“If you want to know India, study Swami Vivekananda. In him, there is everything positive and nothing negative.” - Rabindranath Tagore Swami Vivekananda’s, philosophy was an amalgamation of the traditional values wrapped delicately inside modern thoughts, further ornamented with superhuman thoughts aiming human values. He lived for a short span, yet he influenced the ideas and conscience of multitudes all over the world. Swamiji’s intellectual speeches and charismatic personality, stroke a steady impact altering general consciousness and the notion of Hinduism globally. Swami Vivekananda was previously named Narendranath Dutta. He acquired this new name when he took ‘Sanyasa’ in 1886. Swamiji is a globally famous identity, known for his spiritual wisdom of Hindu religion, Indian philosophy of Vedanta and Yoga as well as inclination towards western view of life. His principal Rev. W. W. Hastie commented that Narendranath was really a genius, and that, his travel made him acquainted with an enormous number of people of whom, Narendranath was equipped with unimaginable talents and possibilities. In search of truth, his meeting with Sri Ramakrishna was a turning point of his life.

Swamiji inspired courage and confidence in the hearts of all Indians as well as the Westerns. The importance of education lays in the single sentence stated by him: “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.” Swamiji teaches us that strength is life and weakness is death. He observed the need of an education which would shape the character, strengthen the mind, and expand the intellect, to help one stand on his own feet. Swamiji was born in a blue blood family with a golden spoon in his mouth. His educational dreams acted against different forms of social evils including gender inequality, caste and prejudices and also helped to reduce impoverished socio-economic and intellectual status of mankind, serving to arrive at sustainable development towards inclusive society. He was a man who truly identified himself with mankind as a whole; creed, caste, or language was no consequence to him [1]. 

Objectives of the Study

The whole study throws light on Swami Vivekananda’s view on education. The key objective of this theoretical paper is to know the educational view of Swamiji (especially, on the basis of Man-making Education, Women Education and Mass Education). The study also focuses on the basic aims of education and roles of an ideal teacher according to the thought of Swami Vivekananda.

Swamiji’s View on Education

Swami Vivekananda was a great philosopher as well as an educationist and also a true follower of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. As a philosopher he describes God as a supreme power and believes that man is potentially divine. He expressed an equal view on different religion. Swamiji advocates that no religion is inferior or superior to another. The key aim of all religions is to reach God through spiritualism. According to Vivekananda, education is a process in which the young minds will receive strength, energy and vigorous character. Through this process, the individual will mould themselves into a complete and perfect human being [2]. Swami Vivekananda has contributed a lot in reforming the education for the nation. He treated education as a continuous and comprehensive approach which should cover all the aspects of life such as physical, moral, religious, emotional, intellectual, spiritual etc. He had dreamt of such an education which would be free from all the evils of the society. It should not be just a matter of human brain. It should be the way of purifying and reforming human brain positively. His mission and vision towards education is still significant in respect to this modern era. In a single word, in Swamiji’s view, the final aim of education is Man Making. 

Swami Vivekananda has turned education in a new direction. This personality is the inspiration for the youths of this society. According to him, “The ultimate aim of all education and all training is man making.” In contrast to the contemporary system of education, Swamiji expressed his view on education as-

Mass Education

The prime importance given by Swami Vivekananda to education is the education of the masses. The basic reason of our backwardness is neglecting the masses, specifically, the lack of proper education among the masses. So, India will be educated and regenerated if the masses are provided with educational facilities as per the need so that they can enhance their knowledge and skills to perform their activities efficiently. In his words, “Our great national sin is the neglect of masses and that is the cause of our downfall.” [3]. He believed that the overall progress of a country totally depends on the hands of the masses. For securing the motto of self-development, there is no way except raising and educating the masses. The masses i.e., all the people of a country irrespective of any classes are the backbone of that country. The only way to get rid of the different inequalities and evils of the society is to facilitate the entire mass by providing them proper educational support. He dreamt of education reaching every individual to uplift the masses and for that, spreading education among them is necessary. According to his thought, education is not just a book learning. It is the process of development to manifest oneself. In respect to India, poverty is a common factor that plays a leading role in backwardness. If education can reach every home of the country, it can be worked as a great remedy to reduce poverty among the countrymen. That is why Swamiji laid the greatest emphasis on Mass Education.

Man-Making Education

An important part of Swamiji’s educational thought on education is Man-making Education. This education helps in the development and modification of human character. Education is not only the process of acquiring some knowledge and attaining degrees, it is the development of different human qualities among man, such as self-control, discipline, patience, tolerance, morality, peace, honesty, self-confidence, value, universal brotherhood etc. It can be said that combining all the aims of education, the central aim of education is Man-making.

The concept of Man-making education is emphasised on the harmonious development of a child. He teaches us that the key secret of success is providing education to make a pure man (said by him at the parliament of Religious held, Chicago in 1893). His guru, Sri Ramakrishna used to say that ‘Manush’ (Human being) needs to become ‘Man-Hush’ i.e., a true man having a true sense [4]. 

Women Education

Swamiji’s educational dream also includes women education, as this is the preliminary way for empowering women of a country. Women play a very dominant role in the basic life of a child as well as in the development of our nation. But in India, men are bread earner and women are bread maker inside the home traditionally. There are so many problems faced by women, education helps them to break the barriers and face those challenges confidently. He did not want to put emphasis on the discrimination between men and women because the soul cannot be discriminated in respect to sexual differences. Men and Women are the two wings of a bird. This implies that if one is shed off, the flight of the bird would be hampered. Similarly, the entire society will not be able to improve unless the condition of women is improved. His meeting with Margaret Elizabeth Noble (latter, Sister Nivedita) was the milestone of women empowerment in India [5]. 

His concept of Man-making education should be included in women also. For solving different problems of real-life situations, a woman must hold a strong position and it is only possible when there will be equality between men and women. Educational opportunities should not be discriminated on the basis of gender in the society

Basic Aims of Education Supported by Swamiji

Vivekananda believed that person can be uplifted only through education. Figure 1 Swamiji’s philosophy of education is based on his philosophy of life. Being a great philosopher he gives on such type of education that helps a person in-

Figure 1: Swamiji’s Philosophy of Education

• Self-Development

Swami Vivekananda had dreamt an education that helps a person in his/ her self-development by creating self-confidence and self-realisation. Every individual has a particular aim in their life, which only a proper education can help a person in striving to reach the highest goal of his/ her life. It provides self-knowledge that brings material prosperity among people. According to him, education does not mean the fulfilment of knowledge. It is uncovering the knowledge hidden in peoples’ mind. In Swamiji’s word, “You cannot teach a child any more than you can grow a plant. The plant develops its own nature.”- Swami Vivekananda. Knowledge can be discovered within the individual. Self-development is important to be a complete man, so education must aim at achieving this

• Development of Unity in Diversity

Swami Vivekananda is that divine soul who followed the principle of Universal Brotherhood in his life. There is an existence of diversity, but people should realize the value of unity in diversity. He always dreamt for harmony and good relationships among all nations, so he focused on an education which helps to make sense of this unity among the person. Education is the basic key to fulfil that dream by which we can be free from the walls of separations and inequalities

• Character Development

A good character is strength of a person. A proper education is that which helps to develop a good character among human beings. In Swamiji’s viewpoint character development should be a basic aim of life that can be achieved by education. He does not give importance on character making only for the individual’s development but also for the transformation of total mankind. His thought teaches us that the welfare of all is based on promoting freedom and equality of all, his dream of education that fosters the development of good character- ensures the humanism among the individuals

• Spiritual and Moral Development

Swami Vivekananda was a big supporter of Vedanta philosophy. Being a vedantist, the concept of his Spiritual Education as well as spiritual thought came from the knowledge of the Veda, the Upanishad and the Gita [6]. Spirituality can purify a person and helps in attaining wonderful unity with the creator. This moral and spiritual development moves a person towards perfection. God always prefer the side of goodness; the moral and religious education develops self-confidence and loyalty among the individuals

• Physical Development

Educational aim from Swamiji’s viewpoint focuses on physical development of an individual. His words, “Power is life and weakness is death” prove that. His more emphasizes on playing football rather than studying the Gita makes us known about the physical development as an educational aim. Swamiji says that both are necessary for the development of an individual but playing football yields better result

• Practical Aspect of Life

The key role of education is not only to meet theoretical aspects, but also the practical aspects. Swamiji focused on vocational aim of education which fosters an individual towards a comfortable life, where they can stand on their own feet by developing capacities and potentialities hidden among them. It facilitates a man to be engaged in some occupation and helps him to move towards self-dependence.

Role of a Teacher in Swamiji’s View

A teacher is the backbone of a society. The teacher should play a pivotal role in Man-making education. It is a big question that, what qualities are required to be a ‘Man’? The basic qualities of a real man are sympathy, empathy, self-confidence, spirit, patience, tolerance, helpfulness, value, morality etc. Teacher is that personality who has the potentiality to develop these qualities among the students. The teacher should create a healthy environment and establish a good rapport with the learners which are important for their entire development. The teacher must provide proper support that facilitates the learners to manifest them towards positivity. The teacher has the right to lead the child in a proper way so that they can achieve their goals on the right path. A true teacher is a person who motivates the student’s developing encouragement and spirit among them.

Self-realization is a fundamental factor for students’ success or overall development, but it is not possible without the help and guidance of an ideal teacher. The compulsory criteria of a good teacher are to be sinless, and possess a good character that moves the students towards the education for character development. According to Swamiji, control of mind is another essential part for the development of a student; ‘Yoga’ and ‘Meditation’ are the most reliable measures for developing the power of mind control among the students. If we can control our mind, we will be able to control our sense organs also [7]. As Swamiji thinks that a proper education is not pouring a stock of knowledge into the mind of a student, he does not treat the teachers as knowledge provider only. An ideal teacher should play multiple roles for the students’ development as per their needs such as friend, philosopher, guide, motivator, problem solver, and most importantly, a facilitator. 

Through this discussion it is very clear that Swami Vivekananda is the great soul whose educational view helps the learners in their development and enrichment. His thoughts regarding Man-making education, Mass education, Women education are equally relevant in present scenario also. Today, value erosion is a very common issue in various fields of the society; Swamiji’s education not only makes a man educated but also helps to inculcate values and different human qualities among people. He is the icon of humanization; his religious view is a basic ingredient in preparing the students as a ‘Man’. Swamiji always emphasized on the overall development of the hidden potentialities of students. It is possible through self-realisation, self-control, self-efficiency, self-reliance and self-confidence that are the core objectives of education from Swamiji’s viewpoint. His concept of universal brotherhood works as a bridge that makes a connection between the East and West. It can be said that Swami Vivekananda is a pole star for the modern educators also. 

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