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Article 51A. Fundamental duties It shall be the duty of every citizen of India (a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the national Flag and the National Anthem;
(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform;
There is a wonderful passage in The Chhandogya Upanishad, VI: 2, Shwetaketu son of Uddalaka returns home after twelve years of study, stiff necked, arrogant and self willed. This reflects the state of present education system and arrogant generation, who acquire education only with the motive of monetary gain but not to improve the quality of life. Then the father Uddalaka undertakes the arduous task of teaching his child. In the Bible, Proverbs 22:6, says “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it”.
Katha Upanishad chapter 1, Vaajashraavas, father of Nachiketa desiring heaven was giving away everything he owned, including the unworthy cows against the sacrificing norm, to this Nachiketa reacted and asked, ‘father, to whom you will give me? He said this a second and a third time. Then his father exasperated and replied: I will give you unto death. Naschiketa with all his questions about Life and Death goes to the house of ‘Death Yama’ There he discovers Life and Wisdom.
In Bhagwad Gita we learn about Arjuna’s reluctance to fight the righteous war (chapter 1), he says ‘My whole body shudders, my limbs fail me and my throat is parched.’ Thus the colloquy between Lord Shri Krishna and Arjuna continues. During this question and answer time, Arjuna’s is lead from ignorance to Wisdom.
I can go on with several examples from the ancient sacred scriptures about questioning, scientific temper and spirit of inquiry. I am saddened by the knowledge and awareness of the present generation. The education system (in general terms) is preparing us only to be employed in government or private sectors. What is the essence and purpose of our competitive exams? Kind of judgments delivered? The kind of cases registered? We also see falling standards of journalism. All these important institutions are cream of the education system. The functioning of these institutions is not very heartening. We know the tree by its fruit.
The response of general public to the proposed judicial reforms in India and Israel teaches us a lot. What do we learn and infer from this. We live in a world of ignorance.
NEP National Education Policy is a wonderful document so was Right to Education (RTE) unless the awareness and will to implement in its right spirit is not triggered among the stake holders, the present system will continue in practice and we will plunge into greater darkness. We are very good at paper work and reporting to the implementing and scrutinizing agencies.
Religious disharmony, corruption, casteism etc… plague our country as a result of ignorance and lack of spirit of inquiry.
The need of the hour is fathers like Uddalaka and wards like Nachiketa. And teachers like lord Krishna with patience and persistence. Arjuna was not an easy student but very inquisitive. Majority of the teaching fraternity need to be transformed, allow their students to ask questions. Teach for understanding and impart dignity and sense equality. Then students learn to apply life skills, accept responsibility and gain wisdom for living.
Our communities should become light amplifiers (Jyot se jyot jagate chalo prem ki ganga baha the chalo) and not vengeful which plunges us into darkness. Mahatma Gandhi said, ’an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
It is our collective responsibility to see our children, humble, charitable and obedient not stiff-necked, arrogant and self willed.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.
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