Loved Members,
India nurtured its people through an educational system called ‘Gurukul”, where we had teachers like Sri. Yajnavalkya, Varuni and Vyasa and the students stayed and spent their time at the teacher’s place. And this system was a motivating factor in shaping the character of many a successful Indian. With blazing light of truth focused on, lessons on eternal truth that evolved over the ages and the objective of life lay open before the students. In other words, the tradition and culture of our nation was structured here.
People did think logically and scientifically. But education did not discern them from eternal truth, though they were soon promoted to think more, establish feelings of love, kindness, compassion, and welcome other nations to expand trade and commerce. Into this quiet life, came a day of dominance, especially by the British. A community that was products of intellect was the challenge to them. Lord Macaulay, it is understood, found the abolition of the Indian system of education, a necessity.
Here is an evidence of it from a speech addresses to the British Parliament on the 2nd February, 1835 by Macaulay.
"I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation."
The key to his vision was however selfish. On the contrary, we, as a nation, awaited peace and non-violence. The idea of European system of education into the Indian system that existed was soon institutionalized. Though unfortunate, it was a process of progress as a global medium of communication.
Now, a new epoch of cultural rejuvenation, across the nation, is required. It cannot happen immediately. The energies of our men and women should transform the young minds of today into a mass full of passion for our rich heritage.
The real function of our education system should be to prepare OUR CHILDREN for the best exercise of our own culture, and to protect it in an affectionate way. Let us all join together and frame ways to make our tradition reign supreme.
Already been established as a global medium of communication, English language has been helping people across India to facilitate interaction, ignoring the different cultural and linguistic background they are from. That deficiency being fixed, we need to feel lucky enough and endeavour to promote our heritage and values, in a language spoken by so much of our people.
Fusing the medium of English with our culture, why not we fashion a culture and philosophy of our own? Your thoughts please. Love
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