"The process of learning should be as far as possible a pleasurable one and not laborious". Following sentence was given by:

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The correct option is 2:

Mahatma Gandhi was a profound educational thinker whose philosophy emphasized that education should be holistic, rooted in life, and connected to the learner’s experiences. His scheme of Basic Education (or *Nai Talim*) strongly advocated for learning through productive, creative, and joyful activities, particularly manual labor or crafts. Gandhi believed that forcing knowledge upon a child makes learning tedious and repulsive; instead, true learning happens when the process is inherently enjoyable and natural. The statement, "The process of learning should be as far as possible a pleasurable one and not laborious," perfectly encapsulates his belief that the act of gaining knowledge should be a spontaneous, joyful, and non-coercive experience, transforming the burden of study into a delightful endeavor.

The incorrect option is 1: Friedrich Froebel

Friedrich Froebel is celebrated as the founder of the Kindergarten system, emphasizing the importance of play and self-activity in early childhood education. While Froebel certainly advocated for pleasurable learning, his most famous statement and core conceptual framework revolve around "gifts" (objects) and "occupations" (activities) designed to reveal the unity of life to the child. His emphasis was on symbolic play and the spiritual development through guided activities, rather than a direct philosophical statement contrasting "pleasurable" versus "laborious" learning in the broader educational context as Gandhi did, especially concerning secondary education and craft-based learning.

The incorrect option is 3: John Dewey

John Dewey, an American philosopher and educator, championed Pragmatism and progressive education. His central belief was in "learning by doing," where education is life itself, and children should solve real-world problems. Dewey focused on active participation, problem-solving, and the democratic classroom environment. While his methods lead to pleasurable learning, the quote itself is not one of his widely attributed, defining principles. Dewey's educational maxims are usually phrased around experience, reflection, and social utility, rather than simply defining the emotional state of the learning process as "pleasurable and not laborious."

The incorrect option is 4: Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori focused on the individual child’s spontaneous development within a carefully prepared environment, utilizing self-correcting didactic materials. Her methods center on observation and the freedom of the child to choose their work, which certainly results in intrinsic pleasure. However, her core principles are generally attributed to concepts like the "prepared environment," the "absorbent mind," and "normalization." The specific wording of the quote—contrasting learning as "pleasurable" versus "laborious"—aligns most accurately with the philosophical rhetoric of Mahatma Gandhi's drive to reform traditional, rote, and coercive schooling into a natural and joyful process.