Recent events show that negative intolerance in our country is gradually increasing. I do not fully understand as to how some people came to adopt a fanatical mindset in a secular country like India. Where did we go wrong? How does a person tend to get inclined towards such fanaticism?
What I personally conceive is that the fault lies in our education system. Students who are in the initial stage of learning are the foundation of any society. It is based on what they are taught, that will help us to ascertain the strength of this foundation and the duration for which the foundation will be able to hold the superstructure – The Nation.
The need of the hour is that the students must be made aware of the basic principles for which India stands and these principles are stated in simple words in the Preamble of our Constitution. It states as follows:
“We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic and to secure to all its citizens: justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation.”
The Preamble is printed in every school text book. The students are aware that there is some kind of an ancient script on each of their text books but do not exactly know what it is and from where it is derived. I first studied the Preamble when I entered Law College. A few days back I asked a 10th Standard student about the matter on the second page of his English Text book and he replied, “We always skip that part and directly start with the 1st Chapter . . . aaa Aha! That’s some kind of Law”.
It is the duty of the teachers especially teachers of the secondary section to precisely explain to their students the text of the Preamble in the simplest language possible. The knowledge of the Preamble is suffice to make the students imbibe in them the principles enshrined in the Constitution. The teachers need to be given basic training in this regard. The teachers have to realize that they have a responsibility, not only to complete the syllabus but a higher responsibility towards the society.
God only creates the raw material. Teachers manufacture the raw material into a product. The product can be either defective or effective. I therefore place the onus of laying down a strong foundation to a civilized society; of striking a balance of harmony among people of different thoughts, expressions, beliefs, faiths and worship, on the teachers of our nation.
