RELEVANCE OF TEACHING METHODS IN VOGUE IN ANCIENT INDIA IN CURRENT EDUCATIONAL SCENARIO:PEDAGOGICAL REMINISCENCES APROPOS VEDIC AND BUDDHIST PERIOD

The process of teaching and learning encompasses the Teacher and the Learners as its indispensable elements, in which the former imparts knowledge, attitudes, values, interests and skills to the latter by means of communication which is put to effect by way of what is known as Teaching method. The teacher by way of his or her own behavior (teaching) brings about desirable change (s) in the behavior of pupils (learning) according to some pre-determined objectives formulated as per the curriculum designed. Alternatively it can be said that this change is brought about by different methods of teaching. Suffice it to say, Teaching methods are the sine qua non of teaching-learning process. It is not that the teaching methods have been in use recently or since remote past but these have been in vogue since the dawn of education in this mundane world. However the methods kept gradually evolving over the period of time the manifestations of which are evident in the form of paradigm shifts in Pedagogy in the current scenario. Alternatively, the destination (modification of behavior) is the same but the journey has been made different. The present paper throws light on the different teaching methods prevalent in Ancient India besides highlighting the relevance of those very methods in the current educational scenario and giving valuable suggestions pertaining to the use of same in pre-service and in-service education programme.