Modern education makes the educated aloof and drives them away from the community. This is best captured in this story told by Kenneth Parmasad in his book Salt and Roti. The three educated boys wanted to go on a hike and after much deliberation, agreed to take along their uneducated boyhood friend. Travelling through the forest they came upon the remains of a dead lion. Peering over the decomposing body, one said “I can put together the skeleton of this lion.” The second said: “I can put together the organs, flesh and skin.” The third said: “I shall breathe life into the lion.”
The three, turning to their uneducated friend, condescendingly asked: “What can you do?” With fear in his voice, he said: “I shall climb that tree and look on.” The three wise friends laughed at him. Each proceeded to do the task promised and when the lion came alive, it devoured them. The ‘stupid’ friend looked on silently and after it was safe, he quietly came down the tree and returned home.
Education is hardly employed in our society to develop the economy or provide a humane individual. Our farmers continue to be the ‘uneducated’ while few with diplomas and degrees in Agricultural Science are engaged in agriculture in one way or the other. The same can be said for our mechanics, our joiners and builders. These individuals apprenticed themselves to practitioners and today they are contributing significantly to the development of the country. As for our qualified engineers they are waiting on a company to hire them.
I am witness to seven-and eight-year-old who boast of their intelligence and laugh at their slower siblings and relatives. This behavior was well captured by VS Naipaul in ‘A House for Mr Biswas’. Even elders are known for putting down those relatives who are not qualified in their eyes. A degree in English Literature, History or Gender Studies is today dismissed as ‘duncy degree.’ Skills in sports, cooking, swimming and other survival skills are not respected but viewed as ‘wasteful.’
Another story is that of a pandit and a boatman. Crossing the river, the pandit asked the boatman, “Can you read?” The boatman, bending his head, mumbled: “No, I have never been to school.” The pandit laughed and remarked: “Half your life gone.” Suddenly, dark clouds enveloped the sky, strong winds began blowing and the turbulence of the water began increasing. The boatman, sensing danger, asked the pandit: “Panditji, can you swim?” Panicking, the Pandit replied: “No.” “Well, now your whole life gone,” said the boatman.
Mahatma Gandhi regretted sending his eldest son to the regular school. He knew that the education system was skewed to make the learners feel inferior. Gandhi kept his younger sons at home and personally tutored them. In his adult life, the elder son became an alcoholic much to the shame of his father and mother.
“You work for ten cents, then save two cents for a rainy day…don’t put your hat where you cannot reach it.” The billionaires of the world imbibed those lessons from their grandparents and never fell victim to the propaganda parading for education. Not surprisingly, many with MBA and DBA work for billionaires who have no such qualifications for they know that wealth is built by self-discipline and hard work. Unfortunately, this wisdom is not taught at schools.
Sadly, to be a professional today is an entitlement to wealth- mansion, luxury vehicles and holidays at exotic places. Dr B. M. Hedge, an Indian doctor who is critical of western medicine and its craze to profiteer from the profession, said that after graduating as a doctor, the next big move is to acquire an Audi. I think he if right! The craze for a medical degree is never about seva or the welfare of the world!
Is education a blessing or a curse? Education helps to provide knowledge and skills but it is also to develop the personality of the individual. Unfortunately, given the background of the Indian community in Trinidad, acquiring a professional qualification, unconsciously rips them apart from their family. For example, when such a person is getting married, he or she selects guests from an ‘elite’ social background. The parents of the pride and bridegroom usually have no say, thus being embarrassed. Their friends and relatives would remark: “Girl, you have wedding and you didn’t invite us for roti.” Embarrassed, the mother bends her head in shame … ‘the children did everything…they invited their friends…”