Tracing the Journey from Gurukul to Google: An Interdisciplinary Study on the Transformation of Knowledge Systems in India

Abstract This paper critically examines the profound transformation in the dissemination of knowledge in India, tracing the trajectory from the personalised and value-driven Gurukul system of the Vedic era to the present-day digital landscape dominated by platforms such as Google. It traces the journey of knowledge transformation and includes the effect of each era on this, such as in Islamic education, which was democratized as it cut the rigid, birth-based exclusivity and became multilingual, incorporating languages like Arabic and Persian. The colonial period was a total paradigm shift as it changed the system of knowledge transformation by changing the medium of instruction. It explores major milestones, including the rise of ancient universities, the shifts brought by Islamic and colonial institutions, post-independence reforms, and the disruptive impact of information technology and NEP 2020. The effect of globalisation also broadened the study, which adopts an interdisciplinary approach, analysing pedagogical, cultural, social, technological, and policy dimensions. It highlights the democratisation of access, challenges of the digital divide, evolution of teaching roles, and the ongoing need to blend ancient holistic values with contemporary innovations such as AI and online learning platforms. A holistic approach is necessary, as this paper suggests, since technological aspects alone will not be sufficient for the overall well-being of the learner, who also requires aspects such as critical thinking, morals, ethics, social, and cultural concerns. So, such policies should be derived that integrate the ancient with technology-driven modern. So the paper concludes by emphasizing the necessity for a balanced, inclusive, and culturally rooted knowledge system to achieve true learner development in the 21st century.