Education...

In my last post there was a picture of few children operating a computer. That snap reminds me of a degree college in a town (Amethi) near my village. When I went home last time, I came across a big hoarding, screaming out "A New Pharmacy College in Amethi, inaugurated by blah blah blah..." I was happy to see that hoarding, but at the same time I was sad, because I knew the quality and type of education that was provided in that college.

Usually people believe that education is the solution for almost all problems (like unemployment, poverty, population , corruption, racism etc) in our country. I agree that education is necessary to make us more aware and opens up an interface to external world, changes the way we think and a lot more.

But, then why most of the government officers are corrupt? Why there is reservation based on caste or race? Why students travel ticket less in trains buses? Why most of the people involved in any riots are students? Why most of the terrorists are high profile engineers, doctors etc? Why there are teachers involved in sexual harassment of students? Why sex selective abortions are practiced by doctors? Why dowry is still practiced openly and widely in our country? Even though all these people are "well educated", they are involved in things which books never teach. If you think practically, aren't illiterate much better than these?

The problem is the way education system works in our country. People just think of education as a tool to get job and earn money. But actually education is not a way to get something, its a way to transform yourself, to make your life and your surroundings better. Its not just about getting a certificate, its about inculcating the thoughts and culture into yourself and people around you.

Being educated is a way ahead than just knowing reading and writing.