Education should help maintain harmony in society
Looking at the current global political scenario, we would easily realize that the demand for harmony between different communities, castes and regional, linguistic and other caste groups is at the top of every country’s agenda.
There has also been a greater realization that in the absence of harmony all energy, money and attention is wasted on trying to prevent the deterioration of relations between different antagonistic groups or that great effort must be made to enforce the terms of the law and normalize the law. even after a short period of disruption in relations between different communities or groups.
Society, as it is composed today, is so clearly intertwined that
a disturbance caused by one factor in one sector causes waves of
also in other sectors of society. An act of
disharmony caused by science, technology, education, art or
in fact, religious worship can disrupt harmony through every aspect of society’s life and also unleash the forces of disruption in all or most other areas.
Discord 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 work together to create holistic harmony, otherwise incongruous steps by one or a desynchronized tune by the other can disturb the total harmony or the rhythm of the total system.
Research has shown that education is one of the most
important sectors that can make a major contribution to the well-being and proper functioning of society. To create a healthy one
and happy society, in which there is social, political and economic justice and harmony, education should enlighten the educated class
about the need to inculcate human values and divine qualities
their life. Currently, this element is neglected in education as a
as a Result of which many highly educated people do not know how
lead a peaceful life and how to deal with their problems without much
mental tension.
It has been found that the current education system does not
cultivate the qualities of tolerance, self-control, humility, service,
cooperation, concern for the welfare of society, and
responsibility for own actions. Also, students do not get a clear understanding of the value of simplicity, honesty, justice, non-violence and fair play. As a Result, even after so many years spent in school and college or university, there is often a lack of kindness, nobility, sincerity and humanism, and an inspiring purpose in life.
Society may therefore have a high percentage of literate or educated people and yet there may be unrest in legislative bodies, disobedience to orders of the highest court in the land, total disregard for the law, criminal tendencies and anti-social habits. No elaborate explanation is needed to understand that it is the above factors that create disharmony.
Education, therefore, could fulfill its noble purpose only if it teaches such values as create a harmonious personality and helps to maintain harmony in society and man’s harmony with nature, with the environment and with himself.
(The author is a spiritual educator)
