A District Education Officer once barged into the seventh standard class room of a school to inspect the standard of education imparted there. He looked at one of the boys and asked –
“Where does the River Ganges flow from?”
The boy asked the officer –
“According to the Tamil language book or the Social Science text book, Sir?”
The Officer said, “Give your answer as per both the books.” The boy replied, “As per the Tamil book, the Ganges flows from the head of Lord Shiva and as per the Social Science text book, it flows from the Himalayas. Two teachers taught us differently.”
The Education Officer was baffled by the reply “While inculcating scientific temper why do teachers confuse students at the same time with superstitious thoughts?”, he asked himself. He praised the intellect of that boy and moved to another class room where Tamil language class was being held.
The lady teacher sang a song in praise of Goddess Saraswati and said that she is the Goddess of education. The Education Officer kept watching curiously the reaction of the students. One of the boys rose and asked her – “If Saraswathi is in-charge of education what are you in-charge of, Miss? Why has Goddess Saraswathi denied education to my parents? Every year they worship her on the Ayuda Pooja Day but till this date they leave only their thumb impressions, unable even to sign their names. Tell me why.”
The lady teacher deflected sheepishly and requested the officer himself to clarify his doubt. The embarrassed officer evasively said,
“My dear boy, gullible people long ago churned out innumerable Gods and Goddesses out of sheer fear over the inexplicable. They fabricated fables that have kept our people ignorant of the truths.”
The Officer further said, “The book that you hold now is Saraswathi. The money in your pocket is Lakshmi. Your sound body is Goddess Parvathi. Accept everything that is palpable and visible. Ignore everything that makes no sense to you.”
Though the boy was convinced, he asked again, “Why do people offer sweets and fruits during their worship? Can we acquire health, wealth and knowledge through the offering?”
The Education Officer politely answered – “All the offerings are mere waste of hard earned money. Study as much as possible for knowledge. Work hard for wealth. Keep your mind and body sound for health. You need nothing more.”
Before leaving the class room, the officer advised all the students to imbibe the spirit of questioning and enquiring at all times. “Answer all the questions but question all the answers. You will emerge tomorrow as great thinkers,” said the officer. The boys clapped cheerfully.
The officer then entered the room of the Headmaster and narrated in detail what he observed and experienced in both the class rooms. The HM mistook that the boys had behaved arrogantly. He promised necessary action. The officer said that he was infact impressed by the boys. He asked the HM what made it possible. The HM said that another male teacher of Tamil language in the School was adhered to Periyar thought and principles. He used to advise students to use their reasoning ability.
“The Tamil master concerned is a great scholar and orator too,” the HM said,
“He does compose poems. He is a voracious reader of Tamil literature. Most of the parents have known him closely. As per my advice, he has been teaching the students rationalist concepts very mildly. He never thrusts all his views at a time on them. He is a model teacher, Sir. He handles the students quite deftly. Therefore we have never had any problem so far.”
The education officer left the school thinking deeply over the reforms required by the system of education in general.
Source: ‘Theekkathir’
Tamil Daily – 06th October 2024
Translation: M.R. Manohar
