Revitalizing Education Through Ancient Wisdom and Traditional Arts

Art-Integrated Learning (AIL), introduced by the National Council of Educational Research and Training in 2019, is a hands-on teaching method that incorporates visual and performing arts to teach regular academic subjects. This approach changes art from being just another subject to a central tool for grasping concepts, making learning enjoyable, inclusive, and deeply connected to Indian culture. The goal is for students to learn through doing, creating, and experiencing instead of merely memorizing information. Additionally, this method encourages an interdisciplinary approach that seamlessly integrates math, science, social studies, and languages with local art and culture, fostering cognitive, socio-emotional, and psychomotor growth in every child. It is recommended that AIL utilize local resources, folklore, and Indian knowledge systems to help build identity and appreciation for diversity.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in 2019 is advocating for AIL to connect a multi-disciplinary approach with design thinking and Artificial Intelligence (AI) education, alongside the academic learning of various subjects in schools. AIL is viewed as a cross-curricular teaching method where art serves as the medium for conveying and understanding core academic concepts, including digital technology and employable skills. This approach transforms classrooms from rote learning to engaging, experiential education by linking subjects like technology, math, science, and social studies with visual and performing arts.

According to the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), 2025 [3], there exists a profound and significant link between traditional art forms and the study of scriptures. These are seen not as separate academic fields but as interconnected expressions of a unified spiritual reality. In this broad view, sacred texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and Agamas provide the crucial foundation, presenting philosophical ideas, cosmological structures, and mythological narratives that fuel the creative arts. Traditional art forms act as the visual, auditory, and experiential manifestations of these concepts. The IKS Division promotes and incorporates traditional Indian wisdom into contemporary education, in line with NEP 2020, focusing on three main pillars—Jnan (theory), Vignan (applied science), and Jeevan Darshan (philosophy).

The University Grants Commission (UGC), 2023, [4] has set up detailed guidelines to weave Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into higher education institutions throughout India, directly supporting the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 [5] from the Ministry of Education. This strategic move aims to connect traditional knowledge with modern academic fields, ensuring that students gain a thorough understanding of India's historical contributions to global knowledge. As part of this mandate, all higher education institutions must include IKS courses in their curriculum, making up at least five percent of the total credits for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. To maintain academic relevance, at least half of these required IKS credits must be directly related to the student’s major discipline, allowing for a natural blend of ancient wisdom with modern scientific or humanitarian studies. The curriculum covers a wide array of subjects, including traditional sciences, mathematics, logic, metallurgy, architecture, agriculture, jurisprudence, and various classical performing arts.

References

References

[1} National Council of Educational Research and Training. (2019). Art Integrated Learning: Guidelines for elementary stage. https://ncert.nic.in/deaa/pdf/ArtIntegratedLearning-Handbook-Classes%20I-V.pdf

[2] Central Board of Secondary Education. (2019). Art integrated learning (Circular No. Acad-12/2019). Ministry of Education, Government of India. cbseacademic.nic.in

[3] Indian Knowledge Systems Division. (2025). Guidelines for IKS textbook and course material scheme (Amended ed.). All India Council for Technical Education; Ministry of Education, Government of India. texthttps://iks.aicte-india.org/images/2025/Textbook-and-Course-materials-amended.pdf

[4] University Grants Commission. (2023). Guidelines for incorporating Indian Knowledge System in higher education curricula. Ministry of Education, Government of India. UGC

[5] Ministry of Education. (2020). National education policy 2020. Government of India. Ministry of Education NEP 2020

In Summary

Kishore (2026) advocates for integrating ancient knowledge with modern education to create a balanced, value-based learning framework, moving away from an overreliance on rote learning. The approach recommends blending Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), particularly Bhagavad Gita values and traditional performance arts, with daily teaching to boost working memory, emotional intelligence, and character development.

Reference

Kishore, L. (2026, August 6). Revitalizing Education Through Ancient Wisdom and Traditional Arts, Lalit Culp, https://manage.wix.com/dashboard/6dcd91a0-9033-4304-9d97-c88a1dc0dd2d/blog/1d9a95cc-842a-4c6b-b734-24a89c22f8cf/edit