Learning Experiences in the Tolstoy Farm and Gandhiji’s concept of Education.

       Gandhiji considered education as a means for the all-round development of a person. He proposed a simple formula for this which he called the 3 H formula. The 3 H’s according to him are related to 3 important areas of one’s life. They are the Head, the Heart and the Hand each representing mind, spirit and body respectively. His system of Education is also known by the name Basic Education/Wardha System of Education.

                                                                       The 3H.

Gandhiji believed that a balanced education of body, mind and spirit is what everyone needed. He questioned the Three R’s tradition of reading, writing and arithmetic and gave ample importance to the building up of one’s character.

                                                                       The 3 R

Tolstoy Farm was a perfect laboratory where Gandhiji experimented his ideas on education. Here the inmates were given a strong foundation in character building as well as in vocational training.  We must remember his words: “Education which does not mould/mold character is absolutely worthless”. Physical activities like digging pits, felling timber, lifting loads  that were practiced in the Tolstoy Farm helped students to develop a sturdy body while vocational training given in carpentry, shoe making and gardening helped them to become self-reliant (self-sufficient) and independent at a very young age itself. Gandhiji’s ‘Basic Education System, as opposed to the European system of education thus upholds the dignity of labour/labor.

-Anjoe-