Opinion| Education – It’s Raison Detre

Noor UL Shahbaz

The essence of Education is not calculation of profits rather is mystery and Quest of facts and phantasies. Student as a human being is endowed with active reson which distinguishes him from all other parts of nature. The character and nature of a child can be portrayed as per the wishes of his guide. The imbibing nature of retention or assimilation of the verbal or non-verbal communication by a child is the natural tendency within him to grasp the knowledge. The susceptibility of affliction at the very tender age can not be ignored if free hand is given to children. This reflects the universalised authoritative rule of educational systems where the students are trained to achieve their aim, goals after following a strict disciplined way of their educational life. The student is streamlined by circumscribing his free will to a greater extent although that is the real or appropriate time during which his mind is open to get illuminated by application of different methodologies.

Educational institutions are the places which open different ways for bright future of our society. The dawn of real life begins from an educational institution and is begenning of ones dreamful journey. The mysteries of facts and dealings with quest of phantasies are the elements which can be inculcated in a student at an earliest stage of his life and the educational institutions are congenial places for that. Here we must not ignore the responsibility of parental care and the environment provided to a child at home; both are supplementary and complementary to each other, school vis-à-vis home. Society as a general factor has also a role but that I think comes at third stage after home and school. A product is admitted within your encompass, you as a teacher are authorised to shape the product and you can potray him as you wish by your skillfull experiences. The contention of “characteristics” that must be present in your product can not nullify the notion of making him at least a responsible human being besides achieving for him the titles of doctor, engineer, advocate, astronaut, scientist, economist etc for which you have laid down a strict criteria of having requisite characteristics resembling to those titles. The ultimate end which the student never fixes for himself rests on the shoulders of a teacher. The aim of achieving a title which can remunerate your product after completion of his studies is distinct from the ultimate goal of him as a “being” in this physical world because he is distinct from other creatures of Almighty and is endowed with an active reason which distinguishes him from all other parts of nature, he is capable of forming his will in accordance with the insight of his “reason”. This distinction must be paid close attention so that the mission of nation building is achieved and not the mission of manufacturing of materialistic products which can go to any extent and spoil not only their own self, our society but also the educational institutions popularly known as “Danish-Gah” in the real sense of humanity. The primary responsibility lies on those who are under authority to save our precious institutions from their conversion into materialistic industries. No one can deny the fact that there is a great shift from the dissemination of education by the aid and assistance of present educational institutions and those in earlier times. Also there is shift in the syllabi, shift in teacher-student relationship, shift in the status of a teacher, shift in the notion of an obedient student and most particularly shift in the ultimate objective of education. As I can sum-up some writing of Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal on this notion as:

• “This age that’s with us is your angel of death. It’s bread and butter cares catch your soul’s breath. And the schools hid from them those mysterie,That yield to hill’s and deserts still assize”.
• “God bring you acquainted with some storm!

No billow in your sea break in foam.

And never from books can you be           weaned

Which you declaim, not comprehend”.

• “No dearth of lettered men, ah few! Provide

The bowl with wine of gnosis like true guide

The ways of teachers do not expand the heart,

Matchstick can not light to electric lamp impart”.

• “The teaching that the english have devised,

Gainst faith and ties has great intrigue contrived

That race is doomed to bondage and much pain

Which justice for its ego can’t attain”.

The teaching-learning process in educational institutions can not estrange a student from the bond of societal connection. One of the misfortune as per my analysis is that the studental product of present educational system revolves round the concept of solitary rather it should focus on the lessons of solidarity. The individualistic pattern of behaviour inculcated within him is an adverse instinct both hazardous for him as well as for the society. The design of his mindset mainly focusses on the self-centric goal which has to be achieved and we all know that the present age has trapped our breathe, our soul and what has remained with us ____ bread and butter (fiqr-e-maeash). No one can trace who and how has influenced or hijacked the “shaheen” of Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal and the treasure of real knowledge from our educational institutions. No one can trace how and who has declined the real status of the Almight’s title to us as “Ashraf-ul-Makhlouq”. The human being as sovereign and supreme among Almighty Allah’s creatures but at present the worst among all other creation. Why are we unable to produce the assets for our human race? We although at times were able to govern the living and non-living beings. Oh! Presently I, you and we are also beings and can not govern a family not only our own family but our own self. Education is the mean through which we could have understood ourselves, established our society in a better way, perceived our real goals, spread love and peace all around, but we failed in our basic task. Time does not wait for anyone but the same time does not stop as well, we can start afresh as Dr. Sir Muhammad Iqbal reminds us, “Read a-new the lesson of truth, of justice and valour! You will be asked to do the work of taking on responsibility for the world”. We can rebuilt the basic structure of our society and education is the main and I think the only weapon for achieving that purpose.

Conclusion: Our educational institutions including the teaching community are far behind (either by their own selfish ends or by the intended subversive policy of the authorities) to lead towards the goal which is to be achieved. The faculty of reason of a student must be given the direction as he is endowed with a special character of imbibing nature. An educational institution has to expand its horizons of teaching-learning methodology and insertion of the syllabi essential for all round development of the student most particularly which focuses on self realisation of him as a human being. Worthiness lies in best experience and it must be utilised to flourish the imbibing character of a student at an earliest possible stage.

Noor UL Shahbaz
M.A, LL.M (GOLD MEDALIST)
Guest Lecturer and former Acting Principal at Sopore Law College