Gandhi's lessons for education

Mahatma Gandhi. 
Photo obtained from www.encyclopedia.com

It has been 67 years since Mohanchand Karamchand Gandhi (M.K. Gandhi) left us. As to many great leaders, this light was also extinguished untimely by an assassin. I worship Gandhi primarily as the father of my nation. Myriads of other reasons for the world to admire him - as an icon of peace, warrior of non-violence and a man of simplicity, a messiah of truth – only reinforce my emotional attachment to that great soul. 

Hardly a week before, during a rendezvous at his official residence in Addis Ababa, Dr. Girma Wolde Giorgis, former president of Ethiopia was gladly showing to me the autobiography of Gandhi and praising the ideals of peace, non-violence and truth for which Gandhi stood for. “I am a fan of Gandhi”, the former president quite often unravels his love for Gandhi. Being one among the thousands of Indians who are there to empower Ethiopia’s educational sector, I believe, Gandhi has left for us a set of educational wisdom that should inspire Ethiopia, too.   

Dr. Girma Wolde Giorgis, Former President of Ethiopia is a huge fan of Gandhi.
Photo: SIVAKUMAR K.P.

It was on the soil of South Africa that Gandhi made his first tryst with the tyrannical proportions of colonialism. Gandhi’s first role as an education provider was also in South Africa. He had to offer education for his two sons and a nephew who were there with him. At that time he was having his educational institution known as Tolstoy Farm. But he was unable to fund the teaching staff there. So Gandhi decided to educate his sons and nephew at his own. He trained them in such a way that the boys could successfully manage with almost entire chores of life from cooking to scavenging. 

When he reached back India in 1914, the educational scenario in the country was already rotten. The colonial administration has designed the education so as to generate a middle class who would be obedient followers of the oppressive rule. In fact they succeeded in creating a generation which would love English education for easily fetching privileged jobs.  This consequently led to the disintegration of traditional jobs. Carpentry, handicraft, blacksmith, and cobbler – the glory of all such trades that furthered Indian fame in commerce started waning. 

Gandhi, in order to regain the eroding native values, hence decided to launch an alternative education system called ‘Nai Talim’. It was a new system of education where native knowledge, technologies and traditional artisan and commercial crafts were given importance. He wanted to bring the downtrodden sections to the mainstream. Hence Gandhi’s educational system had enough space for vocations like spinning, weaving, handicraft, leather works, book binding and so on. At that time, it was his firm belief that English teaching would be unproductive for two main reasons: one, that the exchange of knowledge would not be sufficient; and two, it would make a divide between the ‘highly educated’ and the ‘under educated’. Later, time could prove that his vision was not any kind of xenophobia, but an astounding foresight about his country. 

Technology of the land

Not a simple acquaintance on literature, but a sincere inclination for manual labour could only bring in progressive results, he trusted. Education becomes meaningless when it is focused on material growth. Needed is hence a system of education that nurtures native wisdom, norms, culture and technologies.

Gandhi inspired millions to weave clothes using spinning wheels. To him, a child trained in spinning wheel should also be provided with the wisdom about its mechanism as well as cultural and economic value. This is necessary for making the person a master of his trade, able enough to solve any kind of problem that would arise. 

Gandhi’s acquaintance with great poet and educationist, Rabindranath Tagore furthered the former’s views on education. Tagore was running Santiniketan, a groundbreaking idea of offering education at open classrooms, closest to the pulsating natural environs. Hugely inspired, Gandhi launched drastic changes with his Sabarmati Ashram School, Ahmedabad. He inspired students to look after everything themselves – from morning prayers to cleaning classrooms; and cooking food to maintaining the school yards. The Ashram school catered to students of different age groups starting from tiny tots to adults. 

Blessed poet, Rabindranath Tagore and Gandhi.
Photo obtained from www.en.wikipedia.org

Relevance today

Today the world at large remains to be obedient henchmen to those global organization and their treaties. Education is currently one of the biggest commerce. Debates go unending upon the merits and demerits of the system. Some say commercialization of education is a must to free the hands of governments. Some equally argue that it goes to the benefit of a minority affluent class and detrimental for the have-nots. Still others cry over the cultural penetration and erosion of values due to globalized education. 

Modern day jobs have huge impact on our perception about education and consequent changes in society. Photo obtained from www.jobs.aol.com

In any case, vigorous social mobility has become an undeniable truth with all developing countries. Children of farmers are no more farmers; instead become owners of white collar and blue collar jobs. A mad rush is seen behind so-called privileged jobs in sectors of engineering, medicine and IT. Traditional jobs and agriculture farming are fast becoming stories of the past. 

For any society that needs to strengthen traditional jobs and skills of the soil, Gandhi’s educational philosophy would be a way out.  Wisdom disseminated by light towers like Gandhi is an asset for the entire humanity. How much our education supports and promotes the needs of the land depends upon how much we use the wisdom bestowed by visionaries like Gandhi. 

- Sivakumar K.P.

It’s election time for India

Rahul Gandhi (left) and Narendra Modi: Battling chieftains
Photo from: en.wikipedia.org

Come 7th April, India, the largest democracy is going for voting. Placed 7th by geographical size and 2nd by population, India has got its election process equally extensive and complex. The voting would continue till 12th of May along 35 regional provinces (28 states and 7 union territories). Voting, one of the cardinal democratic rights would be enjoyed by 814 million people – a figure far above the total voters of the US and Europe. To reach the climax – the much awaited results – you have to wait till 16th of May, when the whole world would know about which party would rule India for the next five years. In India, parliament elections began in 1957 and the upcoming is the 15th.

According to the Election Commission of India, general elections this time would be held along 543 Parliamentary Constituencies. Along with this, elections would also be held to decide upon governments in three states including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. 

Indian elections stand tall, owing to its mammoth proportion and highest levels of democratic values. This, along with the geopolitical as well as strategic significance of the country, gets the world’s eyes hooked on Indian elections and their results. 

Ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the main opposition, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are the principal contestants. 

A past story

The Congress holds the record of being the single party to rule India for the longest tenure. The party could rule India alone – without any alliance - during 1957 and 1962 under Jawaharlal Nehru; and in 1967, 1971 and 1980 under his daughter Indira Gandhi. In 1984 and 1991, congress once more got the majority to rule the country without any other’s support, owing to emergence of sentimental waves – during the assassinations of Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi respectively. 

Elections in India provide the best chances for its people to hold the whip hand and lash at erring politicians. For example, after imposing a period of emergency that curtailed freedom of all sorts, in 1977, Indira Gandhi’s Congress was reduced to a minority. Indira and her son Sanjay couldn’t even get votes enough for receiving back their procedural deposit money! In 1989, Rajiv Gandhi and his allies were sent to opposition benches after the explosion of Bofors scandal pertaining to defence purchase. 

Till recently, the Congress party used to boast that whenever their party was denied of a single party mandate, the country was left with unstable governments.  Their argument is but substantiated by evidences.  In 1977, 1989, 1996 and 1998 governments led by other parties toppled before completing stipulated five years. Many of them fell down even before a year. 

Alliances

A bold alternative to the Congress monopoly for stable governments was given in 1999 when AB Vajpayee completed a five year term forming National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of likeminded parties with his BJP in the lead. Thereafter single party rule in India became a story of the past. The Congress too changed its strategy in favour of alliances, and it worked well. In 2004 and 2009 Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) succeeded in completing their stipulated five years with Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. 

On the battle grounds of 2014 general elections, the UPA’s major strengths and major weaknesses emerge out of this past ten years of its rule. Strengths are the divergence and vibrancy of progress its rule could bring in for preparing well the country to take the pathways of the new century. Weaknesses are the unbridled corruption and allegations against its leaders. Naturally, when stained with corruption, no progress can shine. Incumbent Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh; and the UPA chairperson and Congress party president, Sonia Gandhi, many among their ministers and some leaders of their regional factions are all shot with one or other allegations by the opposition. Such allegations got a natural acceleration ever since the drumbeats of elections began audible.  Hence the long rule the Congress and its UPA had made in the country has become boon as well bane for them. When elections make merits and demerits of parties a subject for public debate, this becomes more important. 

All optimistic

However, with the prominence of young Rahul Gandhi, son of Sonia Gandhi and the late Rajiv Gandhi, in the election fray, the ruling Congress and its UPA seem to have got a bit invigorated. With youthful Rahul’s leadership the party looks forward of removing the mud already splashed over it. With strong Narendra Modi as its Prime Minister candidate, the BJP and its NDA are also racing with added energy.  The BJP’s enthusiasm is based on the fact that Modi’s Gujarat model of governance is secretly praised even by its enemies. Some of the opinion polls held since 2013, though very much controversial, are also seen tilted in favour of the NDA. 

Arvind Kejariwal: Name reckoned
Photo from: en.wikipedia.org

As in every general election, this time too there are new entrants showing their strength. Emergence of Aam Aadmy Party (AAP) is an example. In fact, the AAP’s seeds were sown during an extensive campaign against corruption recently unleashed by a pious leader, Anna Hasare. The campaign gathered huge public support and could set a major national agenda against corruption growing in horrific proportions. ‘Mr. Cleans’ of the anti corruption campaign later got together under the leadership of Arvind Kejariwal – a product of Indian Institute of Technology - to form a political party – AAP. By name, the AAP is meant as common man’s party. The AAP’s win in recent state elections in Delhi, the capital region of the country, has become a bolt from the blue for the major parties. 

Its naivety is AAP’s major challenge, especially while the matter comes to deal with diverse political issues. For example, after being chief minister of Delhi for mere 49 days, its leader Kejariwal resigned owing to a difference of opinion with the Governor. Thus others got a chance for criticising the AAP as politically incompetent and immature. The party’s candidates are already in the fray in almost every constituency. Hence one should wait and see its influence.

First time

For the first time, during the upcoming elections, electronic voting machines would contain the option, ‘None of the above’ (NOTA). If political parties force people to vote for infamous candidates, voters can press ‘NOTA’ button. This button has hence prompted political parties to give extra care on their candidates’ credibility. Also for the first time, 11844 Non Resident Indians (Indians living abroad) have enrolled for a chance to vote. Quite interestingly, over 11000 of them are natives of Kerala, a state well-known for its excellence in literacy and political awareness. 

In India democracy is as vast as the three oceans encircling the subcontinent. Political parties form the vessels that float on. There is no bar on freedom of expression; you can sail to any extent. Myriads of media in the country – English and vernacular; national and regional; print and electronic – enjoy full freedom and play a critical role in ensuring a free and fair pole.  In the fuming political debates, allegations will be there, alternatives will also be there. The Election Commission is playing a judicious referee, who ensures dignity and high morale of democracy.

Political parties, their actions and motives are already well sifted and weighed in the conscience of exactly 814.5 million voters of India. On the Election Day, they would express their ultimate will through a right push on the button of their exact choice in the voting machine. 

- K.P. Sivakumar