Five Major Misunderstandings Of 64 Kala Education

Providing knowledge about the 64 kala was an integral element of the ancient Indian educational system. In the gurukuls of those days, the 64 kalas were treated on par with the 14 vidyas. But things started to change during the Colonial British rule of India. To further their selfish interests, these colonial powers gradually destroyed the age-old educational model of Bharat.

Several misconceptions about the vidyas and kalas were propagated, and unfortunately, most of the Indians believed that to be true. Sadly, many of those wrong notions continue even to this day.

• Firstly, many people erroneously think that these kalas include only fine arts, which shouldn’t be included in the school syllabus. They should be kept apart from mainstream education. It is argued that students who intend to learn any of these arts should do so separately. They can enroll in institutions specific to teaching these kalas.
• But the truth is that a majority of the skills covered under 64 kalas put a student in an advantageous position. They make sure that as soon as a student leaves school or college, they become employable. Young individuals possessing knowledge of the kalas have an option of even choosing self-employment. Building a successful career won’t be so tough for them.
• The second widespread misunderstanding is that these kalas are not considered to be holistic. They are often viewed merely as crafts that help people earn a living. But it has to be noted that in ancient India, each of the 64 kalas was seen as a representation of a specific divine aspect. They are disciplines that awaken the creativity latent in humans; they help people to become conscious of the spiritual angle of existence.
• There is one more widely held belief about the 64 kalas. It is said that the crafts covered under the Kalas are inferior to other disciplines. But the fact is that, according to the Gurukul educational system, every kala in “64 kalas” is of equal value. The craftspeople treat their craft as a form of worship of the divine.

These people put in a lot of hard work for many years, under the guidance of their teacher. It’s only afterward that they attain the expertise to make it their profession and work independently. Indian society considers this dedication and perseverance worthy of reverence. And that is exactly what the skilled artisans got in those days: respect. Even the gurus imparting knowledge of 64 kalas commanded the same veneration as their counterparts teaching the 14 vidyas.

• The following is a harsh reality of modern India: More than seventy-five years have elapsed since Independence. Still, the country is persisting with the same system of education that Britishers introduced almost two hundred years back. At the same time, subjects taught in schools and colleges are considered higher in value than the 64 kalas.
• Those subjects help students to enhance their earning potential in this competitive world. But when it comes to making an individual develop wisdom, they cannot match the kalas. It’s only when Wisdom is what allows us to use knowledge for ethical and positive ends.
• Here is the fifth misconception regarding 64 kalas. It is thought that these kalas are completely disconnected from the 14 vidyas. In this context, it needs to be highlighted that the 64 kala and 14 vidya together were considered complete education that a vedic gurukul student should possess. Students were expected to be good at both Vidya and kala.