IntroThere is a type of misconstrued notion that education is some kind of straight-jacketed, formal transmission of information where adherence to man-made structures is paramount. But, that’s indeed furthest away from truth as it can be. The reality is that education is ever changing, hotly contested, deeply personalized and a politically a never ending issue. But, it’s imperative to understand the different contexts through which the education has come up. Philosopher’s ViewEducation according to John Dewey is the continuous reconstruction of experience that prepares one for what is in store in future. He recommended thinking above everything else to confront the external formulation and the unraveling of the past. His idea was, to ensure that he creates a methodology which could ensure, that an individual develops an organic connection with what the child has already seen or felt and is not trapped by any rigid structure. Above all he was against any education that transmits information in a ready-made manner, which he had warned could only spike the number of dropouts and nosedive the motivation sharply.However, Fromm had a very different take on how he wishes to look at education with respect to society. He believed an individual has to grow up for the sake of an integrated life. He gives importance to learning to love, develop reason, objective world watching, developing a coherent sense of identity and through complete command over his senses.In the Indian context, education itself has a different meaning altogether. It’s a known fact that Indian education has always reckoned to be of classical and spiritual rather than practical in nature. The love of education is always reckoned to have been introduced very early and has had a ripple effect on the society. Thus, the definitions itself have a different take of education altogether. The earliest definition was given by G.K Gokhale who was very categorical in stating that ‘an illiterate and ignorant nation can never make any solid progress and must fall back in the race for life’. In this case he had advocated education to help get rid of back-breaking poverty.Gandhi, on the other hand advocated development of mind and body in close proximity to one another to ensure that intellect is developed fully. The idea of burdening an individual with useless information under the rote-based model, was futile, which he in any case believed was dead-weight. He was adamant on practical experience in a working environment to link with the knowledge. Ultimately, he became a key proponent of aesthetic coupled with vocational education in addition to attaining monetary independence and contributing to the economy side by side. Tagore, India’s earliest Nobel laureate, laid emphasis upon becoming in touch with complete life, economic, intellectual, aesthetic, social and spiritual. He insisted in education becoming the heart of the society that forges bonds of varied cooperation’s. More than anything else, he insisted on a child to develop an organic connection with their surroundings.The ideas of Sri Aurobindo were indeed gospels that could have revolutionized Indian education completely. The three principles of nothing can be taught, allowing mind to be consulted for growth and allowing an individual to develop in their own chosen environment could have become gospel truth. Sadly, his principles were ideologically sound but somehow not very specific.One of the earliest Aurobindo’s disciple, Pavitra, who had contributed enormously in post-independent’s first education commission called the Kothari commission, had prophesized education having twofold benefits collective and individual aspect. He emphasized upon healthy physical body, character building, master oneself and realizing one’s own abilities for the individual aspect. Also for a collective aspect, one has to develop a harmonious relationship with society and does his own duty as part of his obligation towards society.But the educational philosopher who did fit the bill perfectly was Jiddu Krishnamurti who laid the foundation for all future educational debates in India. In the process of theorizing, he perpetually equated education to be equivalent of learning. The argument which he created was that learning was not only a mere cultivation of memory or accumulation of knowledge, rather it was the capacity to think clearly and sanely without illusion and without any pre-fixed ideas.

However, contemporary political philosopher, Pratap Bhanu, advocated education to be come under the headline of social mobility and economic advancement to compete in the global knowledge economy. The argument is indeed not very far from what Fareed Zakaria, a notable Indian-origin journalist, had sarcastically mentioned of skills based education as the only path to a good career in India. But, he somehow argued that the downward spiral of Indian education is completely linked with the economy. His argument of 70’s onwards surging inflation, slumping economy and major nationalization drives were the major determinants impacting the education sector was indeed hard to disagree with.ConclusionThe contrasting directives show the depth of the problem through the lens of many foreign and Indian thinkers. But that’s not the only thing that mattered. The point is who had a voice in the decision making after the formulation of the education policy and to what ends they were pursued and why.It’s indeed very hard to disagree with anyone of the above. Possibly because everyone is correct from their own point of view. But, the point is the Indian education situation has become even worse than it was ever before. Ultimately, learning outcome has become the biggest casualty in this din. References

1.        Fromm Erich, Sane Society2.        Dewey John, Child and Curriculum3.        Dewey John, Democracy and Education4.        Dewey John, Experience and Education5.        Mehta Pratap Bhanu, Burden of Democracy6.        Ghosh SC, History of Education in Modern India7.        Harris Kevin, Aims of Education8.        Pavitra PB, Aims and Education of Human Life9.        Educational Practice and Philosophy10.     A New Approach to Society: Sri Aurobindo Society11.     11. Towards a New Education by MK Gandhi12.     In defense of Liberal Education: Fareed Zakaria