Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Doomed destinies


“Student hangs himself to death”, “Youth commits suicide”, and many more such headlines have become common in newspapers nowadays. The pertinent question that comes through is the fragility of the concept of hope in the youth of today. One may answer, “Because of excessive pressure to study”, while others may opine that it is “due to excessive punishments.” However, such things were present earlier too. It was not so copious then, so why now?
Each student has a life that they hold dear. Why will they lose their lives for so simple a matter? They do it not just for one reason. There are plenty of reasons that make a youth develop hatred for his/ her life that is enough to make him/ her commit suicide. An average child today has a routine of getting up in the morning, getting fresh, and sitting for study (or tuition), and then getting ready for school. A little breathing space isn’t granted to them either. There are certain reasons behind this as well which include vast syllabus, competition and others. The child is burdened with all these things. He/ she has no time to rejuvenate…. and enjoy their childhood. They little time they get as leisure, too is consumed by televisions showcasing violent serials or inane computer games. No physical activities, no fun of group play, no laughing out loud, no dancing in the rain.
Apart from this, some children are forcefully sent to art school, sports schools, etc despite their unwillingness. If a child likes it from within, it is okay. But if the child doesn’t like it, he/ she won’t ever excel in it. Some parents are in a mad rush to make their child proficient in every field. The child has to tackle so many things at a tender age.
Coupled with this if the child also has to punishments for their poor results or threats, it becomes unbearable. This compels the child to despise life. This drives them to commit suicide.
This is not the tragedy of just one or two children, but the entire youth of today. It is pathetic to see this dooming destiny of the youth. An average youngster, who should get ample time to play in tandem with his studies, is placed amidst bulky books every time, three to four or even more simultaneous tuitions, school homework, tuition homework, assignments and the likes.
To stop this, one must see that one’s child gets ample time to play, to enjoy. Study and play must go simultaneously. Only then the child will experience the fun of surrounding childhood. And the youth will again flourish.

(see this article of mine in the 'durgapur-asansol plus' page of 'The Times of India' of December 30, 2011)

Memorising Life


Once a person was asked, “Why do most of the Bengalis not become officials of the highest ranks? They are reduced to serving the capacity of junior staff or subordinate employees.”
The person answered, “Because of today’s system of education and learning. The students of Bengal mostly go for coaching classes and mug up notes given there. Seldom do they try to analyse the matter it contains. This is why the students from other places come to Bengal, study here, and and attain higher position in the hierarchy of life while our own children can’t do that.”
The statement of this person doesn’t just apply for the students of Bengal, but a good portion of students of today. The students feel mugging is a shortcut to score high marks in the exam. They go for so many tuitions, where more than understanding things, they ‘purchase’ the notes from their teacher, and spend days and nights mugging them up, just to replicate them in their answer paper then forget everything. Does this actually serve the need?
The practical knowledge is not yet received. The students can get good marks in the test, but cannot get that knowledge to innovate. They can solve problems, but can’t invent new ways to solve it. As a result, they later become junior staff, following the orders of their senior. They become soldiers, but not kings. They become trend-followers, but can’t ever become trendsetters.
The world is full of such examples where the persons who have succeeded just due to their ability. Isaac Newton never appeared for IIT, but still his name is in science books, and his laws are studied. Bill Gates, a dropout of Harvard University, is now the founder and chairman of Microsoft, where many IITians and engineers are now working under him. There are many more such examples. In this case the teachings of Baba Ranchhor Das is applicable ‘Son, don’t run after success. Run after ability, and success will itself come to you.’
See this article of mine in 'The Times of India' of January 13 in the 'Durgapur Asansol Plus' page.