Questions – “Why do we need Education?” ,“What is the purpose of Education?” and “Why one has to go to school, college and study?”
When you ask these questions to anyone out there, the answers are spontaneous. 1. “I want to become a successful Doctor, Engineer, IAS officer, etc…” 2. “I want to become rich and own a bungalow, a car, etc. I will be able to make a living”. 3. “I want to achieve something and become famous”. Of course, there are other answers too, viz. “I want to serve the society”.
But looking at our history, it was clear that the main purpose of education was different.
It was to make human to behave “more like human”. In short, it was to make us civilized.
In ancient times, most human beings were ruthless barbarians. We had cruel cannibals who never regretted to kill anyone for food. We had brutal dacoits invading everything. We had a wicked slavery system where humans were sold for a few coins. We have seen merciless kings fighting the bloodiest of wars. We had sorcerers spelling out curses and omens. We had a lot of superstitious beliefs. We created caste system, discrimination on the basis of colour and race, social inequality and what not?
So since the 19th century, Education was thought to be a tool that can make humans civilized so that we can value the worth of other humans and treat them equally. It was to impart moral and cultural values to human beings.
Now after having almost three generations of educated people in our family, we believe that we are civilized humans and so our purpose of education has turned into three other motives “Power, Success and Money”. And that is what we teach our kids too. But what are we actually doing?
In a motive to achieve these three things, we end up losing the three main aspects of our life…
Let me explain: When in college, we put a full stop to all our mannerisms… How many of us walked the other way of the corridor just to avoid wishing “Good morning, sir” to our department faculty, who is not handling a course this semester? In a canteen or a mess, we never bother to say sorry to anyone we have run into. Not even a ‘thank you’ for one who would have helped us in need. These words have been ruled out of our dictionary as soon as we completed schooling. What happened to our mannerisms?
Next, when we get our first job. It seems that we have become the boss of our life. We start to spend lavishly and luxuriously. We can spend 10000 bucks for a birthday treat for people who are rich. But never bother to give an extra penny to our maid. We can spend thousands on branded clothes, facial treatment and haircuts but feel pained to give just 10 rupees to a beggar in the road. Where is our humanity?
After enjoying life with our earning, we move on to the next stage of marriage, family and responsibility. Now we need more money, more increment in salary, more power, more authority and we end up doing dirty politics in our workplace. Yes!!! We pull each other’s leg to garner attention. Double games are played between the boss and the colleagues for benefits. Flattering of higher authorities has become a necessity. We cannot survive without seeking self-glory, attention or show-off. So, we boast a lot about our success and everything that we do. Our head fills up with pride and when we find that there is someone better than us, we are jealous of them. We discourage and demotivate them and find every chance to blame them as they are our hurdle to our appraisal. But what we do exactly is ruining our own character. We term this as “survival of the fittest” and are try justifying this character of ours. Just because everyone gets into such politics and it is common everywhere, it does not mean this is right. Right and wrong is a standard for all of us to reach and we cannot relax it for our convenience.
So for the sake of “Power, Success and Money”, we end up losing the three most important values of our life “Mannerisms, humanity and character” – the qualities of our soul.
The Bible says, “What does a man gain if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?”
We have turned in to well-dressed, civilized and intelligent barbarians. We have turned in to selfish creatures. We have ended up losing the true essence of education.
So is this the purpose of education then??
To anyone who is reading this, have a check on yourself. What are you lacking?
And remember the childhood proverb: “If wealth is lost, nothing is lost. When health is lost, something is lost. But when character is lost, everything is lost”
A man with a PhD or wealth or fame does not mean he is educated and civilized unless he has moral values.
Let us all behave like “Humans” rather than educated barbarians.
At the end of our lives we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by
I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.’ Hungry not only for bread – but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing – but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a home of bricks – but homeless because of rejection.
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
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