Column

This week, we will be celebrating Swami Vivekananda's birthday. Besides being a spiritual leader, his teachings on education and focus on role of youth in shaping our country's future still hold true, even a hundred years later. Such was his foresight and vision, true hallmarks of a great thinker.

The concept of self-education propagated by Vivekananda is being recast in modern day theories, where we talk of students as independent learners. The teacher being facilitator and the child learning through a spirit of inquiry lies within what he said, "The teacher spoils everything by thinking that he is teaching. Within man is all knowledge and it requires only an awakening and that much is the work of the teacher." His concept of educating the poor, rural masses is as ensconced in Right to Education (RTE).

Private schools reserving 25% of their seats for the marginalised, recognises the fact that unless India pays attention to its masses, progress to a status of developed economy will be difficult.

Vivekananda had paid equal importance to the cause of educating the masses. In order for the country to advance education and intelligence must spread among the masses "the chief cause of India's ruin has been the monopolising of how education and intelligence of the land among a handful of men".

Save the Girl child campaigns, various government schemes for free education, Central Bureau School Education (CBSE) proposal to make education of all girl students subsidised, may all appear like new prospects responding to the needs of modern day society, but it was the early reformers like Dayanand Saraswati and Vivekananda who were first responsible for reviving the golden age where women were valued, respected and held positions of authority.

January 12, Vivekananda's birthday, is celebrated as National Youth Day. It is observed with great fervour in almost all educational institutes. Students commemorate this day, with processions, music, recitations, youth conventions, presentations, yogasanas, seminars and sports each year.

India is a young nation. Nearly one-third of its population is below 27 years of age. They are a tremendous source of demographic power to the country. However, it is important that this youth is channelised and made productive. With the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education being less than 15%, most of the youth is not educated therefore less productive. Given that the concept of vocational education is not very popular In India, the youth is not skilled either.

The lack of education and skilled youth force can become a big deterrent to country's progress. Vivekananda will be truly remembered if current target of attaining GER ratio of 30% in higher education is met as soon as possible.

A real tribute and true meaning of the National Youth day will be realised when Vivekananda dream of educating the rural masses will be realised.

The writer is an entrepreneur and educationist