નીરવ

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION SYSTEM OF GUJARAT: In the 19th century, the British introduced a modern education system in Gujarat. Before it, there were indigenous schools called Dhuli Nishal (sand school). In old times, schools were not run by the state but by private owners, Brahmins who were called Mehtaji/Pandyaji/Pantuji. Schools were at their home. In old times, practical education of reading, writing, number tables and basic calculation was taught in sand schools. There was no pen, slate, or books. In Dhuli Nishal (school), sand was spread on a wooden board and alphabet/number was taught by imprinting with a finger. Pens, slates, and paper were not used. In old times, students were admitted to indigenous schools during the Ashwin month Navratri, as Goddess Saraswati is considered a deity of education. There was no duration of the course/class. The duration depended on the pupil's grasping power. When he learned the alphabet & numbers, schooling finished. In old times, it was the duty of school students to clean the school, which was the home of Mehtaji-teacher & to help Goranima-teacher's wife in her kitchen. Indigenous school teachers used to keep a stick or a hunter to punish pupils & maintain discipline.Handcuffs/chains were used to scare students. In old times, the indigenous school Mehtaji-teacher was a powerful and impressive personality. All people respected him, and students feared him. In old times, parents recommended that teachers to award physical punishment to their sons for better learning. Parents trusted the teacher's honesty. In old times, no office record/register was maintained at school. New student schooling started with his bowing to the teacher with an offer of a coconut. The average fee of an indigenous school was Rs.5/- per year, and the average income of a Mehtaji was Rs.25 pm in the form of cash and essential commodities. People bore the social expenses of Mehtaji's (teacher) family events and occasions like births, marriages, deaths, etc., through contributions and donations. Before the 19th century, girls were not allowed to go to school for education. Upper-class girls used to learn reading & writing at home. People remembered Mehtaji (teacher) first on occasions of Sankranti, Balev, Diwali, marriages, rituals, birth & sent Sidhu-raw food, money to him. In old times, the rich challenged Mehtaji (teacher) to educate their son for a certain period & get a large cash reward. Mehtaji won it mostly. In the old times, when a student learned reading and writing on a sandboard, he was allowed to sit on Thali (plate), meaning to write on Thali with pen & ink. When students learned reading & writing on the sandboard & became eligible to sit on a Thali, they were honoured by a procession. Indigenous school Mehtaji (teacher) was independent. He made his own rules about teaching method, course & duration even for individual students. The Indigenous school remained open as per the wish of Mehtaji. In his absence for personal reasons, the school was closed, even for 1 to 2 months.