Without education, it is not possible to have a liberal mindset and inculcate values like compassion and humility, writes Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj
Recently, there were two news headlines that caught the attention of whole world. First the eye opening and heartening speech by Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and second was the mass religious conversion of a group of people in Northern part of India. If one carefully looked at both the events, then one would realise that both these events are correlated on basis of one word — education.
Malala stressed on providing right of education to all the children across the world whereas we all know that the evils of casteism, separatism, terrorism and extremism are all result of lack of education which divides people instead of brining them closer. History shows that since ages, man has been exploiting man and other living beings on distinction of gender, caste, creed, race, physical or mental power, economic power, organisational abilities and unity. In the same way powerful and mighty nations and communities also have been exploiting weak and poor nations and communities because of their weaknesses.
Exploitation of illiterate and poor people is a known phenomena all over the world, as we all are very much aware that powerful or so called educated men have long been using uneducated, illiterate and backward people as slaves or as bonded labour and have been forcing them to work hard under inhuman conditions so as to make things easy and life comfortable for the former. As land-owners, men have been exploiting the tillers of the land. As industrialists, they have been extorting labour from the working class at cheaper rates and, as capitalists and money-lenders, they have been pressing for higher rates for their money and real estate.
As heads of multinational companies, they have been importing raw materials and labour at cheaper rates and exporting manufactured goods in markets all over the world to fill their coffers at the cost of semi or un-industrialised nations. In fact, no limits were kept barred for exploitation. Not only has there been grave exploitation but also persecution of the weak by the powerful. Even if a man gave something to someone, the hidden aim behind this act was to get name, fame, praise or credit for it and to be rewarded for it sooner or later.
There have been only rare examples of such men and women who made sacrifices for the well being of others because of the noble sentiments of love, sympathy, compassion or concern for them. All these make it quite clear that power of money, machines, means, military and also mental and political power have been used by greedy, egoistic and selfish men to exploit others.
Thus, exploitation has been a major factor, causing so much trouble and turmoil to the whole world. So, couldn’t something be done to eliminate it and save mankind from its ravagesIJ The answer to this would be that if universal love replaces the negative tendency of exploitation, then only many social, economic, political, administrative and interpersonal problems can be solved. Also, if there is so much abundance and affluence that no one feels the inclination to exploit, then only the problem of exploitation can be solved.
How does one ignite the feeling of universal love in men and women across the worldIJ What’s the keyIJ Its indeed very simple — this aim of awakening and strengthening the emotion of love in humanity can be achieved only by educating men-women and giving them training in ennobling their emotions. Without educating people in values and giving them a technique of divinising or spiritualising the emotion of love, all kinds of crimes in the society would constantly increase and there would be no rule of law.
Hence, all talk about human rights would be meaningless and empty if the education in values, especially education for purification of love is not imparted. A society, however developed and civilised it be, would always remain society that is rife with crime, hidden and visible if people living in it are not educated enough. However it’s a great misfortune of common man that the people in power in most of the countries do not realise the fact that how intimately our progress, peace and happiness are linked with education in values and training of emotions, particularly love.
Billions and trillions are spent every year by various governments and non-governmental agencies on solving social, economic, political, administrative and other problems.