K G Saiyidain : A Life in Education

‘I have sometimes the feeling that what we need most urgently today is not so much new and original ideas – though the magnificent adventure of creative thought should never cease – or educational wisdom of an untasted vintage. We need courage, persistence and faith in the application of ideas and techniques which are generally honoured in theory but ignored in practice.’ KG Saiyidain 'Khwaja Ghulamus Saiyidain was born in 1904 in Panipat, Haryana in an educated and erudite family. He was among the foremost thinkers who shaped the Educational policy of independent India. Educated at Aligarh Muslim University and Leeds University in England, Saiyidain secured a first-class first throughout. Saiyidain began his career as Professor of Education and devoted his life to promoting educational, cultural and humanistic values in India and abroad. He worked with Mahatma Gandhi on Wardha Scheme and with Dr Zakir Husain in promoting Basic Education across India. His emphasis was on training teachers in order to cultivate in students an enquiring mind, an open heart and quest for truth. As Secretary of Education, Government of India, Saiyidain was integral to India’s relationship with UNESCO and with many other national and international Institutes and Universities. Recognized as an educationist and a humanist, Saiyidain was the recipient of many Indian and international awards. Saiyidain promoted humanist and cultural values through his words and pen. He wrote both in Urdu and English. His books Faith of an Educationist, University and the Life of the Mind and The Humanist Traditions in Indian Educational Thought continue to be relevant even today.