Opinion | Education vs Extremism: The Battle for Young Minds

Modern education challenges extremism, breaks social discrimination, and empowers young minds to choose peace, humanity, and progress over hatred.

Education and extremism are two completely different ideas with two different paths. Education means gaining knowledge, developing understanding, building critical thinking, and learning the difference between right and wrong. Extremism, on the other hand, grows when people stop questioning, stop understanding, and begin following harmful ideas blindly, according to anger, emotions, or influence. Education opens minds, while extremism closes them.

In the past, Kashmir witnessed difficult times marked by curfews, shutdowns, violence, and long closures of educational institutions. Students remained away from schools and colleges for months, sometimes even years. When people remain confined within four walls for a long period, their thinking naturally becomes limited. Young minds, instead of learning through books, classrooms, debates, and healthy discussions, often become vulnerable to confusion, frustration, and negative influence.

At that time, access to knowledge was not easy. Reading books, magazines, newspapers, and articles was limited for many people. There were fewer opportunities to connect with the outside world or understand different perspectives. As a result, many individuals developed ideas only according to what they saw around them within their locality or community. Their understanding of society, religion, politics, and humanity remained restricted. Such limitations sometimes created anger, intolerance, and extreme thinking that later affected both homes and society.

Extreme behaviour cannot happen out of nowhere; it comes up gradually when there is a situation of lack of knowledge, isolation, fear, or ignorance. Without the proper education in society, individuals might not be able to distinguish between facts and propaganda. It becomes easy for them to fall prey to misleading stories, passionate speeches, or ideologies. There have been many societies that motivated the youth to hate other communities based on religion, caste, language, or identity.

Today, however, the world has changed significantly. We are living in a modern era with technology, internet access, and global connectivity. Through 4G and 5G networks, people can communicate with individuals from different countries, cultures, and religions. Knowledge is now available at our fingertips. Students can access online education, research articles, documentaries, lectures, and discussions from across the world. This exposure helps people understand different viewpoints and broadens their thinking.

Modern education is one of the key ways to combat extremists. Education ensures that the individual is taught the art of questioning rather than swallowing all that comes their way. It nurtures logical thought processes and moral knowledge. The educated individual is aware of how to think things through and comprehend the results of violence, racism, and intolerance.

One of the biggest problems in society has always been discrimination based on caste, religion, or social status. In many communities, people still consider one caste superior to another. For example, some individuals claim that the Syed caste is superior to the Dar caste. Similarly, in some parts of India, people from Dalit communities were historically treated as untouchables, and even today traces of such discrimination continue to exist. These practices create divisions in society and damage social harmony.

Such discrimination survives mainly because of ignorance and a lack of proper understanding. Education challenges these outdated beliefs. When individuals read religious and historical texts deeply and sincerely, they realize that no religion promotes hatred or discrimination. Whether one reads the Holy Quran, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Bible, Guru Granth Sahib, or other sacred teachings, the central message is humanity, compassion, justice, and respect for others.

No religion preaches to its followers to abuse or hate others based on their castes, classes, or backgrounds. Religion, on the other hand, teaches us to be loving and good to others. Extremists exploit religion either for personal or political gain by spreading selective teachings that foster discord. Through education, we can comprehend the true message of religion.

Besides, the meaning of education goes beyond academic knowledge. A real form of education creates character, emotional skills, ethical and moral standards, and social responsibility. People learn how to live harmoniously in a multicultural environment. When a learner acquires knowledge of science, arts, philosophy, and other areas that develop social values, he or she gains an enhanced perception of life. These are the kinds of people who become useful to society.

Both families and schools play a crucial role in moulding the minds of young people. Parents should instil confidence in their children and ensure that they develop a positive mindset. The teachers should cultivate an atmosphere where the learners are not afraid to pose questions and voice their opinions.

The fight against extremism cannot be fought merely by force or control. It can be beaten by awareness, education, dialogue, and avenues for the youth. Where youth are educated, gainful employment, and socialization, they will become constructive citizens, not destructive forces to peace. Education provides hope, motivation, and direction.

Kashmir today is witnessing positive changes in many ways. More students are focusing on education, skill development, entrepreneurship, sports, and technology. Young people are connecting with the wider world and exploring new opportunities. This transformation shows how education can replace hopelessness with ambition and negativity with creativity.

To sum up, education can be considered one of the most powerful tools against extremism. First, it brings light into the head instead of darkness. Second, extremism arises from ignorance, while education brings enlightenment and promotes tolerance. Finally, in today’s modern society, youth should prefer to know rather than hate, talk rather than fight, and unite instead of dividing.

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