History of Special Education in India

The history of special education can be traced back to the down of human civilization when human begin becomes aware of those whose appearance and behavioral characteristics differed from majority of the population. The reaction of people towards a typical individuals differed from cruel to human, those who were different, were destroyed, tortured, ignored exiled and even considered divine by the Society. Their problems were crudely explained in terms of superstition and action of previous birth.

In the early stage of human civilization, people lived in small tribes which wandered from place to place in search of means of livelihood. They often clashed among themselves for superiority of status. People has faith in religion, superstition and demonology etc. Those individuals who had some physical abnormalities were mostly destroyed primitive people believed that physical and mental disorders were the result of demon that had taken possession of an individual.

It is useful to study history of any subject based on an integrated approach of past events, representing a critical search for the whole truth. Such an approach is quite useful to solve the problems of the present and to plan methodically for the future. Keeping this goal in view, the Research Investigator has studied, briefly the historical development of Special Education in India.

In India about 10 percent of its total population is disabled either physically or mentally. They all need education because only education can help them to survive in such a difficult world. Indian constitution also advocate for universal, free and compulsory education to the age group between 1-14 years, each and every citizen of India has his or her fundamental right to education. It is our birthright irrespective of caste creed sex physical and mental conditions.

Education plays a vital role in the all round development of people. It is necessary to study the journey of education through different stages sight from ancient to modern times only then it is possible to know the causes of success and failure of a certain civilization, community and culture.

In India special education has emerged an important area of study and is now essential part of the modern education system. The concept is continually changing because of new thinking about children with special needs, their growth and development and adjustability with rest is of prime concern to educators. It, therefore, became imperative to switch over from integrating the child into the regular system to adopting the system to the need of children with special needs. For researchers, as well as for students it is essential to know the historical developments in the area of special education.

It is matter of great pleasure, that Dr. Hifzur Rahman who is an old student of Jamia Millia Islamia has put in efforts to compile the historical developments in special education His book "History of Special Education in India", will be very useful reading for all those concern with this area. He has systematically organised the events and scientifically analysed their development. The multiplicity of areas covered in the book makes it especially useful for B.Ed. and M.Ed. Students of Special Education.

"History is a meaningful record of human achievement. It is not merely a list of chronological events out of truthful integrated account of the relationship between persons, events, times and places, we use history to understand the present in light of past events and development".

The history of special education can be traced back to the down of human civilization when human begin becomes aware of those whose appearance and behavioral characteristics differed from majority of the population. The reaction of people towards atypical individuals differed from cruel to human, those who were different, were destroyed, tortured, ignored exiled and even considered divine by the Society. Their problems were crudely explained in terms of superstition and action of previous birth.

In the early stage of human civilization, people lived in small tribes which wandered from place to place in search of means of livelihood They often clashed among themselves for superiority of status. People has faith in religion, superstition and demonology etc. Those individuals who had some physical abnormalities were mostly destroyed primitive people believed that physical and mental disorders were the result of demon that had taken possession of an individual.

In brief it can be said that early people, by and large had negative attitude towards physically and mentally disabled children.

"The seeds of social Darwinism can be traced in the theory of karma according to which individual state of present life is the outcome of his karma (acts) in the past life and his present karma would determine the state of his next life. It is deterministic to a great extent as it rationalize present sufferings of the disabled".

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