Concept of creativity and education in the light of some works of Sanskrit poetics

Abstract

The concept of creativity and education is a significant topic in some intellectual contexts such as education, aesthetics, philosophy etc. Western scholars such as Arthur j Cropley, Bob Jeffrey and Anna Craft have attempted to understand the concept of creativity and education by examining experience of teachers, lecturers, theorists, policy makers. This study attempts to carry out an examination of the literary aspects of the concept of creativity and education in the light of the works of Sanskrit poetics. The data collected from the works of Sanskrit poetics such as the Kāvyālaṅkāra of Bhāmaha, the Kāvyanusāsana of Hemacandra, the Kāvyamīmāṃsā of Rājaśkhara, theKāvyaprakāśa of Mammaṭa, and the Vāmana’s Kāvyālaṅkārasūtravṛtti was critically and comprehensively examined to identify the concept of creativity and education from the perspective of Sanskrit poetics. The recommendations by the Kāvyamīmāṃsā on three kinds of knowledge, i.e. knowledge of past (smṛti), knowledge of present (mati) and knowledge of future (pragñā), seem more empirical than its theoretical aspects. To succeed in education or creativity, the learning process recommended by ancient Sanskrit poetics, i.e. first go to the teacher; second listen very well; next keep them in mind; then understand; then think logically; after that be doubtless; finally know it truly, shows the practical views held by Sanskrit scholars in ancient India. Furthermore, the elements of intuition (pratibhā) by Mammaṭa and the teaching of external factors such as time and place for studies and the knowledge of the world by Vāmana can be largely identified as aesthetical foundations. The ancient tradition of Sanskrit poetics has understood the fundamentals of creativity and education. In other words, the works of Sanskrit poetics have recommended the way to being successful in education and creativity with aesthetical and philosophical perspectives. The theoretical recommendations of some scholars of Sanskrit poetics seem to be more useful for today's scholarship as well. Therefore, it is worthy studying the works of Sanskrit poetics by the researchers in education and aesthetic disciplines to find some theories of practical basis related to the concept of creativity and education.