Essence of Education  Dr. M. Hima Bindu  Asst. Professor  IIIT-A

           “Education is a Botheration for Indian Population, whose main Occupation is Cultivation” is a quote I heard from my Maths teacher while I was in class 6 / 7^th. Then, to me, it seemed a mere long sentence with lots of rhyming words; and we enjoyed. But as I grew, I remembered it and tried to make out the exact meaning that was both explicit and implicit in it. Though I am convinced now, that it is wrong, I am skeptical about it in the present Indian political arena. 

            If by education, we mean qualifications, degrees, papers and publications, seminars and conferences, accessing Internet…, then it is prevalent in our country to a certain extent, though much lesser in quality, compared to the developed countries. How educated are the poor masses of our country? How reachable is the technology to them? How beneficial is the IT in their day-today life? Are they in a better position in any field, than yesterday?  

           One of the solutions to the above raised issues is a completely changed political scenario, wherein academicians / civil servants would take over the Ministry and direct the country towards a more complete objective. The amount of funds the government spends on elections, ministers’ trips to abroad, ammunition, pending court cases, on B’days and weddings of V.V.I.P.s and their kith and kin, could be completely cut down and the same diverted to betterments in the rural areas; which include medical aid, educational help, general awareness camps, agricultural consultation, marketing the yield, basic amenities like public toilets, proper houses and many more to mention…… 

           But for me Education is much more than any of these. Education is discipline, education is patience, it is non-violence, it is tolerance, it is sympathy, it is egolessness, compassion, universal love, politeness, knowledge of the environment, the surroundings, thy neighbors, their joys and sorrows, freedom, of the soul, humbleness, equality, sharing and understanding, truth, integrity, faith, infidelity, to name a few. 

         Now, the question is how we make our motherland educated in this sense! Can the first solution work for this too? No……………this kind of education in the whole country could be achieved by each individual’s effort in habitually adapting as many of the above mentioned characteristics as possible and retaining them as long as we live. 

WITH A WISH & HOPE THAT THE WHOLE SOCIETY AIM AT THIS COMPLETE EDUCATION!!!