Education for transformation

21 January 1986, Music Academy Auditorium, Chennai

Published English.

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Fear of sin and faith in God should be promoted Education should instill in the student "fear and faith." 'Fear' does not mean timidity. It is fear of sin and faith in God which have to be promoted. One should feel that he will forfeit the respect and regard of the community if he commits a sinful or immoral act. The student should learn to avoid unrighteous conduct. Students should be taught to love their mothers and their Motherland with deep devotion. (devotion to one's country) is one form of devotion to God. One who has no love for his mother, his Motherland, his mother tongue and his religion will be leading a meaningless life.

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Characteristic of true education is humility The students are innocent. It is the parents and teachers who should lead them in the correct path. Unfortunately, teachers are not doing their part. They have their own "Unions" and indulge in undesirable activities, which are followed by the students, in their turn! The characteristic of true (education) is (humility). Humility helps to make one a (one deserving respect). Deservedness leads to (wealth) and leads to (righteousness). is the means to (liberation). We are now giving importance only to intellectual cleverness. This is wrong. Importance has to be given only to character. Education is of no value at all without character. What is the use of having ten acres of waste land? If you have a small plot of fertile land that is more valuable.

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Undesirable state of academic standards The prevailing system of assessment of the academic performance of students is deplorable. If one gets 25 per cent or 30 per cent of marks in a subject, a student is supposed to have obtained pass marks and he is promoted. This only means that everyone has the license to commit errors to the extent of 70% to 75%. If one commits mistakes to the extent of 75% as a student, how much more mistakes will he commit when taking up a job? He may commit even cent percent mistakes and get away with it. This is not a satisfactory state of affairs. "Look up and aim high" should be the motto. Low aim is actually a crime! If a student aims at 90%, he may manage to get 60%. If, on the other hand, he aims only at 30%, he may get only 15%. There is another undesirable practice now due to the interference of extraneous persons. The Education Minister gives some grace marks, the Chief Minister gives his own quota of grace marks and the Education Secretary gives some grace marks! With these quotas of grace marks in prospect, which student will have interest in his studies? India is hailed as a , , and (the land of righteous action, sacrifice and spiritual greatness). But, today we find that because of the defective educational system obtaining here, it has turned into a and (a country revelling in material pleasures and replete with diseases), ruining the health and character of the people as a nation. This is not a desirable state of affairs. Even if there are ten students of sterling qualities and impeccable character it is enough. What is required is quality and not quantity. If the education system could contribute to the turning out of students of good character, committed to human values, the country will become stronger and greater as a nation and be a model to the world.

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The teacher is a king-maker Teachers should not feel that they belong to a despised profession. Teaching is a very noble and respectable profession. The teacher is actually a king-maker. Even Kings and Emperors have to be in their early years students under a teacher. , the great patriot and freedom fighter, who was in the teaching profession, was asked as to what position he would like to occupy when the country became independent. He replied that he was not interested in becoming a Minister or holding any office in the administration. He would prefer to go back to his profession of teaching so that he could mould several students into ministers or rulers rather than be a ruler himself. Such is the nobility and dignity of the teaching profession. Science is tending to get out of control. There is a Sanskrit saying that there is no nobility without self-control. People are gloating over the phenomenal successes of science and technology. The scientist, in exploring the secrets of Nature, has acquired mastery over air, water, earth, fire, etc. But all these achievements are not greater than what was stated to have achieved in his time. What should be recognised is that in controlling the forces of Nature, the balance should not be upset. In dealing with Nature, there are three requirements. The first is knowledge of the laws of nature. The second is the skill to utilise the powers of Nature for human needs. The third is to maintain the balance among natural forces. It is the disturbance of this balance that has led to such consequences as soil erosion, pollution of the atmosphere, etc.

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Need for balance Today's education is knocking off the 's' from 'skill', with the result that the knowledge is 'killed', with disastrous results for mankind. Students should be given knowledge, skill and balance. In the present system of education, this combination is absent. Each is pursuing his own selfish interest, without regard to the interests of others. This is the plight of man today. Science has enabled him to acquire immense control over the external world. But he has no control over himself. Winston Churchill once observed: "Man has conquered all, but not himself." And this was what told his father, : "Oh Father! you have conquered all the world, but you have not conquered yourself." If the present educational system is to improve, the only way is to eliminate selfishness and train students for the service of society. How are students to be trained for this purpose? It is only through the inculcation of love, with no trace of self-interest. Love is of two kinds - (Natural love) and (Divine love). Natural love is one which expects something in return. Divine love expresses itself in loving service without expectation of any return. Divine love always gives to others and receives nothing. Natural love always expects something from others. True education must teach this divine love of heart to heart, mind to mind, and to .

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Freedom from Government In order to effect real improvements in the system of education, it is necessary to free educational institutions from Government control and make them independent like the judiciary. They should be run by autonomous agencies free from Government and political influences. Education should be under the control of a national body of educational experts, who have the interests of students as their sole concern. Now we find that for a seat in a Medical College one has to pay 2 or more. Parents who are anxious to give a medical education for their children somehow raise the money. When a student has gone through the medical course in this way and sets up practice, his first concern is to earn money by whatever dubious means to recover the amount spent on his education. He has to resort to corrupt practices. Once this process starts, his character is undermined. We should not give room for practices which demoralise the students from the outset of their educational career.

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Free Education in Institute There should be no link between money and education. In the Institute of Higher Education (of which is the Chancellor), we will be providing from the new academic year (June 1986) free education to students at all levels including Post-graduate courses. The aim is to train the students in the proper way and make them accept the Institute's discipline. When you collect money from outsiders you become tools in their hands. When you provide free education, you can control the students. You can impart moral values and mould the character of the students.

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Teaching love through Love Education should imbue students with certain ideals. They should realise that there is only one caste, the Caste of Humanity. There is only one religion, the Religion of Love. There is only one language, the Language of the Heart. If these basic ideals are followed, there will be no room for petty differences and mutual recrimination. You can teach love to students only through love. Because of my love which is my (nature), the students in the Institute are disciplined and orderly and there is no unrest in our campus. I have no ill-will towards anyone. There may be persons who may criticise me or even bear malice or hatred towards me. But I have no enemies at all. Everyone is dear to me. As I have love as my permanent quality, I have no worry and am always happy and at peace. Love in speech is . Love in action is . Love in thought is . Love in understanding is (Non-violence). This love is flowing in us as an unseen river. It is only by developing love that we can sanctify the educational system and train the students in the practice of human values as the essential condition for leading worthy lives. I appeal to all of you, to strive in this direction and make education really purposeful for turning out students who will be good citizens of whom the country can be proud.