Everyone can Teach

Teachers Day is coming up. Teachers play an important role in character building of children. A daily multivitamin pill, may build immunity, but there is no pill to build character. A child’s character has to be built gradually, by ensuring that he/she takes the right inputs on a day-to-day basis, from all the spaces he is immersed in. These spaces include the home, school and society at large. Subtle learning happens everywhere.

If your child has fever and refuses to take the tablet, you find a way to administer it, by powdering and mixing it with something, because you know that it’s important for the well-being of your child. Why then is character building not given enough importance at school and home? Education has to become holistic. Because besides academics, the physical, spiritual, emotional, thoughts and tendencies of the child need to be channelled. Sri Sathya Sai Baba said, “The End of Education is Character.”

The recent incident in Kolkata is a horrific sample of what a bestial character, who is bereft of character, can do. Is he even fit to be called human? Rakshasa is a better word. What kind of upbringing and grooming did he get at home, school and college? Did anyone notice the bestial streak in him? Did anyone ever punish him? And what about those who destroyed evidence and are trying to protect the wrong doers? What kind of character are they showcasing?

The law makers need to amend the laws to give capital punishment to such rakshasas. The police and the judiciary need to work in tandem to make this happen. And is even death sentence enough? Someone said that these offenders should be stripped and tied naked in a public place and stoned before being hanged. They should also be made to know what humiliation and helplessness are. Let their families and the society know how the end of a rakshasa in human garb shall be. Let it be a deterrent to possible offenders.

When there are characters (not humans) in our society whose character is zilch, the future is daunting. But as they say, life goes on ... we have to move on, for better or for worse. The whole country is crying. What kind of demons is our society harbouring?

The kind of upbringing a child gets from his parents and teachers plays a huge role in shaping his persona. Elements like TV, YouTube, cinema, computer games, etc. also play a huge role. The government, police, law makers, parents, teachers and the society, have to find a way forward, so that these crimes do not happen.

Is there something each one of us can do? Yes! We can make all those around us, aware about the importance of good character, be they our family, friends, employees, etc.

We can ensure that our children and grandchildren are inculcating the right values. Let us not expose children to games, videos, movies etc. that portray sex, violence, alcoholism, or any of the vices. Passive learning happens when they watch this stuff.

It seems that the accused in the Kolkata case was a habitual offender. He had thrashed his pregnant wife and caused her to have a miscarriage. There’s an extensive history of porn on his mobile. Doesn’t this indicate that he was sick in the mind? And with all this, how was he enrolled as a civic volunteer under the Kolkata police?

A rapist or a criminal is a misguided, mentally sick person who was not reprimanded when he first erred. Let each well-meaning citizen do a bit of teaching. Let’s join the reform brigade. If there is an iota of goodness in you, share it with others. Every bit counts. Don’t spare the rod … let’s not raise spoilt brats. Let us instil in them the ‘Love of God and the Fear of sin’.

This piece has been published in the HT on 01.08.2024. It can be viewed here https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/everyone-can-teach-101725129498577.html

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