What I Think
Pause. Stop. Reflect. We go on and on about education, the benefits of it. The advantages. The sheer necessity of it. But what exactly do we mean by it? The dictionary defines education as "the process or art of imparting knowledge, skill and judgement' or "facts, skills and ideas that have been learned either formally or informally."
To put it in a nutshell, it means acquiring a skill set or knowledge or ideas which equip us to secure jobs in society, earn a living. At least that is the meaning it has dwindled to represent today. We send children to school to learn subjects, to learn about the world around us, to function in a social milieu. They secure good marks or grades, go on to secure even better jobs, lead high powered lives. They learn to wish their teachers, interact with peers, say'Good morning or afternoon or evening" as the case might be. They acquire fluency in languages, be it English or Hindi, and learn to use their skill sets to earn a living. But is that all education should entail?
What good is that education if it cannot teach us basic values, reach into our minds and tear apart the roots of age old prejudices, change our mind sets? If we cannot progress in the real sense of the word? If an engineer or doctor or hotel management graduate can rape without a qualm? What good is that education if a woman feels that another has deserved to be raped because she has invited it - because of her clothes or behavior? Because some women are" like that?" What good is that education if an educated doctor has a family of five just because the first four are girls? What good is that education if an educated executive drawing a five or seven figure salary still believes in dowry albeit couched in polite terminology? What good is that education if we are still bound by the pettiest of superstitions and still think having one child is not "safe?" What good is that education if we vote and elect leaders expecting them to wave wands and perform miracles without realizing what little we do to make sure those miracles happen? What can Modi do? What can anyone do? Give us better cleaner railways? How long before we rip apart those seats, spit on the walls and corridors, fill roads and stations with our trash? Give us power 27/7? How long before we start misusing it? Leaving our taps open just because we have water?
Pause. Stop. Reflect. We go on and on about education, the benefits of it. The advantages. The sheer necessity of it. But what exactly do we mean by it? The dictionary defines education as "the process or art of imparting knowledge, skill and judgement' or "facts, skills and ideas that have been learned either formally or informally."
To put it in a nutshell, it means acquiring a skill set or knowledge or ideas which equip us to secure jobs in society, earn a living. At least that is the meaning it has dwindled to represent today. We send children to school to learn subjects, to learn about the world around us, to function in a social milieu. They secure good marks or grades, go on to secure even better jobs, lead high powered lives. They learn to wish their teachers, interact with peers, say'Good morning or afternoon or evening" as the case might be. They acquire fluency in languages, be it English or Hindi, and learn to use their skill sets to earn a living. But is that all education should entail?
What good is that education if it cannot teach us basic values, reach into our minds and tear apart the roots of age old prejudices, change our mind sets? If we cannot progress in the real sense of the word? If an engineer or doctor or hotel management graduate can rape without a qualm? What good is that education if a woman feels that another has deserved to be raped because she has invited it - because of her clothes or behavior? Because some women are" like that?" What good is that education if an educated doctor has a family of five just because the first four are girls? What good is that education if an educated executive drawing a five or seven figure salary still believes in dowry albeit couched in polite terminology? What good is that education if we are still bound by the pettiest of superstitions and still think having one child is not "safe?" What good is that education if we vote and elect leaders expecting them to wave wands and perform miracles without realizing what little we do to make sure those miracles happen? What can Modi do? What can anyone do? Give us better cleaner railways? How long before we rip apart those seats, spit on the walls and corridors, fill roads and stations with our trash? Give us power 27/7? How long before we start misusing it? Leaving our taps open just because we have water?
Face it. If education means more money and better lifestyle then we're educated. Otherwise we're not. None of us are. In a country where a people's elected leader can condone rape and pardon the"mistakes" boys make don't you think something needs to be done? And the major change to my mind should begin from the cradle. Teach boys that they cannot make "mistakes" that can damage lives. Teach women it is "safe" to have just one child because our economy is overburdened as it is. So many things to change. So many ways in which to do it. Why not start now? With ourselves?
Make a tiny beginning- no matter how small. How insignificant.
It can be as simple as saying girl or boy one child is enough. Or I'm man enough not to want to subdue a woman by sheer force. At least show that reading all those books, learning about the world around us has paid off in some way. Because if you cannot change your own mindset you are no better than the uneducated lout who knows no better, no matter which brand of car or watch or gadget you might own, or how much salary you might draw. What do you think? This is WHAT I THINK.
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