Innovative Education Initiatives of an Educationist Tarabai Modak: A Historical Study

Abstract

This research paper studies the innovative educational work of Tarabai Modak, a pioneer in early childhood education in India. She introduced practical, low-cost preschool methods that were suitable for rural and tribal children. Her ideas were based on learning by doing, activity-based teaching and participation of parents and the community. The study highlights her experiments in Bordi and Kosbad, where she used local materials and cultural practices to make education meaningful. It also shows how her model influenced national programs such as Balwadi, Anganwadi, ICDS and the provisions of NEP 2020. The paper concludes that Tarabai Modak’s approach is still useful today because it promotes child-centred, inclusive and experience-based education for young children in India.