Education—is it making one wise? Sangeetha G

During one of the daily story sessions at dinner, I narrate a popular Panchatantra tale to my four-and-half year-old son, expecting him to arrive at the moral of the story. The story says about four learned men who recreate a lion out of its skeleton using their hard-earned knowledge, only to be killed by the hungry beast. However, my son is in no mood to ponder over how wisdom should reign in knowledge; maybe he is too young to get into such a question. But it puts me into one of the gnawing questions about today’s education system.

Aren’t we living in similar times – oceans of knowledge, but not a drop of wisdom. We are using science to create self-destructive nuclear bombs; genetically modified foods and creatures without properly understanding the consequences.

Today’s schools bombard children with the immense information of various kinds – both useful and useless. Further, there are lot many other avenues for information – invading media, newspapers, books, internet… But how far does information make a person wise. For that matter, does today’s education make a person wise? Does it help a person choose right over wrong at each crossroad of life?

Is wisdom something that can be taught at school? I learn that during ancient Gurukul times, there had been a lot of emphasis on ‘attaining wisdom’. This was done mainly through presenting life-like situations before the students in the form of stories. The students had to arrive at solutions themselves.

Now, what sort of stories does today’s child hear (rather watch)? He-Man, Superman, Spiderman and the endless list of ‘mans’ who are ultimately doing the same thing – playing the game of destruction just because they happen to be ‘powerful’(read physical power). These can only make our children think that growing up is getting strong enough to beat others.

Let our nursery schools not hurry in teaching the tiny kids alphabets and numbers or words and phrases. Let the teachers narrate stories that inculcate values in them during their formative years.

Communism -- Can it die? By Sangeetha G

As the news of the latest skirmishes in CPI(M) poured in, some of my friends (mainly anti-Lefts) walked up to me amusedly, seeking an "explanation" for the happenings, only to proclaim that the Left ideology has worn out. But why should I speak on behalf of the party and the leaders? Was I inspired by this political party or its leaders before developing a Left-leniancy? Has Karats, Achuthanandans or Pinarayis or Jyothi Basus played a part in the making of Left supporters? The answer is a big 'No'.

Socialism or Communism(or whatever you like to call it) is an aspiration of those people who believe in the equality among humankind. It could be dated long before the times of Marx, Lenin or Mao Tse Tung. Perhaps even to India's mythological times(if ever it existed). Indian mythology speaks about King Mahabali of Kerala(don't know how many centuries back), who had ushered in a rule of equality. The legend says that all citizens were equals-- This is nothing but socialism. (Thats why you see more socialists in this tiny state)

Even before Marx and Lenin gave shape to their communist ideologies, Kerala had embraced another system(though religious) which said "God loves all humans alike and everyone is equal before Him". They welcomed the missionaries who preached this Good News. Infact, Christ was the first Socialist.(His disciples belonged to the working class). The first group of Christ's followers led a 'Commune life'. They shared whatever they had and rejoiced in brotherhood-- Isn't this Communism?

Next time when Pinarayis and Achuthanandans fight in the open, dont sneer at a 'Leftist'. The ideology is not Achuthandan's of Pinarayi's, or even Marx's of Lenin's. It is the dream, every human being who believes in the equality of humankind, carries.