Redefining Education

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”― Mahatma Gandhi

It was a cold day, the temperature  seemed dipping each day to make us shiver. The green foggy expanse at the University of Pune made us aware of the wintry afternoon. The English Department was cold that afternoon, both literally and symbolically. It was just after lunch time, the clerks were slowly regaining their composure. A few were yet to come back to their seats while a few others were with the Head of the Department. I wanted to meet the Head to inquire a few things but he was busy attending to many others. I stood to look around patiently as there seemed nothing much to do. The office has a glass barrier like the banks with a wooden board jutting out for students to use it as a support to write. There is a cane sofa in the corner near the door. The doors  were wide  open and the chill could be felt as the room faced an open courtyard. I saw her come in sniffing, she was wearing a blue salwar kameez and and yellowish brown sweater. She sat on the sofa but straightened as she saw me. She must have felt I was a teacher. I looked aside to make her feel  comfortable. She now stood and wrapped her head with her dupatta. She seemed sun burnt and malnourished, but still had a spark in her eyes. I asked her in English whether she belonged to the English Department, she affirmed saying that she was pursuing M.Phil in English literature. Through the conversation I gathered that she belonged to  a place called Manchar which is seventy kilometers from Pune, close to Malin where the villagers were buried in a landslide due to incessant rains a couple of months back. She was awaiting to get an accommodation in the women’s hostel in the University campus. She spoke English with difficulty, but had no dearth of knowledge. She said that she had completed her post graduation in a college close to Manchar. She spoke about her Research on Ecological values in Jim Corbett’s books like ‘The Jungle Lore’. I asked her how she was managing the research with out technology. She said that she had a fair knowledge of computers and could type and use technology. I felt proud of her spiritual assets as she let nothing deter her enthusiasm to study. Her rumpled clothes did not make  any difference as she had greater content and poise than a convent bred student.

It reminded me of the maid I had in the year 2002 when we had moved to Pune. We lived in a row house and felt it was a lot of work cleaning the house. The maid was young and had little kids. She was pleasant initially and as days went by I saw that she would always invite me for a tiff. I would try to avoid it but many times her gestures were so bad that I stopped reacting as I needed peace and her help too. As days went by I noticed she was back to her pleasant self. When I questioned her she said that she had to reach home early to complete her homework as she had joined a night school. She now spoke in a refined manner and had no time for frivolous talk. I admired  her spirit and thanked God for a value like Education which could bring a refinement in her behaviour.

The news of young girls between the age group of ten to fifteen at Dharavi in Mumbai who have created Google apps like ‘Paani Mera Jeevan’, ‘Padhai Hai Hamaara Hak’ reminds one of the belief in the unprivileged to accomplish something helpful for others making their education stand apart from literacy.

I recollected the nine year old boy sitting with his school bag and his books spread on a huge mound of sand near a construction site enjoying his studies. I stood aside and heard the screeching sound of vehicles, barks of dogs,  noisy mob of kids and adults, but his keen enthusiasm after a hectic day at school helped me comprehend that a curiosity and keen will play an invaluable role. I recollected the beautiful study table, the lovely book rack filled with an attractive display of books and many more features in my neighbor's house to evoke an eagerness in her children for education. Her children disliked studying and loved watching television neglecting their studies. It pained my neighbour, but any attempt was in vain.

It reminded me of my gregarious classmates Rajat Khurana and Kaushik  Choudhary who share their knowledge at various schools lending a dream to many little enthusiastic children in their busy schedules fulfilling the objectives of Education. 'Times of India' motivated many Indians with ‘Each One Teach One’ campaign. There were many white collared professionals who volunteered to teach thousands of poor children in the hope of contributing their share towards a literate India.

Education can be considered to be a step in seeking knowledge as an age old value, which is considered supreme amongst all other Indian values as knowledge paves a way to rationality and reasoning supporting truth and righteousness. The quest for knowledge can be formal or informal and is not barred by age, caste, culture or creed. Education restricted to filling minds with mere bookish knowledge can be termed literacy. Education includes the sophistication and elegance in handling lives of fellow men and existing in the spirits of people long after one departs this life. Education  reigns the thoughts leading one to the highest form of happiness. It gives a meaning to life and edifies one to live for others through their conduct and behaviour. Education also includes skills. A skill can include a simple value like punctuality which is essential for leading a high-quality life. Education overlays a path to use information for the development of the society,  country and the world making people effective citizens. Blessed are those who are able to seek education.

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” ― Aristotle