Gurukula (Sanskrit: गुरुकुल or Gurukul) was a type of residential schooling system in ancient India with shishya (students) living near or with the guru(teacher), in the same house.
In a Gurukul, the students living together are considered as equals, irrespective of their social standing. They learn from the guru and help the guru in his everyday life, including carrying out of mundane daily household chores. However, some scholars suggest that the activities are not mundane and very essential part of the education to inculcate self-discipline among students. Typically, a guru(teacher) does not receive or accept any fees from the shishya (students) studying with him as the relationship between a guru(teacher) and the shishya (students) is considered very sacred.
Subjects
Various subjects were taught in the 'gurukal' which included study of Vedas, sciences, medicine and surgery, archery, agriculture, study of religion education, philosophy, logics, linguistic, yoga, grammar, mathematics, geometry, astronomy, physics, history, Literature, etc.
Basics
The ancient Indian gurukul education system gave importance to physical education because the strong will resided in a strong body. A strong body and good health was needed for leading a good worldly life end the spiritual life also.• If was expected, form the students that they should know how to use lathi, should have exercises of 'pranayams' and 'suryanamaskaras' every morning in order to strengthen their lungs and bring about around development of their bodies. In ancient India education was not regarded as mere book reading. It was regarded that an educated man was a man of action.
Why did the education deteriorate after all
I have traveled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in the country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation."
-- Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1st Baron Macaulay
[ Speech to the British Parliament, (1835) ]
References:
Wikipedia
Shodhganga - Indian Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Macaulay speech
Encyclopedia of Jainish