Today I came across around a very usual scene of Indian government schools. I went to a nearby boys government school to attend a training program. While the gates were locked, me and my colleagues decided to stand under the sun rays and wait. We were standing just next to a wall from where the lower foyer area was clearly visible. The primary school boys were making queues as it was their assembly time. They all prepared perfect lines and started the assembly with the daily rituals of shouting a pledge. A child in front would say out loudly- 'desh ki raksha kaun karega' and the rest of the children would shout back - 'hum karenge, hum karenge'. The children continued with pledges of loving their country always and giving their best for its growth.
I should mention here that the school is a MCD school. The children are coming from lower economic social background and many are even first generation learners.
I found those kids really cute while they were shouting those pledges. But at the same time, I found it very amusing. The school is definitely trying to inculcate in them a sense of love and responsibility towards their country. However, what amused me was this very thought being inculcated to these kids. Why the schools never teach them to ask who will protect them? Who will protect their rights? Who will take responsibility of their growth and development?
When will these kids be taught to demand for their rights? To serve one's country, one needs to be given opportunities as well. But do these kids really get a chance? How many of them actually go till class XII? Even more to college?
I just pray and hope that soon in their future they will be taught what to ask for and they will be given what they are promised. Just like a young baby needs to be taken care of before we expect her to be a responsible grown up, so does every person of a country needs to be nurtured to become a responsible citizen.
2 comments:
Beautiful piece of thought. I am deeply touched. [:)] Keep pouring in, please.
hi bhanu,
in fact i went to an mcd school for my fa and i found this last exercise in the assembly very amusing too...it is only in government schools that still nationhood and gandhi are talked on everyday basis and in this way...
in fact what amused me more was that these schools have such poor facilities in terms of clothes, toilets, drinking water, electricity...and yet we demand of these children to protect the country!!!
they are taught to follow by these small exercises rather than understanding what nation is and what does it mean to belong to a nation...it is so very colonial...
love
devika
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