NCIC
Issue 3
March 2013
To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. "I will drink the ocean", says the
persevering soul; "at my will mountains will crumble up." Have that sort of energy, that sort of will; work
hard, and you will reach the goal. - Swami Vivekananda
role of a student which
should resemble a sponge,
ready to soak in all the information; but today, the
availability of information is
extensive, the majority of
which may promote negativity. Hence, our role today
would differ slightly in that,
we have more negativity to
screen our information from.
Furthermore, long ago, a
student would be ‘adopted’
by a Guru, without charge
unless given as gifts. Today,
teaching has become a
monetary favour with less
affection and empathy towards students. In essence,
somewhere along the lines,
the true purpose of a
teacher and student has
mutated and is now dangerously dissimilar to Swami’s time. Consequently, the
relationship between a
Swami Vivekananda (1863 - 1902)
Guru and a Shishya reA teacher, as understood from Swa- mains blessed, but encounters many
mi’s teachings, is one who guides the more difficulties in realising its true
student to appreciate things while potential today.
awakening the inner knowledge that In retrospect, education is a promisis already present in a child. While ing answer for many detrimental
promoting education, that is, the
societal questions. Swami Vivekanantechnical or scientific approach, Swada sought to create a powerful commi Vivekananda thought that a
bination of Indian culture and values
teacher must have a sufficient range
of scriptural information to share and the advancements of science
morale among the youth. Most and technology. He saw education
schools in our society lack awareness as both absolute and personal, both
of the Bhagwad Gita, Bible or of which must be well-developed in
Qur’an which may be one of the order to understand the workings of
causes for indiscipline, criminal activi- a nation. Also, Swami Vivekananda’s
ties and declining pass rates view of education strives to bring
amongst our youth especially in sec- unity amidst diversity of caste, creed
ondary schools. This brings me to the or nationality. This particularly, is
5
relevant to our Trinbagonian society
which is described as a melting pot
of cultures. Uplifting society lies in
the hands of the educated ones even
today and will forever be this way
as long as academic credentials is
given importance. Finally, in the
words of His Holiness himself, it’s
high time to, “Arise, awake and stop
not till the goal is achieved.”
By: Sneha Rao Adidam
“In retrospect,
education is a promising answer for many
detrimental societal
questions. Swami
Vivekananda sought to
create a powerful
combination of Indian
culture and values and
the advancements of
science and
technology. He saw
education as both absolute and personal,
both of which must be
well-developed in order to understand the
workings of a nation.”