VALUE OF FREEDOM

Freedom is an essential ‘Core Value’ for development, it instils growth of social and emotional quotient (SIQ, EIQ) which is needed for development of interpersonal skills and work environment. As future technocrats our students will be working in International and National organizations where work environment is different than our cultural values.

Majority of Indians ‘lay off’ during adverse economic crisis are those who could not live up to unstructured work culture and free work environment. (This is based on my personal experience while attending lengthy interview sessions with UNO, international organizations do not encourage recruiting personnel from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh because of their routed ethnicity and inert resistance in acceptance of others, views and value base ideas)

Indians have taboos in acceptance of social and emotional freedoms, as it conflicts with our cultural value base and normative upbringing. To put it simply, our structured education pattern discourages freedom of development of personality and confidence.

(CBSE courses are designed to make prototypes and not standalone masterpieces). Moreover, our Indian education system also confits with Fundamental freedoms and duties which are granted by our constitution. It is agreed that freedom comes with reasonable restrictions, but, ‘it is reasonable’ which means with a reason.

I feel students lack life experiences and exposure to grow their personality. Any unmindful restriction will only make them complacent and timid in taking good or bad decisions, leave alone becoming an entrepreneur, which requires enterprise (“ risk taking ability ) and in case rules are rigid, I vouch they will be broken. (This is based on my military experience)

Renaissance from the Dark ages to Industrialization

Science has developed in its present form after the end of the 'Dark Ages' in Europe. 10th century, after the fall of the Holy Roman Empire the whole of Europe was engulf in 'dark ages'. The catholic church embraced religious intolerance and scientific temperament to question the authority of Church was vilified. People who questioned the myths, belief and wisdom of orthodox were executed in the name of god and to protect the religion.

14th Century Europe and thereafter, was different. Growth of Science, Art and Literature and Culture pinned a new beginning and hope for the future. Then came the 18th Century 'Industrial Revolution', which made us value the money we see today in our bank accounts and like brands to "keep up with the Joneses". Then the Tech Age of 1980's made those gadgets possible which only Hollywood movies could fancy.

World has walked many miles, so is our civilization...had it not for the 'Value of Freedom' we would have not moved a step to reach where we are....

So Value Freedom ...... !!!

Now What to do ?

1. Freedom with Responsibility- Sensitize students the value of their safety vis a vis requirement of freedom. Their rights and duties which are corollary to each other. Putting restrain would only make them rigid and not responsible.

2. The Balance between ‘What to do’, ‘When to do’ and ‘How to do’ needs to be instilled by counseling.

3. Let them explore and question what cannot be asked, this develops scientific temperament.

4. When questions and curiosity develop reasoning and logic make an answer, this in turn develops Science, Culture, Art, Literature and Logic.