The educational heritage of the state of Karnataka was very beautiful and vast. From temples and community centers taking the role of schools; on numerous occasions, one’s education started at home. We could also see that in early education as well as in vocational education, the parents of the student played a very important role, acting as teachers cum parents at their ward’s early years of growth and development. Furthermore, as the days passed Karnataka and India had to witness invasions from people across the world and each of them tried their best to influence the educational system of our country. One group of people who coined the word reform and imposed their way of education – The Europeans paved a forceful way of English Education System on us, and astonishingly all our leaders were educated in this way. Even though it was a forceful endeavor in the beginning, but slowly everyone adapted to it and enjoyed the new western system thoroughly. Thus, began a new age of education which gave rise to universities and colleges, which followed English medium as the medium of teaching/learning, and also, the socio-economic problems were thoroughly addressed in this system.
Continuing in this borrowed way of education, post-independence all the successive governments promoted a unilateral educational system for India and Karnataka. Education became cheaper and available to everybody, even to those who did not love academics or long for education. The system did not distinguish between children of an artist, a farmer, or a merchant, and divided learning equally among everyone, irrespective of the backgrounds they come from.
Eventually, with the rising instances of gender discrimination becoming prevalent across schools and colleges, women were made the center of attention and were given the mantle to lead. This, as a result, led to women who led the so-called ‘low jobs’ of society, being tolerated but also respected in the high society. Organizing assemblies in the halls, where music concerts, several indoor games like chess, dice were held, women showed their true mastery of arts of entertainment, and such women were made teachers, to preach these arts on to the next generations and to the ones who were willing to learn beyond academics.
By now, visual education also had gained importance. With palaces and courts painted beautifully with bright colors of birds, animals, and scriptures, people wanted to learn the art and become abled painters, artists. Kings and later on, the governments of our state enabled special sections in gurukuls and universities dedicated to the art of visual education, and teachers were called from countries abroad and other states to help students, grow as capable painters cum artists, who have the true calling for art.
All in all, over the century’s education having been played a very vital role in the state of Karnataka, great scientists and engineers were produced in this beautiful land. From Vishweshwaraiah to Kuvempu, Karnataka has indeed been a hub for greatness, across various fields and branches. Thereby, being capable of handling a deadly virus and still continuing on this path of smooth education, the schools and colleges of our state have involved themselves in the path of endless growth and learning, where students are being converted non-stop into leaders of tomorrow. Teaching them with the necessary skills and learning for the world outside, the students of today are also being given a detailed history & the heritage of this beautiful state, looking forward to that day, when those students become that someone who can contribute to the state and the society in general, moving towards societal well-being.