The people may say that going in the school, attending coaching centers or
getting tutors at home is education. They may also consider that completing
homework, reading and writing books, scoring high marks and getting a job is
education. But education is beyond such trivial and narrow perceptions which
rather limit and distort its true meaning.
Education
is something which makes us man out of animal. We are entitled to be called
civilized and developed race of the planet. We not only get education in the so
called formal institutions and the hub of educational centers but also from the
life moving around ourselves which too are the richest and biggest source of
education. The raw mind gets ripened out of education that enables us to live
the over laden life smoothly and successfully. It’s merely education that has
transformed human race into present age of machine and technology from
primitive nomadic state. It is education only that makes a clear distinction
between man and animal. The man has the reason, power and resources to get
education in systematic manner. The true education heightens our living
standard and style among our people.
The
big question in today’s scenario is whether present education system has really
created cultured and successful citizen. It still poses a big challenge in
front of us. We have to analyze into the mirror of the education systems
founded, practiced and prevailed by our great ancestors and worthy forefathers.
If we analyze deep in this regard a little deeply, we will compulsorily concede
that ‘the conventional education system has no more power left in it to create
civilized and successful citizen’. We will very easily favor the idea that
‘every education system is the result of a specific time and life in it’.
From
the early stage of human life, there has been different mode of educating the
people. And in the process of development of human race, it went on getting
accustomed and adapted with the changed scenario. In every phase of time there
have been three distinct categories of people. First those people who remained
fanatically stuck to the bygone older habits, practices, cultures and
traditions, second those people who happily and enthusiastically hugging the
all the changes and third those people who stand between inevitability of
changes and the worth of the past.
It’s
really worth noticeable that ‘Change is the law of nature, there is no beauty
without change’. We could not have hoped the use of computer and mobile, aero
planes and sophisticated machines from the primitive uncivilized men, but we
must agree that what we are today is the result of our forefather’s inventions
and discoveries. Today searching of the newer planet seems sensational but in
those days, the invention of fire, wheel and pots were not less sensational.
They have been the backbone of all today’s development. What newer things we
are developing today will become of secondary importance after centuries ahead.
The invention of fire would have really dazzled the nomadic people. They would
have got burning spot to their bodies but later they utilized the same for
their advancement in sphere of human life like making the sharp weapon for
hunting, to save them from wild beasts, to cook the food etc. The invention of
the wheel lessened the burden of the back of the man. The animals were being
used to carry the goods from one place to another. The society started assuming
form. And the race of development quickened. The fire and the wheel is the
reason why we are making synthetic materials today.
How
can we say that only the present generation citizens are to be called
successful? Were Chanakya
and Chandra Gupta not successful? Was Ashoka , the great a failure? Were
Napoleon and Alexander, the great only the nothing? Were Mihirsen, Aryabhatta,
Sushrut of no importance? It’s foolish to say that only present generation
education system has potential to inculcate the cultural values. Think about
Mahatam Gautam Buddha and Mahabira Swami, they taught the morals to the world.
Such stalwart figures guided the humanity. Such eminent persons influenced the
tide of their times and inspired the future as well. They are unforgettable and
non ignorable. They left an indelible imprint in the pages of history and time.
Throughout all our journey of life in the world, they are still paving the path
to humanity with inextinguishable lamp of knowledge, courage, fearlessness,
magnanimity, perseverance and many more.
There
is only one thing to say in this regard that every education system has its
limitations of the age and circumstances, but it has its importance not only in
the associated era but also in all ages and times. It may be replaced by the
newer ideas and better concepts suitable for the present needs, but it can
never lose its worth. As the human life advances, so their needs also do. The
glory and goodness of the past values should be carried forward. That must be
molded and managed according to the time and situation otherwise it will become
insignificant and meaningless. The old customs, values, practices, habits and
beliefs should be colored in modernity, only then; it can leave an impression
over the new generation multitude. If
any system, whatever and however great and magnificent it had been in
its time, whatever influential it had been , remain adamant and stagnant, will
vanish away from the world’s arena. The beauty lies in the very universality
and timelessness of the systems. It must not be slave and stubborn to a
definite phase and space. It must have human touch of all ages, places and
races. Only then it can survive amid toughest and turbulent coils recoils of
time.
Once, to get knowledge and education was an individual
concern. Self inspired and self motivated man forbade the human pleasures of
domestic livings, came out into the lusty jungles, vibrant valleys, robust
mountains, tenderly rivers, pervading spaces and benevolent sky. He wandered
freely and fearlessly. He felt the breeze, smelled fragrances and ate fabulous
fruits. He wore the surroundings, slept on grass and grounds and befriended the
insects, animals and plants. He smoothly travelled through shrubs, pebbles and
thorns. He sat day to night and introspected. He explored the life within and
beyond. He realized the facts and fables. He became a man of humanness. He
acquired the blessings of manhood.
In the later ages, with the formation of social structures
and concentration of populace, the learning and experience started getting
institutionalized. The sages shared their supreme knowledge of life and world
to other fellow men that were desirous and curious to get it. The Guru Shishya
tradition commenced. Far from the human habitats, in the deep and dense
forests, the Guru with his dedicated disciples, discuss and discern the
complexities of live, world and universe. The pious bond and virtuous knot
between the Guru and his disciples made elegant and elaborate quest for
salvation and solutions of complexities and intricacies of human life and its
relation with fellow natural world. Their combined endeavor together helped to
guide and show path to advancement to human community. They taught the valuable
lessons of living like brotherhood, love, benign, compassion, empathy,
tolerance, benevolence, non violence, truth, chastity, mercy and above all
harmony among all fellow living and non living world.
The advent of Lord Gautam Buddha and his practical
preaching and precious sermons fueled the world of learning and knowledge. On
his precepts and inspiration, the organized and well systematic educational
institutions were established to maximize the benefits of their learning in the
welfare of the mass common people. Thus the great universities like Taxshila,
Nalanda and Vikaramshila were founded in different parts of the country.
Thousands of monks and millions of disciples from nook and corner of the
country and abroad enhanced its glory and greatness. Unfortunately, the
mightiest invasions and internal cruelties prevalent in the country heinously
damaged to the very heart of such glorious institutions. The monasteries were
set ablaze and devastated. The innocent peace loving monks were mercilessly
butchered.
Later, religious institutions like temples, mosques,
churches and gurudwaras became the centre of quest, share and implement the
knowledge to control, guide and propel the human behaviors and thinking. The
scriptures were formulated and tenets were formed. Idealism, romanticism and
deism took ground to balance and harmonize the social structures. The new
principles, theories and doctrines were laid to enlighten the dormant soul and
elevate human living to transcendentalism. Such religious institutions connected
directly to the door of common people to heighten their moral, ethical and
sacrilegious standard. The concept of god and divine power were made the matter
of each individual’s life. The pilgrimages of Chardham like Jagnnath,
Badrinath, Dwarika and Ujjain and many more were grounded. The priesthood,
soul, afterlife, hell and heaven, gods, divinity, Karma, Bhakti, and Yoga
became the part and parcel of every day’s life and business.
After colonial era, we entered into modern democratic
world. The machines, electricity and technologies changed the traditional
values and way of thinking. Our priorities and choices got a big reshuffle and
overhaul. The modern institutional like Kolkata, Mumbai, Madras, Allahabad
universities were structured. Later academic, professional, medical,
agricultural, engineering, technical, social, religious and diploma
institutions and universities blossomed everywhere to fulfill the needs of
present world and its population.
The new to newer education policies and commissions were
launched time to time in the fast running and variegating world. From Lord Macaulay’s Education policy 1835,
Woods Dispatch 1854, Hunter commission 1882 to UGC 1956, Kothari commission
1964, New Education Policy 1986, 1992, SSA 2000, NCF 2005 and RTE 2009, and
several other attempts were made to modernize the education system. The
scientific, logical and analytical tendencies and temperament were boosted to
compete with the global trends and developments. Innovative, creative and
constructive measures are being incorporated, implemented and promoted in the
field education. The concepts of education are fast changing. The practicality,
demonstrations and experimentations are getting edge day by day. That is the
sanguine prospect of future nation building. Above all, that will assist to the
service of whole humanity. Moreover, the individual has immense freedom to soar
high and deep into the horizon of knowledge. He has full freedom and scope to
quest the undiscovered, unknown and hidden for the sake of well being of the
human species. He is no more bound to myths, superstitions, strictures and
scriptures, prophet obligations, god fear, religious boundaries, social
outcast, ceremonial sacrosanct, elderly horrors of omens and hatches and
community feeling .
Despite the rapid revolutions in the field of education,
the loopholes still lie beneath the very lamp. The corrupt mentalities and evil
intentions sniggering in the education policies, frameworks, implementations
and executions have contaminated the whole system. For the lavish and
unrestricted power gain, the foul practices are hugely assuming ground in the
field of education too. The education that is the backbone of all developments
should have been free from such ills and cruel practices. The clutch and hold
of such venomous and crook people and politicians would have been least. Even
the splendid policies rot up in the vicious hands of defective
administrators. Today, our education
system is in very pathetic, poor and fragile condition. This needs to be
revised, revamped, re strengthened and super inspected. The total control and
administration must lie in the hands of honest, dedicated and visionary people.
To cite some instances about such ill functionaries,
manipulations and embezzlements, that have afflicted all educational strata
like higher, secondary and basic education. Though there are thousands of such
wrong doings prevalent in higher education, but prominently affecting the
systems are nepotism, authoritarianism and impressionism. The secondary
education is no exception of it. But more miserable condition is of basic
education. In spite of all reformative measures and constitutional provisions
for free and compulsory, the education up to the age of 14, the mammoth money
making, crippling the talent in the bud and negligence of duties have become
every day’s harsh reality and bitter truth.
The recent happening in Bihar and Chhattisgarh of
children’s death by food poisoning adds to the factor of such corrupt
practices, wrong rulings and mismanagement. Whatever high slogans of meticulous
administration, adept management and impartial government they make but the
ground reality is that ‘the basic education is to the worst of its level’. This
is shocking, depressing and surprising in eye of the nation. The local,
national and international functionaries are spiting millions of dollars but
the outcome is really very sad. The MDM and SSA and many more projects are
getting introduced but practically of no use and no avail.
It’s better not to go school than to be neglected, abused
and maltreated. Moreover life staking situations like eating pesticide in MDM,
caste and status based discrimination and slum surrounding are more panic some.
The officers focus more on the filling pockets than to improve educational
conditions. It’s not that there is shortage of funds and budgets. If there is
any shortage of fund, that is because the voracious and ravenous leaders and
officers sitting in air conditioned easy armchairs. If they make visit to
schools, it is not for supervision or reformation but to extract and distort
money somehow and someway. The teachers are used to of such practices or they
too have political access or local dadagiri.
It’s hurting and shameful when somebody makes the local
poor people responsible not to send their wards well clad, well bathed, well
equipped and regular. They prove those innocent common villagers guilty not to
be attentive towards their wards and letting them to graze cattle and do
household works. This is merely because one thinks like oneself in safe and
comfortable conditions fetching a regular big salary. There is one advice for such intelligent
people ‘Just live their life for a single day; you will change the philosophy
forever’. The main guilty is those who have the constitutional responsibility
to plan and execute the rules. The Public must understand this and retaliate in
the same coin if the government or administrator neglects and foils like that.
Just remember, even the mother feeds the child, when it cries.
Imagine how the little buds are being nipped in the tender
age. How can the child compete to the children studying in private schools?
It’s time to vow to do all our best in the interest of
nation. We must raise voice against all malpractice prevailing. Education is
the foundation brick of a huge flourishing nation. Where education gets clamped
in political rigors, the future of the nation gets absolutely dismayed into
utter darkness. It’s education that enables a man to become active member of
the society and of the nation. The nation lacking the true spirit of education
and stepping with flow of the fast changing time drowns into nothingness.
Its great urge and appeal to all dear citizens and
countrymen to drive away all pollutants so that our country may become 100%
literate and every individual may contribute to the best of his level in the
development of the country
No comments:
Post a Comment