“Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.”
—Nelson Mandela
Current Macaulay Education Sytem Vs Gurukul Education System
One of the universities in USA, conducted a survey among successful personalities in various field to find out the reasons behind their success. It was surprising to note that, whatever they have achieved academically (Doctor, Engineer, Lawyer, Arts, Commerce, science graduate, Chartered accountants, MBA or any other degree…) contributed just 13% in their success and the balance big number 87% is what? The answer is “Life Management” and nobody teaches us how to manage it neither at home nor in school. The New Education Policy is focusing on both the aspects of our life.
What is “Life Management”?
It means managing ourselves in different situations that includes managing ups and downs in life, difficult and stressful situations, anger and fear management, material and spiritual growth by ethical means, leadership qualities, discrimination between Dharma and Adharma, our responsibility towards society and country, nurturing environment. Unfortunately, most of us have never been taught in a right manner by any faculty of the society.
The focus of most of the parents, schools is to secure good grades/marks in the exam and on finishing the education to get degree of any kind. We have never given importance to significant aspects of life like managing the mind, character building, building positive attitude, maintain equanimity in all situations, right thinking and actions towards society and country. Sharpening and developing intellect through creativity, research and innovation. Understanding ego through spiritual techniques and improving memory. So what happens, it’s become difficult for lot of people in society to handle success in an effective way for a long term, at the same time, failures are even more difficult to handle resulting into mental issues, badly affecting confidence, loosing hope mainly in our youngsters.
Mind management is a complex subject, when we encounter success, it elevates our EGO, takes us away from the ground and subtle reality, affecting our relationship with our near and dear ones. We all have experienced that “Success is directly proportional to criticism”, more are you successful, more you are criticized. Many people in society will put you down, insult you, will throw mud on your character and so on… if mind is weak then it is difficult to sustain success for a longer period. So how to handle constructive and destructive criticism?
Why Mind Management is so important?
It is your state of mind (weak or strong) decides the course of action, a weak mind will never channelize your energy for higher purposeful goals, and strong mind will always look for different opportunities in difficult situations with joy to reach higher goals.
Since childhood, our mind is programmed in such a way that challenges, difficulties, problems are not good, keep away from these situations and false notion is created in our mind that only academic studies can keep you away from these situations so study hard. Let me clear you first education/studies are very important, don’t ignore it but it will stop difficulties, ups and downs in life is a big joke on our youths.
Let them understand life is a mixture of good and bad, right and wrong, happiness and sadness, positives and negatives, hero and villain, success and failure, opportunities and difficulties, peace and disturbance, everything is complimentary. The problem is that we always ensure to put in subtle mind that one part of life which we face is good and other part is bad and can be avoided. How can we avoid the part which brings out inner potentials which we inherit but never realized, that makes us strong, experienced, makes us creative, innovative, shows how important is our life and improves our managing skills? You will agree that we learn to live life only after we face difficulties in life.
Gurukul System:
It was more widespread during the Vedic age where students were taught various subjects and about how to live a cultured and disciplined life.
The importance of the Gurukul system in present times:-
The focus of Gurukuls was significantly on imparting learning to the students in a natural surrounding where the disciples lived with each other with goodwill, humanity, love, and discipline. The important teachings were in subjects like language, science, mathematics through group discussions, self-learning etc. Not only this, but the focus was also given on overall personality development through arts, sports, crafts, singing, various technical and managerial skills, leadership qualities, many other skills that developed their intelligence and critical thinking. Activities such as yoga, meditation, mantra chanting etc., generated positivity and peace of mind and made them fit physically, mentally and socially. It was also mandatory to do daily responsibilities on their own with a motive to impart practical skills in them. All these helped in the personality development and increased their confidence, sense of discipline, intellect and mindfulness that is necessary even today to face the ecosphere that lay ahead.
“Success is never final, and failure is never fatal. It’s courage that counts.” Was one of the theme of Gurukul Education system.
New National Education Policy:
NEP 2020 is basically focusing on to develop overall personality of each student. If implemented candidly by all schools, colleges and universities, it will surely develop upcoming generations as everyone expects to be. The confidant, energetic, joyful, committed, research and innovation oriented, multi-talented youths will bring back glory to our great nation. We will excel not only economically but also in many other sectors such as sports, innovation, space research, social health, defense, educating the world on different dimensions, environment protection.
Implementation of National Education Policy should become a national mission and priority of every citizen of our country. Government and government authorities, Management team, Teachers, Parents, Students and every section of society should join hands and coherently work towards implementation part of it to revivify the future of our upcoming generations and our great nation.
NEP should not be seen with political point of view that who will benefit if implemented in time with quality, it is the millions of our young generation that will reap the benefits out of it.
