IDIOTIC WAY OF EDUCATION REFORMS

[Dr. Sanjiv Agarwal]

The phrase aal is well is catching up fast with one and all- thanks to the recent film '3 Idiots' which has made this phrase popular amongst the gen next and all other factions of the society. The film, 3 idiots sends the message to the present society of our country -be it student, young citizens or people of our or our parent's age that one ought to be optimistic, calm and hopeful - at least in times of difficulties, desperation and helplessness and a simple believe that 'aal is well' seem to help in over coming the crisis.

'Aal is well' holds good in all situations. Even in today's time of rising food prices  general inflation and recent recession and slowdown, all seem to be well----- at last for India- be it our exports, our financial system, capital & money markets, education, governance , labour and tax reforms and so on. Nothing affects us so much so that even the theatre tickets of Rs.150-200 does not deter us from watching a movie. It seems as if who bothers for inflation here.

3 idiots brings us closer to reality as it is more than movie, a mirror of a belief system and education system we all live in today. There was a time when money and rich were villains and heroes poor with morale but  3 idiots draws us to a point which reflects India of today and tomorrow. It is a story with no gaps between real and reel life, touching upon each strata of Indian middle class and higher education.

3 idiots is a message which demand easing out of pressure on our education system, institutions, students and parents. It calls for looking at the education system in altogether new holistic and practical way. 3 idiots is also an example of excellence in terms of ideas and giving Indian society a message which calls for educational and social reforms. One wonders, where were our film makers all these years!

Education and work or employment are two burning issues before Indian youth which need a focused attention. Infact these need to be reoriented so that they do not turnout to be another menace.  A large section of Indian youth is already struggling with excessive reservation system.

At the same time, parents and families ought to support the gen next with a reasonable degree of expectation, even when coupled with high hopes. Flexibility, direction, support and freedom to nurture own course of career, of course, with navigational guidance is the need of the day. Facilitating natural and all round development is what our mechanized institutions are required to strive for.

While 3 idiots would have smashed all box office hits in terms of revenue, its success in terms of transforming young India and suggesting the way to deal with scarcities is much bigger and needs to be hailed by one and all. While India is soon marching towards being the youngest country of the world in next decade, we need such type of movies which motivate and reform all of us- something which our educational system and governments have not been able to do so far. Let's hope for a change, a change for a better tomorrow so that we can continue to say- aal is well.

The film is a commercial film, yet it conveys a strong message not only to policy makers of our education system but also to millions of citizens who become part of such rotten system without questioning it and as a result spoiling the carriers and even families. The ill effects of present system has even taken a toll on student's lives with increasing trend of suicides from all ages and courses, as young as studying  in middle level classes.

Today right from admission to studies to classrooms to teaching to examination, all are stinking. The so called education is non- reformist. No real transformation takes place as parents too have imbibed such a system.

If movies could be so inspiring, motivating and eye opener, we need more such movies rather than schools or colleges which are commercial shops without a soul. The film is not a film but a education in itself. It can only be hoped that the film will open the eyes of our policy makers, educationalists, teaching fraternity, parents and of course, students.  The message that 'one should study and do what one loves to do and it will result in money flowing in' is the rule for future. All will be well. We only need to accept the gift- 'tohfa kabool karo'

 

Discussions to this article

[DEV KUMAR KOTHARI]

'All is well', is a good way of thinking to rduce tenstion, anxity and worry.The theame ond concept of the film 3 idiots is good if one can really learn to modify the education system, and expectations of parents to be oriented towards liking and abilities of child instead of forcing them as per the wish of parent. However, too simplistic way as shown in the film is likely to misguide children and students of present days who are already too much optimistic, easy going and want easy and quick results- mainly degree and good job. I had discussed with some children of clas X -XII who had viewed the film, my impression is that the children are being carried away by thinking like do whatever you like, if money is with you you can buy a degree- by studies by proxy. We find detoriateing aadar bhav - (feeling of respcet) and Seva Bhav ( service to elders) in youngesters, the film is likely to add to these problem. It would have been better if in the film Ranchodas was penalized for obtaining degree by proxy through Fungsuch Vangadu (Aamir Khan), and the Principal and other teachers of college recognized the short comings and started a new batch with some new concept.

[Dr. Sanjiv Agarwal]

Kothari ji, Gopod that u reacted. I agree with u. In fact, we as parents are also to a large extent responsible, whether it is over expectation from the child or the lack of respect or service feelings..We all live in so much stress that we can not express its intensity. Even a priest or a sadhu of today is in great tension. What to do. I feel that time is now ripe to stop experiments, curse othersfor wrong doings or not doing and a national level debate should start to address the education system of this country rather than falling to what Mr Kapil Sibbal experiments.