Rabindranath Tagore

Life History
Tagore was born on 6th may 1861 in Bengal in a prosperous family.
At primary level his father provided him education in Sanskrit language, Indian
philosophy & Astronomy.
For higher edn he was sent to Bengal Academy where in he developed an
aversion to the prevalent dull rigid and dull education.
He was then sent to England where in he left it and further studied on his own.
He gradually started writing in magazines etc.
He turned into a poet,dramatist,philosopher and painter. He was then awarded
the title of Gurudev.
He got the Nobel prize as he translated Gitanajali in English.
The Indian govt.awarded him with the degree of Doctorate in1915 which he
eventually gave away after the Jalyanwala bagh incident.
He established Vishwa bharti on 22nd sept,1921 whose aim was to create a
synthesis of he east and west.
He died in 1941
 His Philosophy

• He imbibed the idealistic philosophy of life and adopted the highest ideals
of truth, beauty, goodness.
• As an idealist he believed in the supremacy of god. He emphasized the
adjustment between nature an human soul i.e. is man.
• He advocated unity among all the people of the world.
• He wanted to inculcate dignity &self respect in manhood and elevate his
soul.
• Tagore was not only a philosopher and social reformer but also a great
nationalist to the core.
• To make his country free ,he emphasized the need for economic &
industrial development social reforms, integration& removal of
untouchability together with social reforms & social decimation in all its
forms , belief & actions.
 Philosophy of Education

• True edn should promote the fellow feelings, love in the humans,nature,international
relationship.
• Edn at the time of Tagore was so rigid,lifeless,logical that it did not confirm to the needs
of the individual and the demands of the society.
• According to him edn should acquaint the child with the voice and mission of individual
as well as international life and achieve a harmonious balance between all the factors
which he achieved in his Shanti Niketan.
• Acc to him a child should remain active(full freedom) in the class. He prescribed natural
education for the child but believed education as a vehicle for social reforms.
• Tagore believed in international brotherhood ,hence by society he meant world society.
• According to him education should be according to the realities of life i.e. education
should involve both the nature and needs of a man in a harmonious programme.
• Acc to Tagore, "Next to nature the child should be bought into touch with the stream of
social behaviour.”
 Concept of Education

• According to Tagore, God reveals himself through nature more

effectively than through man made institutions. Hence ,the
education of the child should be under natural surroundings
so that he develops love for all things around him.

• According to Tagore, "That education is highest which not only

imparts information and knowledge to us, but also promotes
love and follow feeling between us and the living beings of
the world.”
 Aims of Education

Mental
Development Development of all International
Acc to Tagore ,”In faculties Brotherhood
comparison with Chief aim of edn Though Tagore was
Physical bookish Moral &Spiritual a individualist yet
development shd be the drawing
leraning,knowing Development out of the latent he believed in
To include the real living Edn should strive faculties of the socialism,internalis
activities like directly is true edn. for a number of child. m.
swimming,divi It not only moral and spiritual Acc to Tagore
ng,climbing promotes the To him a child is
qualities like self more important individual should
trees, plucking acquiring of some discipline,toleance, develop to the
flowers,e.t.c. knowledge but than himself
courtesy,and inner problems hence he fullest extent and
develops the freedom. then he should
curiosity & faculty opposed the
crushing of the contribute his best
of learning and to the promotion of
knowing so child's individuality.
Hence he should be international
powerfully that no welfare.
class room teaching given full freedom.
can match it.”
 Curriculum
• According to him the curriculum should be such as to develop the individual
physically,mentally,morally,socially,spiritually to the utmost limits.
• A curriculum based on activities, and broad experiences will develop the
personality of the child to the fullest extent.
• Hence the curriculum shd contain activities, subjects for the development of the
personality of the individual.
• In Vishwa Bharti subs like History,Geog,nature study, agriculture and practical
works likehoticulture,gardening,field study,laboratory,original
creations,arts,sculpture,vocational,technical are taught.
• Dancing,singing,painting,designing,sewing,cutting,knitting,cooking,are taught as co
curricular activities in Vishwa Bharti are taught.
• It is known for its wide and varied studies,hobbies,cultural refinements
synthesizing the ancient and modern achievements of the Indian people In all the
fields of human activity.
 Methods of Teaching

• •. •
Discussion& • Activity
• Teaching by QA Method
Walking • Real edn Is • This method is
• The mind in the based on real of great
C.R does not problems of life importance
remain active hence question- because it
• Hence by answer method activates all the
is effective faculties of the
walking the
wherein the tr body& mind. In
mind remains
put the que & Vishwa Bharti
active awake
ask a the sts to he made
,hence the child
participate in compulsory the
easily grasp
discussions. learning of
tings.
• Thus they gain handi craft.
• “Teaching by
essential • He allowed any
walking is the
knowledge. physical exercise
best method of
education or activity even
during the class
teaching
 The Teacher

• Tagore gave an important place to teachers and asked them to

carry out the following activities.
1. Believing in purity and in his own experiences, innocence of
child, the teacher should behave with him with great love and
affection ,sympathy, affection.
2. Instead if emphasizing on book learning, the tr should provide
conducive environment to the child so that he engages himself
in useful and constructive activities and learn by his own
experiences.
3. The tr should always be busy with motivating the creative
capacities of the children so that they remain busy with
constructive activities and experience.
 Evaluation of Tagore’s Philosophy

• Tagore considered nature as the powerful agency of for moral and spiritual
development of the child.
• Hence he exhorted that the children should be taught in Forest Schools as
in ancient times.
• According to Radha Krishnan –”Rabindranath did not claim to produce
any original philosophy. His aim was not to analyze or speculate about
the Indian tradition .He expressed in his own vivid phrases and homely
metaphors, and showed its relevance to modern life.”
• In the words of H.B.Mulherji –”Tagore was the greatest prophet of
educational renaissance in modern India. He waged ceaseless battle to
uphold the highest educational ideal before the country, and conducted
educational experiments at his own institutions, which made them living
symbols of what an ideal should be.”
THANK YOU