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Every generation, inevitably, stands on the shoulders of the previous generations. Hence they stand taller and reach farther. There is not a parent who does not wonder at the great intellectual prowess of his/her tiny tot. They would unfailingly recall what ignoramuses they were at the same age. True, the present generation is smarter, sharper and abler. They are better equipped to go through a system of schooling that stuffs into them the essence of the information explosion that has taken place in the course of the past century. This education, like it or not, is the legacy of our colonial rulers, who designed it to produce the maximum number of clerks for their company and government, to glorify whatever is their social, intellectual and scientific systems and to make a mockery of anything indigenous. This generally is the prerogative of the
colonisers.
When India attained independence, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru rightly called for 'appropriate technology', which is to be a synthesis of the foreign and the local, in order to suit the realities of our country, like abundant manpower, and natural resources etc. It is unfortunate that he did not think of evolving 'appropriate education'.
The transitional generation that emulated Nehru was turning secular, but was aware of the rich Indian tradition and culture, without being squeamish about decrying the ills of the society. The subsequent generations, which had lost their traditional moorings, full to their gills with the newfound wisdom, started disregarding the finer values of life. Or, at least only such people could reach up to the decision-making levels.
 Thus was born the self-seeking politician, the corrupt babu, the mercenary journalist, the heinous cop and their ilk in all walks of life. There is only one slogan - get rich quick. Everything, including education, was geared to achieve this. All else can be sacrificed at the altar of success. Exceptions are there, but they are only exceptions.
We will again go back to school to pinpoint the cause. When I was young there used to be moral education classes. It was fun. Stories from great epics, fables and folk tales of the land were told, and we were asked to tell the moral. The later part might get boring. But that does not matter. Because, the young impressionable mind has already captured it for the future. But now, with a compulsion to score a little over 200 out of 200, precious time cannot be wasted on stories and their morals. And then there are these secular individuals who see danger in everything religious
Moral education, ideally, should give the children a ready set of values, of rights and wrongs, at the school level.
As they become young adults, education should fortify their faculty of discrimination, of judgement. They don't need packaged wisdom, but they should be equipped to make the right choices. Further, they should be given lessons in emotional education, so that they are enabled to face the stark realities of life with toughness. There are always people who feel that these things cannot be taught. But I differ with them strongly, because I have worked in this field for about 20 years under non-formal voluntary banners. I have had occasions to meet the trainees much later, who recalled with gratitude how useful the value based emotional education has been.
Moral education for every child is vital. Parents, burdened as they are with greater demands on their time, have no time to play their role in educating their wards. Tuition is the order of the day. Which means only schools and colleges, yes colleges, have to take care of this aspect. At a time when study of language and literature, humanities and pure mathematics is considered unprofitable and hence unwise, this suggestion might look anachronistic. The wheel would come a full circle. And whatever is frowned upon would become precious. It may be too late by that time. Why not be proactive in moral education too.
(Send your responses and queries to madhurabarathi@yahoo.com)
Madhurabarathi
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