Education must help maintain harmony in society

If we look at the current global political scenario, we would easily realize the fact that the demand for harmony between various communities, castes and regional, linguistic and other inter-caste groups is on the top of every nation's agenda.

There has also been a heightened awareness that in the absence of harmony all energy, money, and attention are wasted either in efforts to prevent worsening of relations between various antagonistic groups or much efforts have to be made to bring to normalcy the conditions of law and order even after a brief episode of disturbance in relations between various communities or groups has occurred.

The society, as it is constituted, today, is so clearly knit that

a disturbance caused by one factor in one sector sets waves of

disturbance in other sectors of the society also. An act of

disharmony wrought by science, technology, education, art or

religious worship, in fact, by any aspect of the society's life, can upset harmony and let loose the forces of disturbance in all or most other fields as well.

Disharmony in the form of environmental degradation is the best example of recent times. It is, therefore, essential that all types of institutions and all aspects of an organized society should work in unison to create holistic harmony, else incongruous steps by one or a desynchronized tune by another can disturb the total harmony or break the rhythm of the total system.

Research has proved that education is one of the most

important sectors which can contribute a lot to the well-being and smooth functioning of the society. In order to create a healthy

and happy society, in which there is social, political, and economic justice and harmony, education must enlighten the educated class

on the need to inculcate human values and divine qualities in

their life. Presently, this element in education is neglected, as a

result of which many highly educated people do not know how to

live a peaceful life and how to face their problems without much

mental tension.

It is found that the present system of education does not

cultivate the qualities of tolerance, self-control, humility, service,

co-operation, concern for the wellbeing of society, and

responsibility for one's own actions. Also, students are not given a clear knowledge of the value of simplicity, honesty, justice, non-violence and fair play. The result is that even after spending so many years in a school and college or at the university, there is often a lack of gentleness, nobility, sincerity and humanism, and an inspiring goal is missing in life.

The society, therefore, may have a high percentage of literates or educated people and yet there may be commotion in legislative bodies, disobedience to orders of the highest court of the land, total disregard for law, criminal tendencies and unsocial habits. One does not need lengthy explanation to understand that it is the aforesaid factors that create disharmony.

Education would, therefore, fulfill its noble objective only if it imparts teaching in such values that create harmonious personality and helps to maintain harmony in the society and man's harmony with nature, with the environment and with the self.

(The author is a spiritual educator)