Are you engrossed in understanding the profound meaning of life and
importance of education in it?. Then " Education and
the
significance of life" by J. Krishnamoorthi is a must read book for you.
Jiddu krishnamoorthi visualizes the link between comfort and security with education as perceived by a common man. He feels such a conventional education makes independent thinking extremely difficult. While accepting the importance of knowledge and efficiency, but expresses concern that to lay chief emphasis only on them leads to conflict and confusion.
J.K. slams the outlook of education being viewed as a process of accumulating knowledge from books. He instead wishes education as the understanding of oneself, for it is within each one of us. J.K. emphasizes the importance of learning to be compassionate, to be contend with little, and to seek the supreme, for only then can there be the true salvation of mankind. He notes that peace and happiness for men can come only with a change of heart, good will and inward transformation, which are born of self-awareness.
While discussing about the world peace, J.K.clarifies that to merely educate people to be wonderful engineers, brilliant scientists, capable executives, able workmen, will never bring the oppressors and the oppressed together. The present system of education, in J.K.'s view, can only cause enmity and hatred between human beings and mass murder in the name of one's country or God. J.K. also clarifies that the function of education is to help each
individual to discover all psychological hindrances, and not merely impose new patterns of conduct and new modes of thought on the learner.
J.K. emphasis the need for the teacher and parents to be rightly educated, so that they can impart pure knowledge to their pupil. The author strongly argues that the state of creativeness cannot exist where there is conflict, and feels the right kind of education should therefore help the individual to face his problems and not glorify the ways of escape. He recommends silence as a means to enhance creativity and to enjoy the beauty.
This book in my opinion is a real treasure of one who consider education as a life transforming process.
Hats off to J.K.!!!