Education in values

THE LAST five decades in independent India have been the years of hope and aspiration as also of frustrations and desperation. Independence led to great expectations in terms of raising the standards of living and upgrading the quality of life of our people. Equity, equality and social justice were assured even prior to Independence. The Constitution fully reflects this societal ambition and mandates equality of opportunity for every citizen irrespective of social, economic, cultural or religious diversities and stations in life. It was also very aptly reflected in the Report of the Education Commission (1964- 66):"The destiny of India is now being shaped in her classrooms. This, we believe, is no more rhetoric. In a world based on science and technology, it is education that determines the level of prosperity, welfare and security of people."

The Commission further elaborates that it is the quality of human beings coming out of the learning centres which would determine the success or failure of national efforts for reconstruction and development. For a prosperous nation, however, the foundation stone is its sound educational system. Such a system can no longer be an alien, borrowed or transplanted one. It must be rooted deep in the indigenous soil and must remain alert and open to the changes taking place all around and the need to progress ahead. It is heartening to learn that realising the criticalities of elementary education, 93rd Amendment to the Constitution is being proposed to include right to education as one of the fundamental rights. Gandhiji had written: "I am a firm believer in the principle of free and compulsory primary education for India.'' He continuously pleaded for according prominent position to learning vocational skills and utilising these as means to cultivate the mental, physical and spiritual faculties of the learners. Education is thus the means to achieve the goals of progress and prosperity.

Forces of hate and violence

These are the days when the world and the entire humanity stands shocked and bewildered in the wake of the twin towers tragedy in the U.S. None is in a position to provide a reliable combat strategy for the war that has been unleashed by forces of hate and violence with little respect for human life and human values. Not that human beings are unaware of such disastrous and criminal potentialities of human mind. There have been ruthless instances of human cruelty and perverse approaches in history. These were very well perceived while developing the UNESCO charter which begins with the very potent statement:

"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed."

And it's the minds of men, no gender bias intended, which have inflicted this disaster of unparalleled treachery on innocent fellow human beings.

War in the 21st century has begun with alarming ferocity and cruelty. It is increasingly being realised that never before we had seen so much of violence, hatred, conflicts and mistrust as at the present juncture of history. On the other hand ironically we never had such controls under human hands that would turn the world into a global village and would provide human beings maximum manipulative capabilities to make their life comfortable and more sustainable. The materialistic pursuits as compared to spiritual quest have resulted in dramatic erosion of human values and human sensitivities. The consequences of the same are before us.

How does one prepare the minds of men to develop into humane individuals who would imbibe certain basic values and lead their lives at a higher plane of perception and understanding? It is the awareness, knowledge and wisdom which has helped human beings evolve in their thinking, understanding and ability to distinguish between good and evil. Thomas Jefferson, former U.S. President, once remarked: ``If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be.'' Education alone can erode ignorance. One will, however, have to be very cautious and ensure that the content and process of education is strong enough to achieve its objectives.

Indian contribution

The entire world realises that education is a major vehicle to create a humane society which will value the lives of human beings and provide opportunities to live in harmony with fellow beings and also with Nature. For that they need to know others &151; the diversities, the pluralities and also the need to respect others and otherness. You need to expand and extend education to banish ignorance of every variety.

Arnold Toynbee is often quoted for his famous statement that ``a chapter which has a western beginning will have an Indian ending, if it is not to end in the self-destruction of the human race." The most tragic example has been placed before the entire world on September 11, 2001. Toynbee had great understanding of Indian psyche and Indian contribution in enhancing spirituality. He was very clear that the only way for the salvation of mankind was the Indian way, the one propounded by the Emperor Ashoka, Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Ramakrishna and others. He appreciated the common attitude and spirit amongst them which can make the human race grow as a single family Vasudhaiva Kutumbam. In Indian tradition, right to happiness of every human being was laid down as an ideal to be achieved by all: ``Let all be happy; let all be free from diseases; let all see auspicious things; and let no body suffer from grief."

Any analysis of socio-economic, cultural and religious content of any country or continent would remain incomplete unless the nature, content and process of its educational endeavours are also analysed simultaneously. Any transformation in human approach and attitude can never be achieved unless a supportive pattern of education is evolved. The entire world is talking of fighting against the terrorism of various kinds &151; social, racial, economic, colonial, military, etc. The only right weapons and approaches would be information, knowledge and wisdom. All other weapons have outlived their utility. These are the days of mind power. Right education is the key to peace and prosperity.

Inadequate understanding

The unfortunate part is that there is inadequate understanding of the traditional Indian wisdom contained in ancient texts and the scriptures. There exists an excellent analysis of the process of learning and teaching in Indian tradition. Vidya, i.e. learning and scholarship, leads to humility which in turn lights the path for becoming eligible, competent and qualified to earn through right means. A verse in Hitopadesa eulogises education: ``Education imparts intellectual culture; intellectual culture secures capacity and stability; capacity and stability enable to secure wealth; wealth so secured enables to conform to dharma Which in turn secures happiness.''Affluence has not been discarded but defined. Well earned affluence must lead to happiness and bliss through the path of dharma, righteous conduct. This is the major distinction between the eastern and western understanding of achieving the goal of happiness and bliss. Those engrossed in materialistic pursuits consider material affluence as the key to luxurious life. The eastern thought is very cautious and provides the intermediary in terms of dharma and it is vidya, in a broader sense, which can enlighten the human beings to understand the subtle niceties of living a dignified life.

Education alone is not the panacea for all the ills within society. Gandhiji had analysed this in Young India in 1925 and had identified certain sins that have to be necessarily discarded: ``Politics without principle; pleasure without conscience; commerce without ethics (morality); knowledge without character; science without humanity; wealth without work, and worship without sacrifice.'' It would appear that all of these have now become more relevant after 75 years. These appear to be timeless and universal. We have not been able to even reduce these sins! Is it not the right time for the entire humanity to search for a possible solution of fighting the wars that begin in the minds of men and lead to unimaginable cruelty on other men, women and children, in fact on the entire humanity?

It should be possible for the world to realise that when Gandhiji talked of non-violence, self-suffering, consideration for others, he had only such apprehensions in mind and wanted to save the humanity from avoidable cruelties. To him, the ideal human being was one who was concerned about others, their needs, desires, miseries in which he could be of assistance. There is indeed a global need to project the Gandhian ways and putting these before the whole world that there is no other way than to strive together for social cohesion and acquire the prime skill of learning to live together.

J. S. RAJPUT

NCERT Director

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