Revivalism in Indian educational philosophy: reinterpreting ancient wisdom for modern times
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The issue of educational revivalism has served as a reaction to demands of globalization and the escalating presence of standardized cultural commodities in India. The article begins by placing revivalism in the historical context of Indian education, showing that there was an underlying foundation in the Gurukula system of education and Vedic-Upanishadic principles, all of which were indigenous to Indian education. The article will determine how the Indian knowledge systems and philosophies may come to be seriously considered in the design of the curriculum, and how a balance between conservative and progressive education policies may be achieved. The article employs a normative or philosophical approach and uses historical writings and current policies to determine the extent of the revivalism ideology application and applicability in India today. It is demonstrated how revivalism has developed into a cultural defence against charges of dogmatic, speculative, and exclusionary moral-religious education, by contending to challenge this criticism based on a combination of traditional and modern learning. The article goes on to discuss the relevance of the revivalism to Indian and international education systems and suggests specific policy recommendations to incorporate indigenous knowledge in a way that is compatible with international academic discourses. The article also points toward the need for empirical studies on the outcomes of revivalist-inspired curricula, as well as comparative analyses across different cultural and educational contexts.
Source: Cogent Education
Authors: Aditya Kumar Gupta, Sooraj Kumar Maurya
Institution: University of Delhi
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,165
OpenAlex ID: W7123352259