The Indian educational system impacts all of us directly or indirectly at various points in our lives. We are often critical and inevitably have solutions to offer for India’s educational woes. In this insightful and interesting collection, a noted educationist takes us beyond generalizations into what he calls the ‘inner world of education’.

We go inside schools and classrooms, into training institutes, and textbooks and beyond, and delve into the public examination process, to analytically view the system as well as the concept of education. At the same time, Krishna Kumar alerts us to the wider cultural, economic, and technological factors that influence both the system and its key participants—students and teachers.

Full of creative ideas, this selection of the author’s shorter essays explores a wide range of issues and concerns. Self-audit for schools to judge how they use energy and water, inclusion of crafts in the curriculum, the value of quiet observation in nature study, and the need to re-conceptualize girls’ education are among the many ideas offered in this reflective book.

Its accessible style and subtle passion will attract decision-makers and activists as well as parents, teacher trainers, educationists, and the students themselves.