Panchayati Raj and Education in India (2 Volumes)

Panchayat and Panchayati Raj have been very old institutions in India. The village community used to utilise these institutions for the resolution of social conflicts. Religious and such social institutions had played a very significant role in the social dynamics in the ancient times. Unfortunately, with the advent of foreign domination, these institutions became weak and their social role declined. After the advent of Independence the national leadership, especially Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid great stress on the revival and more and more use of these institutions for the social development of the country. A very comprehensive Panchayati Raj Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1992 and vast powers have been delegated to the village leaders. Education is one of these areas which have been entrusted to village Panchayats. There are critics who apprehend that the cause of education may suffer from this unlimited intervention by illiterate leaders in the field of education. The present two volumes have been devoted to the new relationship of education with the village Panchayats.

Dr. Sita Ram Sharma has been a UNESCO Scholar and a Colombo Plan Scholar. He holds Master’s degree in Economics, Education and Hindi besides his Ph.D in Education. He has edited multi volumes encyclopaedia in the field of Education, Linguistics and Rural Development. A prolific writer, he has authored a score of books so far. His fields of specialisation are history of education, teacher training, primary and adult education. His recent book, a biography of Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, President of India was widely acclaimed.