Most of us blame the government for being the way it is, but I think we are actually the ones that are the most corrupt. We don’t own up to our responsibilities and never miss a chance to grab an extra penny by oppressing the humble and silencing the truth. The only thing that makes us different from the government is the fact that they have been elected from amongst us even though they have been brought up in the same society as us. Also, they can be easily scrutinised. They are a larger version of us with access to a larger pool of resources that most of us don’t have access to.
Let me tell you that corruption of thought isn’t very different from being corrupt about money, usually one leads to the other.
Today, I want to talk about educational institutions in the country and how they ought to shoulder the responsibility of a civilised, independent society. But, are they really doing their part? Are they really imparting the kind of education (that we greatly pay for) that’s leading the society on to a better path?
Now, I am going to ask some difficult questions, see if the answers make you uncomfortable.
Do you remember not questioning your institution when you knew they were wrong but you didn’t raise your voice because you were afraid that you’d be been suspended or humiliated, especially in a private institution?
Do you remember the many times that you got people to come together to take a stand, but at the end, you were the only one who had to answer to the authorities?
Have your parents ever discouraged you from taking the lead (it was okay if you stood behind a group and kept mum), and asked you to focus on your studies instead?
It has become a custom in college canteens to serve meals, prepared in unhygienic conditions, that you’d rather not have pass through your throat; but you think of this also as ‘chalta hai‘ since you’ve left home to study elsewhere, it’s a given that you’d have to put up with stuff, right?
When officers come to evaluate, rooms that were completely unusable suddenly transform into rooms for clubs that never had any members. Also, you’re asked to give a false sense of having facilities (like saying you have a WiFi connection when you only have the router) when you don’t.
At grand introductions, you are taught great things about the environment even when your institution isn’t the least bit environment-friendly (they serve tea in plastic cups!).
And if you have to speak the truth, then you just can’t do that, people would think you’re arrogant. So if there’s something you need to say, you’d have to sugarcoat your words, shower them with compliments and then come to the point. Really, try this out if you haven’t already, it’ll serve you well.
Basically, you’re not as unique as you were taught in the moral science classes. You just have to adapt to the place and the society. If you face consequences for voicing your opinion, you’d come to understand how power and money works.
You’d have to admit that some students never get a chance to be what they want to because of the stifling and competitive environment in educational institutions that never lead us to someplace new.
What keeps us from asking questions?
If you question an educational institution, you might not get your degree. If you question your boss, you might lose your job. If you question a fascist ruler, you might not stay alive to question again.
It is not just you who’s afraid, they are too, and that’s why they instill fear in you.
If you don’t agree with me, let’s debate. Let’s just hear each other out without fearing adverse consequences. As they say, when there’s a will, there’s a way. The ones who question and allow others to question are the real heroes.
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