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Perspective
Education for Development
by TA Ramesh
 Modern
economic thoughts of many nations are giving much importance to the
material values at the expense of human values. Hence money has become
more important than anything else for most of the men in the modern
world. The thought on social development has lost its relevance.
Corruption, malpractices, favoritism and superstition have taken the
place of honesty, sincerity, integrity and reason. Between the two –
Education and Money – man’s mind embraces the latter once one knows a
little about Letters and Numbers. So, where is the time for man to have
the pleasure of learning useful Arts even?
Education for Freedom
Long ago Alexander Pope has said in his essay, On Criticism that
“a little learning is a dangerous thing.” It is a true statement
applicable to most of the men even today. Achieving the materialistic
End through any Means has become the Aim of everyone! Hence man has not
bothered about liberty or love either. The sole thought of man is that
he could buy everything or solve all human problems in the world with
Money. In the modern times most of the men are so immature that they
have become victims of evils like Money, Drinks or Drugs and Sex not
knowing how to get rid of them. The forces of fear, anger, lust,
greediness, suspicion and hatred have driven them down to the levels of
beasts. Ignorance and new diseases are catching them unaware while they
are hurrying in pursuit of their ends through incomplete and immature
means. Actually people are living and working like slaves under the
influence of this or that evil without any hope of liberation in the
world. So, what is most needed now is an education for freedom from such
evils that are listed above so that everyone can live as freely and
happily as the birds flying in the sky.
Liberty
But the individual liberty at the expense of the social liberty is
intolerable and uncalled for in the society. A little bit of the
curtailment of the individual liberty in order to maintain the social
liberty as per the view of A.G. Gardiner in On the Rule of the Road
is quite acceptable. The rules are there to protect the liberty of all.
The individuals have to be careful about their behavior and discipline
in the society so that the hard earned freedom of the country can be
enjoyed by all and maintained forever for the social good. The
pretensions and the insolent behavior of the individuals cannot be
tolerated in any society. The uneducated or the half educated people
without knowing how to behave, pretend by aping others in the society.
Systematic Education
It is mainly due to these men the social liberty is always in jeopardy.
To understand the value of freedom and how it has to be used for the
betterment of all, a systematic education is very essential. The
systematic education only can build up the character and strengthen the
mind of everyone in the school level. Then the college education has to
give opportunities to augment the intellectual power of each and
everyone. The improvement of the body and the mind is possible by games
and books. The development of the spirit is possible by the deep
contemplation or meditation over the truth of the all pervading
Universe. The proper use of the body, the mind and the spirit is
possible only with the attainment of true knowledge. Therefore knowledge
alone can eliminate ignorance and fear in everyone.
The educational background would enable everyone to understand the value
of love and friendship that later on would help much to increase the
happiness and the peace of the world. Therefore the systematic education
is necessary for all whether one is an intelligent or a steady
individual and through this kind of education only freedom of the body,
the mind and the spirit is really attainable by everyone. Hence it has
to be noted that the education could train everyone as how to lead a
better life rather than to make profit in the jobs of deceiving innocent
men in the society.
Need of Culture in Education
The education that does not provide much scope for the understanding of
Human Nature, Culture, Literature and Social Life but gives more
importance to the attainment of knowledge in Scientific, Engineering and
Economic courses and adequate opportunities to the studies of Commerce,
History and Geography will only turn out immature and incomplete
citizens in huge quantities. The uncultured way of bringing up people
will gradually or otherwise turn the direction of human civilization in
the reverse order. The result will be quite horrible to think about as
in the Brave New World by Aldous Huxley or Nineteen Eighty
Four by George Orwell. As in the post war periods i.e. just after
the two World Wars people with indifferent attitude, insensible nature
and inhuman approach will increase in more numbers and will create
strange situations and problems as depicted in the poem, The Waste
Land by T.S. Eliot which will jeopardize the peaceful functioning of
the world.
Through education what are most expected and needed are a society of
individuals with human value and not a herd of machine-beast-like-men
who aspire for high achievements in terms of material value only. The
education that kindles the individuals to aspire for the cultural
advancement in life enriches human value in the world and this alone can
lead men towards perfection, which has the power to appreciate beauty in
everything, bring out the truth in everything, disseminate love and joy
everywhere and manifest divinity everywhere. This is what expected of
sincere individuals to accomplish in life. For them, true knowledge
comes of the intellectual understanding of the Self and the World. This
is certainly reliable as True Knowledge alone can reveal what for one is
born in the world and what duty one has to perform both for one’s Self
and the World. That is why knowledge is virtue and power for men in
general. In this respect the ideas of The Republic and The
Bhagavad-Gita are relevant and still useful.
Cultivate habit to Think in Education
Whenever the issue of knowledge arises, immediately the idea of the
institutional education comes to the forefront of the mind. It is well
noticed that educational institutions impart the same sort of knowledge
which have been experimented and experienced by the past personalities
without having direct reference to the all round developments of the
world, the need of the hour and the interest of the knowledge seekers.
As a result, such institutionally fed knowledge has neither any
relevance nor use for the future developments of the educated and the
educational degrees on the hand nor serve as sure licenses for getting
satisfying jobs too. What is needed actually from such a sort of
education is the cultivation of the habit for the learners to think
independently and work with pleasure in future in a creative manner that
are in reality out of the range of the present day educational
institutions. So, after the education, everyone has to get oneself
trained in a line or faculty so that one can work hard with some hope
and pull on in life. Otherwise it would be very difficult for anyone to
stand on in life.
That is the out come or the sorry state of affair of the education for
the present day educated. But the lucky few who have tasted the pleasure
of pondering over things of their own interests or truths just in
moments of enthusiasm due to some unexpectedly favorable circumstances,
there will be a great world of wonders waiting for them to explore,
discover, invent and create. Such few lucky persons only are capable of
analyzing what they have studied to find out whether there is truth in
them or not, preserving things of interest or rejecting irrelevant
things contrary to their convictions and developing upon the preserved
knowledge some new ideas or truths with pleasure are the really learned
men, who can go ahead freely and independently with a spirit of
adventure in any field in the world.
Learning of Arts
Learning makes one civilized. Through learning and practice men of
culture maintain human values which are essential for keeping up the
harmony of human life in the changing world. But Art and Science help
all human beings to develop themselves and the world to a great extent
in the present age. Art is the source of inspiration for human beings.
All arts are within the scope of men’s learning. It is impossible to
learn all arts. But some basic arts are useful both for the life and the
works of men. Speaking, Reading and Writing are the vital and essential
basic skills everyone has to learn. The purpose of education is to
impart the knowledge of such skills and to give trainings in those lines
to everyone in such a way that individual natural talent of each one can
be successfully expressed by oneself for the satisfaction of oneself and
others in the world.
Art of Writing Important
Among the basic arts, the art of writing is most important. The art of
writing is the expression of assimilated thoughts, imagination,
feelings, experience, knowledge and so on through writing. From the
written articles a person’s personality can be understood. The clarity
of written expression tells the stage of perfection of a person. Hence
education gives more importance to the written works than to the oral
answers in the examinations before one is considered for promotion to a
higher stage or a qualification in a line. Even in the Court of Law the
cases are mainly judged upon the evidence of the written facts. The
famous essayist Francis Bacon has also stated in his essay, Of
Studies that “Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man and
writing an exact man.” The more writing is most important the more it is
difficult to practice too.
Disciplined Thinking
To learn new things or get ideas one has to read, understand, observe
and think well. One, who knows how to make use of the books in the
library and to read magazines and news papers, will be capable of
achieving anything in the world. Before or after writing anything the
intelligent way of reading relevant books is very essential. But before
or after reading, thinking is a must for everyone. For doing anything
thoughts are most important. A good education trains the mind as to how
to think clearly and in a disciplined manner which helps to lead a
cultured life. The cultured way of living is to think about the best
things, to talk about the best things and to do the best things in the
world. For leading such a noble life knowing the truth of things and
making such truth prevail in the world are most important and essential.
Therefore one who is capable of ascertaining truth in everything or
whatever things one reads, hears, sees and feels, will be a true
intellectual.
Educated and Learned
Through education many men have gained knowledge. But there are also
self taught men in the world. The former type is considered as the
educated men and the latter type as the learned men. The main
differences between these types of men of knowledge lie in
understanding, expressing and doing the things. To put it plain the
thoughts, the words and the deeds of the former are within the frame
work of a discipline, which is doubtful or lacking in those of the
latter.
The educated men should have had a lot of opportunities to expose
themselves to a wide range of subjects, to suitable games and other
interesting activities, which all have molded them into objective
intellectuals interested in a variety of subjects. Due to discipline and
order in their activities, they are functioning like the well regulated
river water flowing through canals to all the fields till the last drop
of it is beneficially used for multipurpose. But the self taught men
might not have had enough opportunities to get experience in various
fields except in the narrow subject of their own interest and hence it
is quite natural to observe that their activities are similar to that of
forest river water flowing at random benefiting some fields and creating
havoc to some other fields, or simply entering the ocean without
benefiting the land.
Nevertheless there were self taught geniuses too. But it is absolutely
impossible to expect all self taught men to become geniuses. Geniuses
are rare in the world. Their intellectual power over-shadows their
emotion. Among ordinary men the emotion is more powerful than the
intellect. Therefore whether one is learned or educated the rise and
fall of one is totally depending upon the nature of one’s thoughts,
dreams, desires and ambition only.
Thinking and Talent
Every human being whether one is literate or illiterate is considered to
have six senses. Only when one uses the sixth sense i.e. the capacity to
think, one will be considered to be a rational being. If one fails to
use this sense, one will naturally be equal to that of a beast. Thinking
is not an easy thing. Thinking requires a clear head and most of all a
calm and serene atmosphere. Thinking is very much needed for solving a
problem in Mathematics or proving a rider, theorems in Geometry or
understanding natural phenomenon or principles in Science. A good
education gives a sound basis for everyone to think logically or
scientifically to understand the subjects. Therefore only when one
thinks well, one can understand; only when one remembers well one can
use anything effectively well. That is why thinkers are less in the
world and true thinkers are rare.
Memory may be a boon to many (Macaulay). But memory alone cannot make
anyone a great thinker. Many people memorize lessons, write exams, get
hold of a University Degree and soon forget what they have studied so
long. Because they have not understood the subject through proper
thinking, they cannot remember what they have studied and use
beneficially in life and work. Such literates are equivalent to
illiterates only. That is why there are a large number of unemployed
Degree holders.
This is not the purpose of education. The purpose of education, to put
it specifically, is 1. to give practice to everyone to think clearly in
order to understand anything, 2. to make one to discover what is ones
interest, talent and in what subject one will be best at through
thinking and to gain and develop knowledge in that line and 3. to make
anyone to use such knowledge in ones duty in order to express out ones
talent in life.
Critical Thinkers
An English critic, Matthew Arnold has said in his Essay, The Study of
Poetry that “poetry is the criticism of life.” Literature is the
fine expression about life. The critical thinking is essential to
express accurate opinions basing the experiments and experiences of men
in the world. The accurate opinions are the essence of facts. The true
facts are the knowledge useful for the betterment of men in their life
and activities. Such critical thinkers are generally lonely persons in
the world. Their problems are mainly the reactions of their own mind.
They critically analyze the pros and cons of every matter to ascertain
the truth, to discover novel things, to invent or create new things very
useful to reduce burdens of men and increase comforts to them. In
appearance both the intellectuals and charlatans look to be the same.
Usually ordinary men, when they happen to see such intellectuals
contemplating deeply in isolation, will certainly brand them as mad men.
All the deep thinkers starting from Buddha to Gandhi or Socrates to
Churchill had thought about many issues in that manner.
Individual thinking for truth
Socrates is a very often quoted historical personality in this respect.
These individuals never relied upon the words of the near ones or the
far away ones. They thought by themselves as to why the issues are like
that, what was the nature of things and how the things were happening
like that or how the things ought to happen, etc. They stood by the
knowledge obtained from the truth of things and through intellectual
reasoning in a humanistic manner. Their weapon was intellectual
knowledge for humanity against any sort of army or wealth. Socrates and
Galileo had sacrificed their lives for the truths they had uttered
against the then prevailing ideas restricted by politics and religion.
The world realized very lately what they had said and then started to
think and live in accordance with their thoughts.
Intellectual thoughts and benefits
There were also persons who had calculated as to how many hours they had
been actually usefully thinking in a week’s time. It is said of G.B.
Shaw that he was capable of utilizing two days per week in useful
thoughts. He satirized over many important matters of religion, politics
and society of his time. He used his intellectual ideas on social
reforms in his Dramas which were slowly but surely welcomed by the
Government and the people of Britain. The society reformed too. Not only
he but many scientists, artists and philosophers have changed the world
for the better by their intellectual thoughts, inventions and artistic
creations.
Continuation of Intellectual pursuits towards perfection as Culture
In the modern times the world men are living comfortably and enjoying
the fruits of the labors or noble efforts of such intellectuals. The
scientific inventions like Electric bulbs, Telephone, Television, Rail,
Car, Ship, Aero plane, Rockets and so on are the outcome of the thoughts
of the great scientific thinkers. Not only by Science but also by
Literature, Arts and Philosophy many thinkers have achieved wonderful
things for mankind both for the body and the mind. Everyone should know
about the great achievements of those great men.
After them too, some more intellectuals like Einstein, Russell, Sir C.V.
Raman, Tagore, and Gandhi had done remarkable things in the world. In
line with their activities, there are many intellectuals still
continuing with the experiments left by those masters in the unfinished
stages. It is said that culture is the study of perfection and doing
things in the manner and means of such perfection that could be
achievable. So, the process of perfection has to be continued by all the
intellectuals in order to develop the civilization of mankind. This is
all possible only after a fine foundation has been laid through
education by responsible educators.
Communication through language
Finally the knowledge about a few languages has to be said. Prior to
that usually in any language there prevails a gap between the spoken
language and written language. Some write as if they speak and some
speak as if they write. It is better to reduce the gap between the two
so that the expression of ideas both in the spoken and written forms of
language will be quite easy. Therefore the best thing, I can recommend,
will be to write things as if they are being spoken to a friend. That is
the best method by which the art of writing can be improved well through
education.
Through the English language it is possible for everyone to know about
the scientific developments and the international understandings, and
have cultural ties and friendship with various peoples of the world.
Through the National/state language (if there is any) and the mother
tongue/vernacular language one can have mutual understandings, good
working relationships, and easy communications with everyone in the
national level and in the local community level.
Therefore it is very essential to know how to read, write and speak in
1. the World language, 2. the National/state language (if there is one
language), and 3. the Mother tongue/vernacular language. With the
knowledge of these languages, it is possible for anyone to work
effectively and live happily anywhere in the world. Besides this,
whether one is a specialist in any branch of a profession or not, if one
maintains, according to the changes of time, 1. One’s General Knowledge,
2. Common sense and 3. Presence of Mind, one will certainly be a happy
and successful person in the world, or at least have an interesting
conversation with a variety of individuals whether one is an
intellectual or an artist or a scientist or a philosopher or a
professional or whatever one is.
August 6, 2006
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Perspective
The Week of August 6, 2006
Bofors and Volcker: Will it be the same old story?
by Rajinder Puri
US-India Nuclear Deal Reviewed by Dr.
Subhash Kapila
Of Wolves, Lambs, Foxes and Monkeys by Gaurang
Bhatt, MD
Global (Dis)Order by Col. Rahul K. Bhonsle
Four Fold Menace: A Nexus of Enveloping Evil
by V. Sundaram
The British Never Quit India by Nancy
Freeman Patchen
Populist Governance by Dr. Prasenjit
Maiti
Education for Development by TA Ramesh
Play Safe while Catching Raindrops by VK
Joshi
Emerging Technologies for Parents by Ruchi
Gupta
Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny
by Aruni Mukherjee
Traversing the Indian Mindscape by Rajesh
Talwar
Bengali Riddles by Jennifer Marie Bayer,
Ph.D.
The Witty Side by Melvin Durai
How Many Indians? by Naghma Masroor
Danger Zone for Kids by Deepti Priya Mehrotra
Assault on Rights by Linda Light
Being Raped Again - In Court by Rorie R Fajardo
We Need Leaders Not Revolutionaries by Mehru
Jaffer
Future Shocks by Swapna Majumdar
Driving Her Train by Neeta Lal
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