years of the BJP government at the Centre, young Indians are still clones good for export — and indeed the greatest brain drain in the world is that of Hindus going to study in the United States and eventually settling there and their children and grandchildren becoming more American than the Americans, more British than the British, as Macaulay had wanted. Whenever I give lectures in the United States on the urgent and absolute need to rewrite Indian History — and mind you, there are tens of thousands of Indian students in American universities — it evokes very little interest in them. It’s a paradox: in the US, out of ten white Americans, seven practice Hatha Yoga, under one form or the other. Indeed, Hatha Yoga and some Pranayama are now taught in some US preschools and used in companies to de-stress their executives during three-day workshops. How is it that in India, which gave the world Hatha Yoga, Pranayama, meditation and Ayurveda, these extraordinary tools of education are not only not utilised in schools and universities, but even frowned upon as sectarian?

Yet all Hindus swear by ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The World is One Family) and recognise that the divine manifests Himself or Herself at different times of our history, using different names and scriptures. Isn’t that a universal non-sectarian spirituality that can be taught in India to Hindus, but also Muslims, Christians or Sikhs? As Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said about Pranayama: ‘Does the air that we breathe around us have a religion?’

We remember that when Murli Manohar Joshi tried to reform education, there was such an outcry that the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had to backtrack. But the thing is, the more you wait, the more difficult  it is going to be, because religions other than Hinduism have radicalised themselves in the last two decades. It is a must  that in his third term, if PM Modi comes back to power, he Indianises education to stem this huge brain drain, and keep in India the best minds, so that the country benefits from their intelligence.

What we need is a revolution. When I say revolutionary, I’m thinking, for instance, about the Aryan invasion/migration theory, which has been proven wrong  long ago, but is still the foundation stone of every history book, Indian and Western, as well as all the school curriculums in India and abroad. I have shown, in my most recent book, An Entirely New Indian History of India ( http://garudabooks.com ) that recent genetic studies have even proved that most Indians, whether they are from the South or the North, whether they are Brahmins or Dalits, men or women, have more or less the same genomes. Yet, what does the Aryan invasion/migration theory say? That white people came from the West, and brought the caste system, Hindu mythology, the Vedas, etc, to the tribals and the darker Dravidians, whom they enslaved and slowly pushed down south.

Every saint, from Swami Vivekananda to Sri Aurobindo to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, has rubbished this theory. Yes, it still divides India: Dravidian parties use it to hound Brahmins. I have seen when I went to Maharashtra to do a feature on the Warlis (indigenous tribe of western India, which are famous for their paintings), that Christian missionaries convert them by saying: “You are not a Hindu, you are the original inhabitants of India, convert to the true God.”

If there was only the Aryan invasion/migration theory to change in history books! But, in another example, they mostly speak about the Mughals, who reigned for only two hundred years, whereas the Cholas ruled for 2,100 years, the Ahom kingdom for 700, the Vijayanagar empire for 400. We all know that Humayun was Babar’s son, and the father of Aurangzeb was Shahjahan, but how many Indians know the name of the father of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the first true revolutionary of India with Sri Aurobindo, who advocated the eviction of the British — by force if necessary — long before Mahatma Gandhi?

Time is ripe for the government to Indianise the education system. Only when Indians are proud of their roots, not in a coarse or superficial way, but with the precise and knowledgeable consciousness of why India is ancient and great, the country will never become a true superpower. As Swami Vivekananda rightly said, ‘No nation can move forward unless it looks squarely at its own history.’

Excerpt from Francois Gautier’s new book, ‘India, Hindus and Narendra Modi’, published by Garuda publications.

The author is a French journalist and author of ‘A History of India as It Happened’ (Garudabooks.com). He is also building a museum of true Indian history in Pune. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.

• indian education system
• Indian students

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• Speech Writing /

Speech on Justice in India: Short and Long Speech in English

• Updated on  
• May 6, 2024

In India, any person who believes that his or her fundamental or constitutional rights have been violated can reach out to the Supreme Court, even through a postcard. On this page, we will discuss some samples of how to write a speech on justice in India. Justice means making a fair and impartial decision. Now this is what the Oxford Dictionary defines because the real meaning of justice is far different. The Indian Constitution has separated the judiciary from the legislature and the executive, and it functions as an independent body. 

Table of Contents

• 1 10 Facts About the Judicial System in India
• 2 2-Minute Speech on Justice in India
• 3 Popular Verdicts of the Supreme Court of India

Did you know that Justice Fathima Beevi became the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India in 1989?

10 Facts About the Judicial System in India

India has an integrated judicial system, where the Supreme Court of India is the apex court. Below the Supreme Court, there are 25 high courts, 688 district courts, and several subordinate courts. Articles 124-147 of the Constitution of India discuss the functioning and rules of the Supreme Court. 

• The President of India appoints the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Justice of High Courts, and other judges of the Supreme Court.
• The first Chief Justice of India was Sir Harilal Jekisundas Kania.
• The Calcutta High Court was the first high court in India, established in 1865.
• The District Courts hear pleas in civil and criminal cases.
• The Supreme Court of India has the power to shift any case to itself.
• The Supreme Court and the High Courts can issue writs for the enforcement of fundamental rights.
• The Supreme Court and the High Courts are known for judicial activism, where the honorable judges can use their judgement if the law fails to establish a balance.
• Individuals and groups can file a PIL or public interest litigation, with the Supreme Court and High Courts, but a PIL must be in public interest only, and not personal.
• The Indian Penal Code (IPC) was replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in December 2023.
• Under Article 129 of the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court has the power to punish any person for contempt of court.

Quick Read: Women Empowerment Speech

2-Minute Speech on Justice in India

‘Good morning everyone. Today, I stand before you to present my speech on justice in India. India’s justice system or judicial system, is one of the strongest in the world. If a bench of the Supreme Court has made a decision, then only the President of India can challenge it.’

‘Justice is our constitutional right. We all have the right to know what is right and what is wrong. In a country of 1.4 billion people, justice is often delayed, especially at the lower levels. The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, at the 75th anniversary of the Supreme Court of India, highlighted the major reasons responsible for justice delays in India. These were:

• Adjournment culture;
• Lengthy arguments delay judgements
• Long court vacations, and 
• Creation of space for first-generation lawyers and those from marginalized segments of society.

‘India is a big country, and yes, there are laws that promise justice for everyone. India’s national motto is ‘Satyameva Jayate’ , meaning ‘ Truth Alone Triumphs’. Article 14 of the Indian Constitution is about the ‘Rule of law’ and ‘Equality before the law’ , which means everyone in the court of law is equal.’

Article 50 of the Indian Constitution separates the Judiciary from the Legislature and the Executive. This independence and integrity allow for the smooth functioning of the judiciary in India. The apex court has made several landmark decisions, such as the Keshavananda Bharati vs the State of Kerala Case in 1973, the Shah Banu Begum Case of 1985, the National Legal Services Authority Case of 2014, and many others. 

India’s judiciary is powerful. It can hear both civil and criminal cases, can convict a person on grounds of contempt of court, can challenge laws established by the government, has the power of judicial review, is a court of record, can declare any law invalid, and can interpret the constitution. 

‘However, justice is often delayed in India, and therefore, we need a robust system of justice, where justice is not delayed for years or decades and is served on time.

Thank you.!

Quick Read: Speech on Corruption

Popular Verdicts of the Supreme Court of India

When it comes to delivering justice, the Supreme Court always ensures complete impartiality and timely judgement. Here are some of the popular verdicts and decisions of justice by the Supreme Court of India.

Ans: ‘Good morning everyone. Today, I stand before you to present my speech on justice in India. India’s justice system or judicial system, is one of the strongest in the world. If a bench of the Supreme Court has made a decision, then only the President of India can challenge it.’ ‘Justice is our constitutional right. We all have the right to know what is right and what is wrong. In a country of 1.4 billion people, justice is often delayed, especially at the lower levels.

Ans: There are four reasons why justice is delayed in India: Adjournment culture; lengthy arguments delaying judgments; long court vacations; and the creation of space for first-generation lawyers and those from marginalised segments of society.

Ans: The Indian Constitution mandates the state to secure social justice for all its citizens. Article 14 states that there shall be a rule of law and equality before the law for everyone in the country.

Popular Speech Topics

For more information on such interesting speech topics for your school, visit our speech writing page and follow Leverage Edu.

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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The Protesters and the President

Over the past week, thousands of students protesting the war in gaza have been arrested..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.”

Free, free, Palestine!

Free, free Palestine!

Free, free, free Palestine!

Over the past week, what had begun as a smattering of pro-Palestinian protests on America’s college campuses exploded into a nationwide movement —

United, we’ll never be defeated!

— as students at dozens of universities held demonstrations, set up encampments, and at times seized academic buildings.

[PROTESTERS CLAMORING]:

response, administrators at many of those colleges decided to crack down —

Do not throw things at our officers. We will use chemical munitions that include gas.

— calling in local police to carry out mass detentions and arrests. From Arizona State —

In the name of the state of Arizona, I declare this gathering to be a violation of —

— to the University of Georgia —

— to City College of New York.

[PROTESTERS CHANTING, “BACK OFF”]:

As of Thursday, police had arrested 2,000 students on more than 40 campuses. A situation so startling that President Biden could no longer ignore it.

Look, it’s basically a matter of fairness. It’s a matter of what’s right. There’s the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos.

Today, my colleagues Jonathan Wolfe and Peter Baker on a history-making week. It’s Friday, May 3.

Jonathan, as this tumultuous week on college campuses comes to an end, it feels like the most extraordinary scenes played out on the campus of the University of California Los Angeles, where you have been reporting. What is the story of how that protest started and ultimately became so explosive?

So late last week, pro-Palestinian protesters set up an encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles.

From the river to the sea!

Palestine will be free!

Palestine —

It was right in front of Royce Hall, which I don’t know if you are familiar with UCLA, but it’s a very famous, red brick building. It’s on all the brochures. And there was two things that stood out about this encampment. And the first thing was that they barricaded the encampment.

The encampment, complete with tents and barricades, has been set up in the middle of the Westwood campus. The protesters demand —

They have metal grates. They had wooden pallets. And they separated themselves from the campus.

This is kind of interesting. There are controlling access, as we’ve been talking about. They are trying to control who is allowed in, who is allowed out.

They sort of policed the area. So they only would let people that were part of their community, they said, inside.

I’m a UCLA student. I deserve to go here. We paid tuition. This is our school. And they’re not letting me walk in. Why can’t I go? Will you let me go in?

We’re not engaging with that.

Then you can move. Will you move?

And the second thing that stood out about this camp was that it immediately attracted pro-Israel counterprotesters.

And what did the leadership of UCLA say about all of this, the encampment and these counterprotesters?

So the University of California’s approach was pretty unique. They had a really hands-off approach. And they allowed the pro-Palestinian protesters to set up an encampment. They allowed the counterprotesters to happen. I mean, this is a public university, so anyone who wants to can just enter the campus.

So when do things start to escalate?

So there were definitely fights and scuffles through the weekend. But a turning point was really Sunday —

[SINGING IN HEBREW]:

— when this group called the Israeli American Council, they’re a nonprofit organization, organized a rally on campus. The Israeli American Council has really been against these pro-Palestinian protests. They say that they’re antisemitic. So this nonprofit group sets up a stage with a screen really just a few yards from the pro-Palestinian encampment.

We are grateful that this past Friday, the University of California, stated that they will continue to oppose any calls for boycott and divestment from Israel!

[PROTESTERS CHEERING]

And they host speakers and they held prayers.

Jewish students, you’re not alone! Oh, you’re not alone! We are right here with you! And we’re right here with you in until —

[WORDLESS SINGING]:

And then lots of other people start showing up. And the proximity between protesters and counterprotesters and even some agitators, makes it really clear that something was about to happen.

And what was that? What ended up happening?

On Monday night, a group of about 60 counterprotesters tried to breach the encampment there. And the campus police had to break it up. And things escalated again on Tuesday.

They stormed the barricades and it’s a complete riot.

[PROTESTER SHOUTING]:

Put it down! Put it down! Put it down!

I went to report on what happened just a few hours after it ended.

And I spoke to a lot of protesters. And I met one demonstrator, Marie.

Yeah, my first name is Marie. M-A-R-I-E. Last name, Salem.

And Marie described what happened.

So can you just tell me a little bit about what happened last night?

Last night, we were approached by over a hundred counterprotesters who were very mobilized and ready to break into camp. They proceeded to try to breach our barricades extremely violently.

Marie said it started getting out of hand when counterprotesters started setting off fireworks towards the camp.

They had bear spray. They had Mace. They were throwing wood and spears. Throwing water bottles, continuing fireworks.

So she said that they were terrified. It was just all hands on deck. Everyone was guarding the barricades.

Every time someone experienced the bear spray or Mace or was hit and bleeding, we had some medics in the front line. And then we had people —

And they said that they were just trying to take care of people who were injured.

I mean, at any given moment, there was 5 to 10 people being treated.

So what she described to me sounded more like a battlefield than a college campus.

And it was just a complete terror and complete abandonment of the university, as we also watched private security watch this the entire time on the stairs. And some LAPD were stationed about a football field length back from these counterprotesters, and did not make a single arrest, did not attempt to stop any violence, did not attempt to get in between the two groups. No attempt.

I should say, I spoke to a state authorities and eyewitnesses and they confirmed Marie’s account about what happened that night, both in terms of the violence that took place at the encampment and how law enforcement responded. So in the end, people ended up fighting for hours before the police intervened.

[SOMBER MUSIC]

So in her mind, UCLA’s hands-off approach, which seemed to have prevailed throughout this entire period, ends up being way too hands off in a moment when students were in jeopardy.

That’s right. And so at this point, the protesters in the encampment started preparing for two possibilities. One was that this group of counterprotesters would return and attack them. And the second one was that the police would come and try to break up this encampment.

So they started building up the barricades. They start reinforcing them with wood. And during the day, hundreds of people came and brought them supplies. They brought food.

They brought helmets, goggles, earplugs, saline solution, all sorts of things these people could use to defend themselves. And so they’re really getting ready to burrow in. And in the end, it was the police who came.

[PROTESTERS SHOUTING]:

So Wednesday at 7:00 PM, they made an announcement on top of Royce Hall, which overlooks the encampment —

— administrative criminal actions up to and including arrest. Please leave the area immediately.

And they told people in the encampment that they needed to leave or face arrest.

[DRUM BEATING]: [PROTESTERS CHANTING]

And so as night falls, they put on all this gear that they’ve been collecting, the goggles, the masks and the earplugs, and they wait for the police.

[DRUM BEATING]:

And so the police arrive and station themselves right in front of the encampment. And then at a certain point, they storm the back stairs of the encampment.

[PROTESTERS CHANTING]:

And this is the stairs that the protesters have been using to enter and exit the camp. And they set up a line. And the protesters do this really surprising thing.

The people united!

They open up umbrellas. They have these strobe lights. And they’re flashing them at the police, who just slowly back out of the camp.

[PROTESTERS CHEERING]:

And so at this point, they’re feeling really great. They’re like, we did it. We pushed them out of their camp. And when the cops try to push again on those same set of stairs —

[PROTESTER SHOUTS]:

Hold your ground!

— the protesters organized themselves with all these shields that they had built earlier. And they go and confront them. And so there’s this moment where the police are trying to push up the stairs. And the protesters are literally pushing them back.

Push them back! Push them back!

Push them back!

And at a certain point, dozens of the police officers who were there, basically just turn around and leave.

So how does this eventually come to an end?

So at a certain point, the police push in again. Most of the conflict is centered at the front of these barricades. And the police just start tearing them apart.

[METAL CLANGING]

[CLAMORING]

They removed the front barricade. And in its place is this group of protesters who have linked arms and they’re hanging on to each other. And the police are trying to pull protesters one by one away from this group.

He’s just a student! Back off!

But they’re having a really hard time because there’s so many protesters. And they’re all just hanging on to each other.

We’re moving back now.

So at a certain point, one of the police officers started firing something into the crowd. We don’t exactly know what it was. But it really spooked the protesters.

Stop shooting at kids! Fuck you! Fuck them!

They started falling back. Everyone was really scared. The protesters were yelling, don’t shoot us. And at that point, the police just stormed the camp.

Get back. Get back.

Back up now!

And so after about four hours of this, the police pushed the protesters out of the encampment. They had arrested about 200 protesters. And this was finally over.

And I’m just curious, Jonathan, because you’re standing right there, you are bearing witness to this all, what you were thinking, what your impressions of this were.

I mean, I was stunned. These are mostly teenagers. This is a college campus, an institution of higher learning. And what I saw in front of me looked like a war zone.

[TENSE MUSIC]

The massive barricade, the police coming in with riot gear, and all this violence was happening in front of these red brick buildings that are famous for symbolizing a really open college campus. And everything about it was just totally surreal.

Well, Jonathan, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

Thanks, Michael.

We’ll be right back.

Peter, around 10:00 AM on Thursday morning as the smoke is literally still clearing at the University of California Los Angeles, you get word that President Biden is going to speak.

Right, exactly. It wasn’t on his public schedule. He was about to head to Andrews Air Force base in order to take a trip. And then suddenly, we got the notice that he was going to be addressing the cameras in the Roosevelt Room.

They didn’t tell us what he was going to talk about. But it was pretty clear, I think. Everybody understood that it was going to be about these campus protests, about the growing violence and the clashes with police, and the arrests that the entire country had been watching on TV every night for the past week, and I think that we were watching just that morning with UCLA. And it reached the point where he just had to say something.

And why, in his estimation and those of his advisors, was this the moment that Biden had to say something?

Well, it kind of reached a boiling point. It kind of reached the impression of a national crisis. And you expect to hear your president address it in this kind of a moment, particularly because it’s about his own policy. His policy toward Israel is at the heart of these protests. And he was getting a lot of grief. He was getting a lot of grief from Republicans who were chiding him for not speaking out personally. He hadn’t said anything in about 10 days.

He’s getting a lot of pressure from Democrats, too, who wanted him to come out and be more forceful. It wasn’t enough, in their view, to leave it to his spokespeople to say something. Moderate Democrats felt he needed to come out and take some leadership on this.

And so at the appointed moment, Peter, what does Biden actually say in the Roosevelt Room of the White House?

Good morning.

Before I head to North Carolina, I wanted to speak for a few moments about what’s going on, on our college campuses here.

Well, it comes in the Roosevelt Room and he talks to the camera. And he talks about the two clashing imperatives of American principle.

The first is the right to free speech and for people to peacefully assemble and make their voices heard. The second is the rule of law. Both must be upheld.

One is freedom of speech. The other is the rule of law.

In fact, peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues. But, but, neither are we a lawless country.

In other words, what he’s saying is, yes, I support the right of these protesters to come out and object to even my own policy, in effect, is what he’s saying. But it shouldn’t trail into violence.

Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses —

It shouldn’t trail into taking over buildings and obstructing students from going to class or canceling their graduations.

Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people is not peaceful protest. It’s against the law.

And he leans very heavily into this idea that what he’s seeing these days goes beyond the line.

I understand people have strong feelings and deep convictions. In America, we respect the right and protect the right for them to express that. But it doesn’t mean anything goes.

It has crossed into harassment and expressions of hate in a way that goes against the national character.

As president, I will always defend free speech. And I will always be just as strong and standing up for the rule of law. That’s my responsibility to you, the American people, and my obligation to the Constitution. Thank you very much.

Right, as I watched the speech, I heard his overriding message to basically be, I, the president of the United States, am drawing a line. These protests and counterprotests, the seizing and defacing of campus buildings, class disruption, all of it, name calling, it’s getting out of hand. That there’s a right way to do this. And what I’m seeing is the wrong way to do it and it has to stop.

That’s exactly right. And as he’s wrapping up, reporters, of course, ask questions. And the first question is —

Mr. President, have the protests forced you to reconsider any of the policies with regard to the region?

— will this change your policy toward the war in Gaza? Which, of course, is exactly what the protesters want. That’s the point.

And he basically says —

— no. Just one word, no.

Right. And that felt kind of important, as brief and fleeting as it was, because at the end of the day, what he’s saying to these protesters is, I’m not going to do what you want. And basically, your protests are never going to work. I’m not going to change the US’s involvement in this war.

Yeah, that’s exactly right. He is saying, I’m not going to be swayed by angry people in the streets. I’m going to do what I think is right when it comes to foreign policy. Now, what he thinks is that they’re not giving him enough credit for trying to achieve what they want, which is an end of the war.

He has been pressuring Israel and Hamas to come to a deal for a ceasefire that will, hopefully, in his view, would then lead to a more enduring end of hostilities. But, of course, this deal hasn’t gone anywhere. Hamas, in particular, seems to be resisting it. And so the president is left with a policy of arming Israel without having found a way yet to stop the war.

Right. I wonder, though, Peter, if we’re being honest, don’t these protests, despite what Biden is saying there, inevitably exert a kind of power over him? Becoming one of many pressures, but a pressure nonetheless that does influence how he thinks about these moments. I mean, here he is at the White House devoting an entire conversation to the nation to these campus protests.

Well, look, he knows this feeds into the political environment in which he’s running for re-election, in which he basically has people who otherwise might be his supporters on the left disenchanted with him. And he knows that there’s a cost to be paid. And that certainly, obviously, is in his head as he’s thinking about what to do.

But I think his view of the war is changing by the day for all sorts of reasons. And most of them having to do with realities on the ground. He has decided that Israel has gone far enough, if not too far, in the way it has conducted this operation in Gaza.

He is upset about the humanitarian crisis there. And he’s looking for a way to wrap all this up into a move that would move to peacemaking, beginning to get the region to a different stage, maybe have a deal with the Saudis to normalize relations with Israel in exchange for some sort of a two-state solution that would eventually resolve the Palestinian issue at its core.

So I think it’s probably fair to say that the protests won’t move him in an immediate kind of sense. But they obviously play into the larger zeitgeist of the moment. And I also think it’s important to know who Joe Biden is at heart.

Explain that.

He’s not drawn to activism. He was around in 1968, the last time we saw this major conflagration at Columbia University, for instance. At the time, Joe Biden was a law student in Syracuse, about 250 miles away. And he was an institutionalist even then.

He was just focused on his studies. He was about to graduate. He was thinking about the law career. And he didn’t really have much of an affinity, I think, for his fellow students of that era, for their activist way of looking at things.

He tells a story in his memoir about walking down a street in Syracuse one day to go to the pizza shop with some friends. And they walk by the administration building. And they see people hanging out of the windows. They’re hanging SDS banners. That’s the Students for a Democratic Society, which was one of the big activist groups of the era.

And he says, they were taking over the building. And we looked up and said, look at those assholes. That’s how far apart from the antiwar movement I was. That’s him writing in his memoir.

So to a young Joe Biden, those who devote their time and their energy to protesting the war are, I don’t need to repeat the word twice, but they’re losers. They’re not worth his time.

Well, I think it’s the tactics they’re using more than the goals that he disagreed with. He would tell you he disagreed with the Vietnam War. He was for civil rights. But he thought that taking over a building was performative, was all about getting attention, and that there was a better way, in his view, to do it.

He was somebody who wanted to work inside the system. He said in an interview quite a few years back, he says, look, I was wearing sports coats in that era. He saw himself becoming part of the system, not somebody trying to tear it down.

And so how should we think about that Joe Biden, when we think about this Joe Biden? I mean, the Joe Biden who, as a young man, looked upon antiwar protesters with disdain and the one who is now president and his very own policies have inspired such ferocious campus protests?

Yeah, that Joe Biden, the 1968 Joe Biden, he could just throw on a sports coat, go to the pizza shop with his friends, make fun of the activists and call them names, and then that’s it. They didn’t have to affect his life. But that’s not what 2024 Joe Biden can do.

Now, wherever he goes, he’s dogged by this. He goes to speeches and people are shouting at him, Genocide Joe! Genocide Joe! He is the target of the same kind of a movement that he disdained in 1968. And so as much as he would like to ignore it or move on or focus on other things, I think this has become a defining image of his year and one of the defining images, perhaps, of his presidency. And 2024 Joe Biden can’t simply ignore it.

Well, Peter, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Here’s what else you need to know today. During testimony on Thursday in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, jurors heard a recording secretly made by Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen, in which Trump discusses a deal to buy a woman’s silence. In the recording, Trump asks Cohen about how one payment made by Trump to a woman named Karen McDougal would be financed. The recording could complicate efforts by Trump’s lawyers to distance him from the hush money deals at the center of the trial.

A final thing to know, tomorrow morning, we’ll be sending you the latest episode from our colleagues over at “The Interview.” This week, David Marchese talks with comedy star Marlon Wayans about his new stand-up special.

It’s a high that you get when you don’t know if this joke that I’m about to say is going to offend everybody. Are they going to walk out? Are they going to boo me? Are they going to hate this. And then you tell it, and everybody cracks up and you’re like, woo.

Today’s episode was produced by Diana Nguyen, Luke Vander Ploeg, Alexandra Leigh Young, Nina Feldman, and Carlos Prieto. It was edited by Lisa Chow and Michael Benoist. It contains original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you on Monday.

• May 8, 2024   •   28:28 A Plan to Remake the Middle East
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• May 6, 2024   •   29:23 R.F.K. Jr.’s Battle to Get on the Ballot
• May 3, 2024   •   25:33 The Protesters and the President
• May 2, 2024   •   29:13 Biden Loosens Up on Weed
• May 1, 2024   •   35:16 The New Abortion Fight Before the Supreme Court
• April 30, 2024   •   27:40 The Secret Push That Could Ban TikTok
• April 29, 2024   •   47:53 Trump 2.0: What a Second Trump Presidency Would Bring
• April 26, 2024   •   21:50 Harvey Weinstein Conviction Thrown Out
• April 25, 2024   •   40:33 The Crackdown on Student Protesters
• April 24, 2024   •   32:18 Is $60 Billion Enough to Save Ukraine?
• April 23, 2024   •   30:30 A Salacious Conspiracy or Just 34 Pieces of Paper?

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Jonathan Wolfe and Peter Baker

Produced by Diana Nguyen ,  Luke Vander Ploeg ,  Alexandra Leigh Young ,  Nina Feldman and Carlos Prieto

Edited by Lisa Chow and Michael Benoist

Original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano

Engineered by Chris Wood

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Warning: this episode contains strong language.

Over the past week, students at dozens of universities held demonstrations, set up encampments and, at times, seized academic buildings. In response, administrators at many of those colleges decided to crack down and called in the local police to detain and arrest demonstrators.

As of Thursday, the police had arrested 2,000 people across more than 40 campuses, a situation so startling that President Biden could no longer ignore it.

Jonathan Wolfe, who has been covering the student protests for The Times, and Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent, discuss the history-making week.

On today’s episode

Jonathan Wolfe , a senior staff editor on the newsletters team at The New York Times.

Peter Baker , the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times covering President Biden and his administration.

Background reading

As crews cleared the remnants of an encampment at U.C.L.A., students and faculty members wondered how the university could have handled protests over the war in Gaza so badly .

Biden denounced violence on campus , breaking his silence after a rash of arrests.

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The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Jonathan Wolfe is a senior staff editor on the newsletters team at The Times. More about Jonathan Wolfe

Peter Baker is the chief White House correspondent for The Times. He has covered the last five presidents and sometimes writes analytical pieces that place presidents and their administrations in a larger context and historical framework. More about Peter Baker

Luke Vander Ploeg is a senior producer on “The Daily” and a reporter for the National Desk covering the Midwest. More about Luke Vander Ploeg

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