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GUEST EDITORIAL  
Year : 2012  |  Volume : 2  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 1-2
Editorial on education in India, special reference to medical and dental education


Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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Date of Web Publication17-Jul-2013
 

How to cite this article:
Rao UK. Editorial on education in India, special reference to medical and dental education. J Educ Ethics Dent 2012;2:1-2

How to cite this URL:
Rao UK. Editorial on education in India, special reference to medical and dental education. J Educ Ethics Dent [serial online] 2012 [cited 2024 Mar 28];2:1-2. Available from: https://www.jeed.in/text.asp?2012/2/1/1/115137


India's current performance can be attributed to one of the key aspects of developmental obligation: Literacy. The present situation seemingly strikes a laudable note and promises a greater notion over a fully literate country.

Data from the provisional population tables of Census 2011 show the "effective literacy rate" (the percentage of the population above 7 years that is literate) has increased by 9.21% points over the decade to reach 74.04%. This growth in bare literacy reflects the significant steps the post-1947 India has been taking to create a more literate society.

This encouraging portrait must be understood in the context of a wider perspective:

The oriental Indian education commenced under the supervision of a guru (teacher) in traditional schools called gurukuls. The gurukuls were supported by public donation and were one of the earliest forms of public school offices. [1]

In the colonial era, the gurukul system began to be modified as the system promoted by the British began to gradually take over. With this new-fangled awakening, India rose progressively enfolding the field of the arts and sciences. English has been the vital chord for connection to the west, in far more ways profound and beneficial for the education and information exchange as a benefit to all.

The history of medicine in India begins with the evidence of anatomic knowledge found in early cave paintings dating around 3000 BC. The Vedic period around 1500 BC, initiated by the Indo European tribes saw the writings of the Vedas or sciences. The golden age of medicine prevailed the post-Vedic period (800 BC to 1000 AD), with medicine being taught at Nalanda University (the world's first university) and other centers. The Western Medical Sciences arrived in India with the advent of the Portuguese and the British; which resulted in the establishment of the Madras Medical School in 1835 and in 1840, the Portuguese started the Medicine and Pharmacy Licentiates, now known as the Goa Medical College.

Dental education in India became formal with the establishment of the Dental College in Calcutta by Dr. Rafuddin Ahmed, the father of dentistry in India in the 1920s. After 1966, private colleges started being established in what was dominated by government aid until the 1960s. The situation inversed the following decades, which saw a lot of private colleges being established; and currently the country has 294 dental colleges, of which 194 offer PG Curriculum. The combined figures of 254 private colleges with 21,620 students and 40 governmental colleges with 2,380 students see through 24,000 students each year.

This shows how adaptive the Indians were and the Indians are; moving from one form and practice to another for the better, nevertheless, not forgetting any of them. More importantly, these figures as such speak volumes on the importance and prevalence of a well-formed education of value and practice in the country. Dental education in our country follows a similar trend. This field of edification, blessed with importance and necessity has a far and wider growth ahead than what is presently seen. This objective can be achieved with research oriented education and it should be made mandatory.

In India, a place of education is considered revered due to the fact of the culture associated with the teaching be it the private or the governmental campuses. It is more of a secular place of wisdom and devotion and learning and teaching are associated with modesty and morality. This is the sacred art of learning, and it is imparted solely for the apprentice to further benefit the society at large. This acquired knowledge will commendably assist in promoting health awareness, both medical and dental, among common public and also provides new opportunities for the young graduates and will uphold ethical principles.

Continuing this progress as a responsibility and a faith for humanity is the most indispensable requisite of the doctor and this has to be a more of a lantern of service than a profit oriented business. The many great Indian doctors passing out each year should continue to be imparted to ensure these long standing principles are pursued eternally. However, nonetheless the basic faith in humanity is always being upheld, with due credit to the gritty resolve and ideal excellence of the medical practitioners.

 
   References Top

1.http//www.en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/gurukul#history [2012 Jul 9].  Back to cited text no. 1
    

 
   Authors Top

Umadevi K Rao

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Correspondence Address:
Umadevi K Rao
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0974-7761.115137

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