Education pulls one up from lower rung to the level of elite society. Education equalizes our positions. Education is impartial, the best judge. It does not, just to equalize positions, pull up destitute and push down elite or vice versa without justifications. The eyes of education do not see differences: differences of age, differences of status, and differences of behavior. Education rewards the deserving and punishes the undeserving. The punishment meted out to the undeserving is manifested in painful physical and mental agonies. Education provides us with additional eyes that enable our vision to penetrate through what we see with our ordinary eyes. It enables us to reach the world of purity where our presence is boundlessly blessed. It transpires us from ordinary to extraordinary, from the illusive world to utopian society, and from chaotic to totally blissful state. It is a torch bearer. It enables everyone to see the world in entirety.
Education, therefore, is inevitable and universal. Rich and powerful cannot bypass education reclining themselves to wealth and authority. Wealth accumulated over thousand years can be exhausted within a day. When Bumthang town was gutted by fire last year, some victims shared their heart-breaking story about how their hard earned wealth, savings their ancestors made over years had turned into ashes or vanished like rainbow, without any trace, within a fraction of seconds. Man of authority today becomes totally stripped off tomorrow. He and his despotic nature are seen making downward movement. By these lessons, it can be understood, even poor and powerless, may have time to emerge out of bondage of ill-treatment. Only wish they need to utter is, ‘Oh God! May I have the boon of education’. Even if it is hard, poor and powerless must struggle to pay through their nose to earn education. In Bhutan, thanks to our benevolent Kings who demonstrated fairness and treated everybody with equality, all subjects are provided equal opportunity and accessibility to free education. While people of other countries have tough time getting basic education, our people get their degrees easily and effortlessly. We are blessed. If education is with us, we have less reason not to have all others. Education eradicates or lessens our worry and deadening moment of struggle to accumulate wealth. I see no difference in education and wealth.
But, can all people understand and see education in one form? There are some children who wanted to continue, but their domestic conditions or parents’ objection poses indestructible obstacles to realization of their wishes. There are some children who do not want to continue though all conditions favour them. I have had an honour to behold fortunate children as well as the displeasure of sighting unfortunate children. I had my friend, in fact my classmate and closest one, both in needs and deeds, who had unmatched inclination towards studies. Once he starts reading, he used to complete a novel at one go, no matter how voluminous it was. Next time, he wrote or spoke something, he used to reproduce a phrase or sentence from that novel or materials thereby making his point of view strong. He used to win every debate. I used to appreciate his sharpness in remembering almost everything and synchronizing well with what he had to say. However, I found his father, obstructing and distracting his interest in studies. His father wasn’t from a low profile group, in education as well as in wealth. Still, like one having less educational background or like one pestered by poverty, his father insisted him to discontinue from XII, not to work in farmhouse of course, but to join National Defence Academy (NDA), India. Perhaps, I was wondering, a pair of spectacles worn by him still had some deficiencies which made him see NDA as his son’s only or greatest target. Though nothing serious, I prefer to leave them anonymous. Now, son, my friend is holding a very respectable post. When I met his parents last summer breaks, they were sharing story of how they had almost created blunder by forcing their son to do something against his taste. They also confessed that they too had ill-feelings against me as they suspected my role behind their son’s adamant nature. Though I could not break my heart open to let them see, I told them through the sincerest of my words that I did not mind as they were very much like my parents. Every summer and winter break, while I was studying, both to and fro, I used to pass by their residence to reach my parents’ dwelling or back to college. They fed me and treated me no less than their son. I would have forgiven them or would not have remembered anything even if they had slapped me.
I have heard of someone with case quite contradictory to my friend mentioned above. Despite limited resources he was exposed to, hardship he faced at home, strong resistance from relatives against his wish to send child or children for higher studies, a father with strong determination and will-power moved ahead with his decision to send his children to school ignoring all obstacles. Father, though suffering because of low family income, still ever ready to borrow money, for that matter even by mortgaging house, cattle and land he had, in order to educate his child. He treated sending children to school like making investment from where he could calculate many returns. I am talking about another closest friend of mine from Mongar whose father did everything that I mentioned above leaving his mother and other family members blinking, not knowing what to comment, at his father’s decision. This was the story I have heard from his very mouth. Looking at the supportive nature or willingness of parents to support, I am feeling, had my parents like them and had supported like them, I would never have quitted education. If my parents aspired, I would have waited to complete my PhD or even beyond that. But such supportive parents are rare. What pricks my heart is not because of what I could not accomplish, but when children fail to understand the trust and confidence their parents confide in them.
Logically, I feel all children, irrespective of rich or wealthy, and poor or humble, literate or illiterate ought to avail their right to education. Both the states of wealthy and humble are momentary and impermanent. They change over times. I repeat - wealthy would turn pauper and humble would become rich. In this way, vicious circle of lives moves without breaking its chain.
It is, to certain degree, tolerable to see children from well off family indulging in non-profitable business. I see the possibility of recovering the loss children incurred, by parents using their tactful sense. It is not a big deal that calls for our concern. I only wish that they too study and become educated to use education as alternative to livelihood should their parents’ business collapse, by some accident or by law of impermanence. What is causing disturbance to my eyes is to see children of the humble family whiling away time indulging in activities usually associated with the rich like gambling, partying and drinking, love business, and lavish spending of money their parents have earned as a result of sweat and blood. They need to, no matter how pathetic the conditions of their parents are at home, show and make others feel that they are no behind in wealth by wearing expensive costumes, carrying high quality mobile phone, joining others for high-tech campaigns, and being in the company of children from wealthy and authority proving themselves to be snobs. They forget their parents and their purpose of being in school or in learning institute. I have an instance to share how daughter felt shy and denied to meet her father in front of her friends. It was in 1996 when I was in my 2nd year degree at Sherubtse College, I saw a man coming towards us. He introduced himself to us by saying that he had come from Shingkhar Lowri to meet his daughter. One of my friends went near girls’ hostel to inform his daughter about her father’s arrival. However, shockingly, his daughter sent a message that she was sick and that she cannot come out to see him. Old man shed his tears and was muttering to himself, ‘doesn’t matter, father being old and poor, she might be feeling shy in presence of her friends’. I feel now, that cruelty was the worst and solitary of cruelty this world would ever hold in record.
Keeping abreast the short narrative made above, I must warn here that education is boon if handled in the right manner. It can soften a stubborn mind, it can humble a pride, and it can act as ladder to one’s unlimited success. On the contrary, if it is mishandled, repercussions like hardening and stiffening of soft minds occur.
I feel it is time, children in school realize the pain their parents are undergoing on daily basis at home. I feel it is time children change their viewpoint about parents and work hard to share the heavy workloads their parents are yoked on their shoulder. Parents might not have got opportunity to study; they may be illiterate. But our education can change their lives, alter their living and show light throughout their odyssey. Education can bear multi-roles. It can enlighten; enable us to see for ourselves and show to others, the brighter side of the world. Educated persons means always blissful. One can judge one’s educational stage through this standard.
