EDUCATIONAL COMMENTS, written on the 22nd APRIL 2014
A pen is mightier than a sword
The great aim of Education is not Knowledge but Action. –Herbert Spencer.
The term ‘education’ etymologically is derived from Latin, words combination of ‘educere’ and ‘educat’ which means ‘ to lead out’ or ‘to draw out’ or ‘to rear’ someone from something where he or she is. It may be a harsh taste if one link with Colonization and education since the inception begins with the adventurous inculcation of the empire, in which the colonizer are accountable for shedding lights in many countries amongst the nations of the world. There are many scholars who critique Colonialism, which probably by only seeing the little dark side of the setting up empire. Nations around the world are a slumber jack and, later, the colonizer waken them up from the sleep of dreams in the woods or in the stars or in the waters. So, the truth is while waking up, momentarily realized, we are in the cage. That’s how the colonial discourse begin with all its advantages and disadvantages. So, education is one such important dowry the colonizer brought in and they introduced soon they made their settlement in and around the world, including India- with its fringes and ranges.
To be precised, the words combination of ‘educere’ and ‘educat’ gives a new word known as ”educe” meaning “bring out or develop something latent or potential from”. By the word ‘latent’ we meant ‘existing but not develop yet’ and by ‘potential’ we meant ‘the ability or capability of somebody or something in order to compromise’. The root word of latent is also been taken from Latin word ‘latere’ meaning ‘be hidden’. So, in a broad terms, Education is the theory and practice of teachings, giving information about or giving or receiving training to a particular subject to enlighten the mind and set an intellectual, moral and social consciousness to a specific field. Moreover, it also meant to set people free from their physical and mental bondage to a safer places, where one could enjoy one’s personal rights and dignity or freedom. Education is not only intellectual ideas and logical thinking, it is also political in nature, in the midst of hegemonic power structure, at hand, especially to people who are prone to exploitation.
Education and emancipation goes hand in hand. The root word meaning of emancipation is closely related with the word education. The subject matters both on enlightening and freedom over the issues of humanity. Emancipation is directly inverse with the state of ill-treatment, seduction, abduction or secluded by the stronger objects (object here means the opposing personnel). The word has also been taken from combination of Latin words ’emancipat’ and ’emancipare’ which means ‘transfer as property’ with ‘e’ which means ‘out’ and ‘mancipum’ means ‘slave’. So, It is to set people free especially from legal, social and political restrictions or so. One obvious example of bondage is those who are carried away by the enemies into wilderness known as POW (Prisoner Of War) or simply captives who are depriving of their personal rights, wants and longs. Sufferings, pains, grievances are its features. But when people are emancipate or restrain, he realized the joy of freedom and taste the smile of happy man. Not necessarily of wealth but inside the mind. The physical body is liberated from cruel, ferocious and savage hands. In today’s world emancipation may also include religious awakenings- which is a clear comprehension of the Living God and His supremacy over Men and Nature.
As the world become more and more civilized, especially after the second world war, men give importance to theological and epistemological studies- regardless of faith on religion. Even Atheists- who does not believes the existence of God are highly aware of their believe. It is doubtful that how one can deny the existence of God. To them I urge that the natural forces, which is scientifically called the Natural Force of Laws are quite a trivial matter. The blowing wind or the mild breeze, the dripping rains, the growing trees, man and animals and its progenitor, etc in reality are not just a natural processes. Isn’t it happened by following its own pattern? Is the Universe exist by following its processes? Is that seasonal changes occurred as a natural process? Obviously, one may say to it. But think about the Universe, once it is created or existed, why not the other such Universe are not created as a rule by following a natural processes. These are something metaphysical, of course, by it existence. Its incoherence is ocean deep. It is doubtful that how somebody crept over Atheism as their ideology itself became their god, which turn to be theistic rather than atheistic.
Education has been the main door that opens the mind to hover over the rest of the world. Though we have never been there to the South and North Poles of the Earth, we, through our education –knows; the ice shades areas, the Alaskan Icy land, and even we can imagine that how cold would there be to stay for a while! Education gave us an Eye that term it as Education’s Eye, which can focuses whatever, wherever he found interesting, eye catchy, marvelous, and enormous. The geographical patterns and classifications of the earth’s crust, the high seas, flora and fauna, the ranges of Himalayas, which is said to have its rings with the northeastern hill ranges of India. The Alps mountains, the Mississippi ranges, The Steppes etc are the unseen calculation that circulates in the mind. Above all, the geopolitical structures of the world, the scientifically high-fi instruments and technologies, the arms and weaponry fortification. The world of entertainment (includes-infotainment, edutainment), the world of Cosmetic and Beauty Industry. Philosophies, Cultures, and Religions. These are the things that we learn, no matter what about the subject but with the intention to master oneself in order to sharpen knowledge and the power of the mind while shaping the world a better home with an egoism to explore more and more values that remains intact in one’s life.
Education is not just to learn, but to emit the light, spread the value, make awareness among the people irrespective of what level and attitude do they live, ignorance or poverty; to make an effective growth in their status, both mentally and physically. To lead out one another from bondage, darkness, captivity are the main objectives of education. This will result into an Emancipation. So. The importance of education are inevitable, each one has their own roles to fulfill and responsibilities to take up, handle and envision what effect would it brought in the next. The escalent taste of education, as we have already known is sweet. The strategy of emancipation would brings closeness, relativity and unity among individuals, then it will reached nations of the world.
With education the amnesiac rate of boredom can be measured and too can be reduced. If one didn’t get the require amount of corrections during his/her childhood days have often shows dissonance against his fellow being when he got the maturation. Probably, he might be found disastrous by his appearance. This proved that education goes hand in hand with discipline. Life is not just to live, but to be worthy; leaving legacy which creates and shows life is a meaningful journey. Life is short time gift, make it beautiful, colorful and assert plenty of truth in it. Life is not all about money, wealth is not necessarily of money but it is in the heart, it is packed within. There’s time for everything- sufferings like pains and agony, hard times as well as good times, in a state of pauper, even there is time for losing dear ones and close ones. Be happy to lead your life in the best possible way even in times when your mind points different directions due to stress or any cause. Steer your mind to the right plot, and then slot in and fasten it. Accept changes in life, and better not to stick to a thing since God appoints you to drive you life. Sometime life itself turns confusing whether to turn left or right, but this is a chance, make use of it. Be ready to face the future and try to cope with anything that may come towards you. It may not come in a sequential process as usual. Remember, life has its ups and downs and you are the center of life. Life holds not only good thing, be strong even though, is is hard to be strong.
Education is reliable, not necessarily for high income but for high thinking and broad mindedness. The prevailing molestation that used to happen in many parts of our country including ours; perhaps, credited to receiving insensible system of education or just by the namesake- without getting the core values or it may be else. The brutality and miscreants acts are palpable to have its space on the ground. Also, corruption is another big issues especially in India. Can you guess the reason what makes politicians corrupt? The answer may vary from person to person. But, basically- the root caused laid on the basic education that one’s received. There is a fact that says- In every moves, we are showing off the quality of honesty, sincerity and dignity of labor that we inborn with; which may be shaped by early lineage treatment.
Well, Let’s try to give short, exact and precise meaning of Basic education. Firstly it is on the hands of parents, Then moves next to next. The basic education while childhood days are most important. Some Psychologist found out that the mind at the child and the at the aged are unchanged- the same. That is the core of the mind.
It was the Britishers who came, as missionaries in our land; brought education through the Gospel of Christ. They teaches our fore-fathers the Gospels with a firm affinity and determination, when they (parent) could realize the truth beneath under their arms, again missionaries reflects the art of studying- written and oral; with high self-esteem and persistence, with all the odds and obstructions. As a result, the spark ignited and reignited tremendously with the passage of time and spreads the Gospel hand in hand with the systematic education all over the land. When more than half of the tribal were inclined toward this systematic uprooted changes. Some people along with orthodox Chiefs opposed it. At length; they could resist it. But, later, they feels dilemmaic over the changing wind. After years, they could accept it: as people moves toward this new trend.
The legacy toward the 1910s and beyond by the Britishers are awakenings. But, today the society as a whole grasped the system of valued-change and passed it from one generation to the coming generations. Indeed, this fact was preserved to maintain an equilibrium momentum distance with those of the other parts of the world. Schools, hospitals, colleges and even Biblical Institution are established in various parts of our land. Moreover, different kind of philanthropic organisations like the women cells, the students’ federation, tribal unions and political revolutionary cells are the other impact of this societal change through education. The living standard of the people was heighten, business centers and private marts are opened. The system of clothes we worn were obviously change. We began to use Tie which is far from our custom and traditional attires. By traditional attire we meant that the hand made cotton clothes design usually by women– by moulding cotton into thread. In order to complete one suit, the process takes different local handmade devices namely- Helhhawt, Mui, Suutlaam, Patphel, Chiangtang, Khautui, Siam etc and harnessed and fasten into Kantha, Tualpuam, etc. this takes time sometime more than a week or two to finished into Suit. These are never found in the other Civilizations of the world, but only with the Zomis.
It is education that Changed our lifestyles. Now, the ethnical or traditions are of intermingling with those of the Westerns, even though the Household Councils and its Affair (Inndongta) keep on practiced. But many old practices and relics were kept aside. Besides, many of the customs have been lost as the idea of westernization have occupied our society with an exorbitant rate. The transition was emanate since the Gospel lands to our area in the dawn of the twentieth century. Acculturation and exagamy has also taken place to each and one another, as the present system of societal norms and values have direct co-relation with the hi-technological abounce.There are lots that praises Education. ”A little knowledge is danger”. A scientist who propounded ‘The Theory of Relativty’ named
Albet Einstein says that. ”The only thing that interfere with my learning is my Education”. Education in a sense is not only to go to schools, colleges or receive high degree(s) in universities but persistence and hard work over anything we do. There are number of Scientists and Great men who do not get school, college or university education, who still discovered, invented, opined or propounded theories. Practices, principles etc. For people like us, it is the only Christian ethos that give Education. The Britishers came and they teached the Gospel hand in hand with Education. They created the A, AW B CH D…..Z for Lusei which itself is taken the English script and we used it too. Our letters depict the greatness of The British Empire, they let us use their scripts rather than composing another or new version, hence we used it seems like ours till today. While the rest of the world have their own. This may be one the worst legacy that the Britishers left to us. But we do not meant that a prompt change to do to replace it. Supposing, if the Britishers didn’t came and sprayed the Gospel. Can one imagine with what rate our education would move. May be we still collect fruits, nuts from the vicinity, or else we may still hunt the animals for sustenance. We may still practice the Sumtawng Ceremony with having been indulged in the lascivious devil worshiped.
If so, this would be the reminiscence, but Gospel have greater effect on and on, nobody seems to remonstrate the remuneration of the Britishers. Many gets solace with elation and took a solemn oath to be Missionary to light the world. Moreover, system of employment begun as church ministry begun. Indeed, all these transition are called an Emancipation from our ignorance, poverty, bondage and wounds. Further, we are enlighten by this realms of grace shadows. Love, Peace, harmony, unity, broad mindedness and integrity may fill our mind. Education sometimes have an illusive conclusion when somebody or someone tries the depth of scientifical knowlegdes and the skeptical or ideology of God. Schism among the the same takes place, this may be probably due to the monetary consideration that sways the mind into greed.
Intrinsically, we human beings are savagious and maul, that some today’s after Generation X may not believe it. Men are vicious naturally. But the Great changes have taken place by adopting education and Gospels. Thank God! We are saved and awaken.
