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Gurukul Education in Ancient India (800 BCE): Student Life, Values & Daily Routine

  Education in Ancient India – The Gurukul System Around 800 BCE Education in ancient India was not just about reading scriptures or learning discipline—it was a way of living . Around 800 BCE , the Gurukul system flourished across forests, small settlements, and hermitages, offering a rare blend of knowledge, spirituality, skills, and character-building . While modern education focuses on degrees, Gurukul focused on life , turning children into responsible, emotionally grounded, and wise adults. Let’s walk into a Gurukul and live one day as a student of 800 BCE… Living With the Guru — A Family Beyond Blood Students (called shishyas ) lived in the hermitage of their teacher, the Guru . There were no school buildings, benches, or classrooms. Instead, there were: mud huts open courtyards sacred fire altars (yajna kunda) libraries of palm-leaf manuscripts and forests filled with birds and the fragrance of sandalwood The Guru was not just a teacher—he was a p...
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India’s Journey to Independence: Simon Commission, Dandi March & Quit India Movement


Introduction

The second phase of the Indian national movement was not just a demand for constitutional rights but a determined struggle for complete independence. This period saw landmark events such as the Simon Commission boycott, the Nehru Report, the Dandi March, and the Quit India Movement. These movements not only challenged British rule but also awakened national unity and courage among Indians.

Simon Commission (1927)

The British government formed the Simon Commission in 1927 to review constitutional reforms in India. However, no Indian was included in the commission, which angered the people. Indians boycotted it, raising the slogan “Simon Go Back”.

Leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai, Govind Ballabh Pant, and Jawaharlal Nehru led the protests. Lala Lajpat Rai was brutally lathi-charged during a procession in Lahore and later succumbed to his injuries. This enraged revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, who avenged his death by killing British officer Saunders.

Nehru Report (1928)

After boycotting the Simon Commission, the British challenged Indian leaders to draft their own constitution. In response, Motilal Nehru chaired the Nehru Committee.
The report recommended:

  • Dominion status for India

  • Fundamental rights for citizens

  • Independent judiciary

  • Universal adult suffrage

Despite its progressive vision, the British government rejected the report.

Demand for Complete Independence (1929)

Young leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose pressed for Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence).
At the Lahore Session of 1929, the Congress declared complete independence as its ultimate goal. On January 26, 1930, Indians celebrated the first Independence Day, a date later chosen for the enforcement of the Constitution in 1950.

Dandi March & Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)

On March 12, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi began the Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 followers to protest the unjust salt tax. After a 24-day march, he reached Dandi and on April 6, 1930, symbolically broke the law by making salt.

The march awakened a nationwide movement of civil disobedience, inspiring Indians to:

  • Boycott foreign goods

  • Promote Swadeshi products

  • Oppose liquor shops

  • Resist untouchability

Despite brutal repression, arrests, and violence by the British, the movement spread across villages and cities.

Round Table Conferences (1930–32)

In response, the British invited Indian leaders to discuss constitutional reforms. Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference, but it ended in failure as the British insisted on divisive measures like separate electorates.

Quit India Movement (1942)

During World War II, the British once again refused to grant independence. The Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942, with Gandhi’s powerful call: “Do or Die”.

  • Workers struck in factories across Bombay, Ahmedabad, and Madras.

  • Students boycotted schools and colleges.

  • Farmers and villagers joined mass protests.

  • Some groups resorted to sabotage — cutting telegraph wires, burning railway stations, and attacking government buildings.

Despite mass arrests and violent suppression, the movement shook the very foundation of British rule.

Conclusion

India’s journey to independence was marked by both non-violent resistance and revolutionary fervor. From the boycott of the Simon Commission to the Dandi March and finally the Quit India Movement, Indians demonstrated extraordinary courage and unity. These movements paved the way for freedom in 1947, shaping the destiny of modern India.
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