
Need of the hour -73
Man: A Wild Animal? Or a Social Being Guided by Values? – 2
-J.P.Bharathi
Continued..
Schools now have no place for subjects like “Moral Science.” In colleges, the number of teachers who teach life values to students has decreased. Coaching centers have replaced teachers. The question “How to earn more?” has become more important than the question “How to become a good person?” Our misfortune is that even today’s teachers are losing the most fundamental moral values. However, this doesn’t apply to everyone; some teachers are causing everyone in society to be viewed with suspicion.
What is the result of this? Intelligent people without moral values are being created. They are using their intelligence not for the good of society, but for selfish purposes. Corruption, fraud, crimes, violence against women, and abuse of children are all increasing. As I continue on these atrocities, old, decent men and challenged humans also animals are not spared.
What is needed is not fear of laws, but the strength of values. Laws exist to control crime in society. On the other hand, it seems that laws have become ineffective, and criminals are not afraid of the punishments prescribed by them. Laws and punishments can be changed, but the fear of laws alone is not enough. How does a person behave where the law is not visible? If a person behaves morally even where there is no camera or police, it is not because of the law, but because of values.
A person with values will not do wrong even when alone. A person without values will be ready to do wrong even if thousands are watching.
Therefore, what society needs is a strong system of values rather than stricter laws. Ofcourse, law has to be stricter, but if we rectify our value systems and teach values to the new generation, we can completely cleanup our society forever.
Inner control is possible only through spirituality. It is wrong to think that spirituality means only religion. Spirituality means a person knowing himself, examining his thoughts, identifying and controlling the evil within himself.
When children are taught the concept of “you are responsible for your actions,” they can keep the wild animal within themselves under control. Meditation, yoga, value-based stories, and life lessons should all be part of education. We must return to value-based education. Our education system must once again focus on values. Along with textbooks, life lessons should also be taught. Humanity should be measured alongside marks. Teachers should not merely teach the syllabus, but also serve as role models.
Parents too should guide their children to become good human beings, instead of pressuring them solely for ranks.
A human being may be inherently a wild animal. But if taught values, that same animal can transform into an exemplary citizen useful to society. Values are what make a human being truly human. If we remove them from education, what we build will not be a civilized society, but merely a well-trained jungle.
Our future is in our hands. Only by bringing values back into education we can control the wild animal within man.
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