Saraswati : Goddess of Learning
(Let me explain in
the onset that this is not a religious and spiritual
article but a small effort to explain role of knowledge and
wisdom in every Indian life!)
Many westerners are
puzzled that why Indians across religious lines are
obsessed with Saraswati.You can visit any liberal school,
educational institution , spiritual or cultural centre
across the country. You are bound to come across idol or
painting of Goddess Saraswati installed in the premises.
Well!GoddessSaraswati is goddess of learning and
wisdom. She revered as giver of knowledge and wisdom. One
who’s blessing is a necessity before learning something.
For hardliners, she may be Hindu deity but some of the best
professionals who are not Hindus endorsed it for a driving
force behind their success. Baba Allahuddin of Maihar
gharana who taught world-renowned Pundit Ravishanker, the
famous sitarist and Aliakbhar khan, the sarod player was an
ardent worshipper of the goddess . You have M.F. Hussein,
the world-renowned painter who believes her as a unifying
force between scholars and artistes. You may find writers,
teachers, and professionals of all hues praying to her in
articles, books, and theircreativeworks for making them
what they are.
Indian student community constantly
pray to her to let them pass their exams with flying
colours. Saraswati in simple manner means Knowledge and
wisdom and all treat it similar to life force. You may
never find any sensible Indian speaking ill of his or her
teacher, defecating any educational book or learning
manner. These things are exclusive domain of ignorant
hardliners who are good for nothing Sociologists and
educationalists explain that India is a knowledge oriented
country. Here you may find an illiterate worker toiling
hard to make his children study well. Even the present
top class of the nation got their position because of good
eduction. Knowledge is so much respected here that every
teacher in a rural part is given respect and love. You
can read about scholars who may have done something
creative and have won laurels of the world but they will
still respect their teachers and attribute their success
to them.
From Swami Viveka nand to present day
motivation gurus like Dr.Deepak Chopra and Robin Sharma all
have supported knowledge as a way to freedom. Business
magazines have explained that this knowledge intensive
approach has made a way to new technological edge over
developed economies like China or Some of the European
nations.
Education was always an integral part of Indian
way of life. Right from great Indus valley civilisation
to present age of Information technology boom, it had a
subtle place in every body’s life. Sadly, negative western
influence and corrupt governments have stopped its growth
in so many manners. There are many excellent scientists,
academicians and writers who work abroad because they did
not get the requisite support from the government. Imagine
some of the top scientists working in excellent
institutions like N.A.S.A. and research institutions are
Indians!
You may have schools and the students but not
sufficient number of teachers. If there are teachers then
there may not be proper schools and resources. However,
this has never demotivated any one from pursuing higher
education. Everybody who is in global position shall
endorse this fact
Every parent aspires his or her
child to learn to stay alive. It is some way related to
inherent survival instinct.
This is one of the reasons
why so much emphasis is on knowledge and wisdom. In simple
words, every one makes sacrifices to get knowledge from
country’s first person to the lowest ranked worker! There
fore Saraswati is prayed and loved by people belonging to
all faiths!
(Ashish Dimri, a freelancing journalist
wrote it)