“Education is the manifestation of perfection already in men.”
– Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda helps us understand the core idea of Education with the above quote. Education must be a universally accessible entity.
It manifests a trait already available in every individual; the difference lies in the ease of learning, applying the learned values and their expression. Education can only find success when it is expressed and applied by our daily practices, including the duties we discharge.
In his talks of manifestation of perfection, Swamiji refers to the divinity or completeness of an individual. The onus now falls on the individuals involved in the Learning Teaching process. The teacher becomes responsible for the value-based knowledge transition, and the learner has to follow the path honestly.
Education along with values means to help in the holistic development with multi-dimensional expansion of thought process. In recent times, Asia and parts of other continents have witnessed a massive downfall in the value-based knowledge transition as Education has failed to drive wisdom. That resulted in a high percentage of certificates approving literacy while creating a big intellectual bankruptcy. Violence and other destructive social activities can be ascribed to poor inculcation of values. That makes a non-denying need to prioritise the values in everybody. This is a strong solution to eliminate negativity. The world needs people with values to make it a better place.
It has been more often quoted that Education builds the fate of a nation. A country which wishes to structure itself has to build a strong education system. We have historical examples of countries under colonial rule by severe attacks on their’ civilisation and Education; such countries need more than an entire century to rebuild themselves. Even the French Revolution started with the knowledge imparted to a large mass. Thus, it is right to quote, “A pen is mightier than a sword”.
Education should help every man take up his own ideal and accomplish it. Vivekananda states, “There are four general types of men-the rational, the emotional, the mystical and the worker.” So, different methods are to be followed in educating these different types of men. Vivekananda realises long ago that Education should be liberal and always in the national lines. Education should include both conservative and creative aspects and change society by giving us progressive ideas and new values of life. One of the important principles to be emphasised in the socialistic pattern of society is that individual fulfilment will come not through selfish and narrow loyalties to personal or group interests but through the dedication of all to the wider loyalties of national development.
Education in modern India needs to be correctly planned and carelessly executed. Modern educators have ignored the aspiration of men to realise their best selves. This is much against the cherished ideals of the Indian democratic system.
Therefore, every effort should be made to reinsulate the true spirit of Indian culture in the people’s minds.
It is, therefore, imperative to make Education Accessible to all and supported by a Value-based system. The world will soon be a place of brotherhood.
