Ancient Indian Education : A Plea of Reintroduction to Arrest the Social Decadence of Modern Times/Nrisinha Prasad Mukhopadhyay. New Delhi, Shipra, 2004, xiv, 105 p., ISBN 81-7541-177-5.

    Contents: A presentation. 1. Social decadence of our times. 2. Brahmacharyashram. 3. Yajnas: reaching out to god like stature. 4. Renunciation. 5. Student: the disciple. 6. Modern life habits: the contrast. 7. Reorganizing education. 8. The three pillars. 9. In conclusion. 10. Epilogue: ancient and modern Indian education: the verge/Marmar Mukhopadhyay.

   "There are several outstanding books on ancient Indian education by Altekar, Das, Keay, Mookerjee that competently documented the system of ancient Indian education in all its details. A critical analysis of the ancient Indian education system from the angle of its relevance and applicability in modern times, however, was missing. This book meaningfully fills that void. It provides a rational and critical analysis of the ancient Indian education system and identify such dimensions that are applicable in modern times. Author, as a teacher and headmaster of a village high school, actually practised much of what he professed here.

   "This is not a dry intellectual exercise; it is based on author's experiments, experience and concerns. Author was significantly concerned about the social decadence of our times. His basic contention, in this book, is that certain aspects of ancient Indian education are still relevant and practiceable, and can arrest the social decadence.

   "Originally, this was not authored as a book. It was penned out of sheer enthusiasm of the author to inspire his son, a postgraduate student of education in the late 1960s. Author's son decided to share this treasure with others. Scholars and students of the education system of India will find this book enlightening." (jacket) 

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