From Gurukul to Digital Classrooms: Reinterpreting Indian Knowledge Systems in the NEP 2020 Era

The Gurukul system of education, deeply rooted in the Indian Knowledge System (IKS), represented a holistic model of learning that emphasized experiential pedagogy, moral development, personalized mentorship, and harmony with nature through the Guru–Shishya Parampara. Over time, colonial influences and examination-oriented modern education systems led to the marginalization of these indigenous educational practices. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 marks a significant policy shift by recognizing the relevance of Indian Knowledge Systems and advocating their integration into contemporary education through multidisciplinary, flexible, and technology-enabled learning frameworks. This paper aims to reinterpret the transition from Gurukul to digital classrooms by examining how the core principles of the Gurukul system are being re-envisioned within the NEP 2020 framework. The study is based entirely on secondary data, drawing insights from scholarly articles, policy documents, and recent research on Indian Knowledge Systems, Gurukul pedagogy, and digital education initiatives. The analysis highlights the philosophical and pedagogical convergence between traditional Gurukul values—such as experiential learning, value-based education, holistic development, and individualized mentorship—and modern digital classrooms supported by information and communication technologies, online platforms, and blended learning models. The study further identifies opportunities and challenges in this reinterpretation process, including curriculum design, teacher preparedness, technological accessibility, and the validation of traditional knowledge in modern academic settings. The paper concludes that NEP 2020 provides a transformative framework to bridge ancient educational wisdom with contemporary digital practices. By effectively integrating Gurukul principles into digital classrooms, Indian education can foster culturally rooted, technologically empowered, and globally relevant learners.