EDUCATION - Part I

by Our Guest Writer D.Saravanan( http://oru-thuli.blogspot.com/ )

‘Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.’ said Swami Vivekananda (January 12, 1863–July 4, 1902). Albert Einstein (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) said 'I was born intelligent, but education ruined me'. Of course these two sayings are not interlinked; but I feel this is something that’s actually in most of our schools. I remember an old joke - students go to school and run home.

I am not an academician or expert in educational system; but a victim. So, I feel I have every right to comment on this issue. Some may question what or where do we lack in our education. They may rather make a list of things that we have achieved such as designing the smallest and cheapest car, success in lunar mission, acknowledgements we get in IT-ITES areas, and so on. I never deny this success. But I wonder why our present educational system cannot create Vivekananda, Aurobindo or Gandhi? I support Vivekananda or Aurobindo or Gandhi not just for their achievement but for their values - someone who cherished his Master or someone who cherishes our culture or someone who is a staunch follower of truth.

Coming back to the question ‘why we can’t have an educational system based on the principles of these great educationists’ like many others, I too feel this is because we have been following an old educational policy since 1835. If you do not know how we came to adopt this educational policy, here is a quick recap.

After the Government of India Act was passed in 1833, Lord Macaulay was appointed as the first Law Member of the Governor-General's Council. In 1835 Lord Macaulay tabled a report on education. Based on that, East India Company decided to impart Western education in Indian school and English was made the medium of instruction.

Lord Macaulay said the following about India in 1835 in British Parliament:

"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 this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever 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 self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation."

Now you can understand what type of education he had suggested for us. If you still can’t, just think of the plight of the value systems in our students. For instance I would like to point out two things. First, the majority of the students feels that malpractices in exams are their right. Next, I feel we simply do not know how to work as a team. If I am not wrong, team building exercises are done only in industries that have well-organized HR department - I don’t think even they succeed in inculcating team spirits in their employees.

If you think that the Macaulay education system will have negative effect after a century from now, you are wrong. It has already done considerable damages. If you have the habit of reading some of the English newspapers on weekends, you will notice a bunch of intelligentsia will highlight the need for sex-education in place of value education. Some grown up bunch of intelligentsia will oppose marriages as it is nothing but a licensed prostitution. However, they will not fail to support gay marriages.

Lord Macaulay wanted to create a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect. But the question is how long we would like to continue this or at what pace we would like to eradicate it?

Having said this, I do not oppose the imparting of academic knowledge. Academic knowledge is mandatory and important for an individual’s mental and intellectual growth. Apart from science, mathematics, and their disciplinary courses, a student should know his mother tongue, history and geography of his place. When I say know his mother tongue, I do not mean that one should only learn the alphabets but he should also take pride in the fact that he knows his mother tongue well. Also, this should not stop him from learning multiple languages. Similarly, History or Geography should not be taught to make students a living database, but to inculcate patriotic fervor. And last but not the least, high moral values and principles ---- Religious teachings to be precise --- should be taught to the students.

In short, the thrust of education should be based upon a holistic approach that promises the physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth of the pupil...

D.Saravanan
http://oru-thuli.blogspot.com/
P.S:
I would like to end this article here. However, I will elaborate based on your feedbacks. By comments, I mean if you support me I will write more. If you oppose me, I will write even more. If you do not give any comment at all, I will keep writing until you give one.