EDUCATION- A KEY TO KNOWLEDGE OR EGOTISM?

INTRODUCTION-

Education is the basic foundation of an individual. It is something that shapes the attitude, the belief system and the personality of an individual. The very first thing that comes to our mind when we hear the term ‘Education’ is acquiring knowledge or an insight into the spectrum of skills and duties. Education made spreading of language and culture possible. Education is a pedagogy or preparation of a civilized people and a civilized society.

However, there are certain questions that may arise in context of whether education shapes the society and makes it civilized? If yes, then how? Do education play vital role in relation to the economy? Do education is of great value in relation to the occupational opportunity? How can we say that education shapes an individual as we know that excess of education may imbibe arrogance or self importance into the person? Is nutritive and balanced education is important? What if people are less educated?

Well, I need not go into the convenient and beneficial part of education as to why education is important and what are its benefits but rather trying to address the aforementioned questions and to bring about clarity and coherence about the same.

EDUCATION & ECONOMY-

If the education system of the country is not upto the par or the required standards, then the economy of that country would surely suffer. How? The economy runs with its people and if the people are well educated they would bring into greater values, greater skills and greater ethics into the society. Let us understand it by the following comparison made between educated and uneducated people as to how they contribute to making of the economy better.

EDUCATED PEOPLE	UNEDUCATED PEOPLE
·       Nutritive education provides with knowledge and job opportunities.	·       Lack of education results into poverty in the economy
·       Educated people are more ethical and possess cultural norms	·       Uneducated people are more superstitious and irrational
·       Education uplifts the socially backward sections of society thereby contributing to the well being of economy	·       Lack of education may lead to discrimination
·       Education contributes to Trade & Commerce segment of the economy	·       Uneducated people may not possess the standard job skills and professionalism in order to make contribution to Trade & Commerce

 

 Therefore, the above comparison was an attempt to bring a clear picture of how education makes a significant difference into the economy. It should be noted that education paves a path to remove the internal conflicts and poor status of the country. It aims at creating better humans who are powerful weapons of any economy. Educated man is well versed with his responsibilities towards the society whereas uneducated man is untold about his duties.

However, it does not mean that less educated or uneducated people are not knowledgeable or they do not work for the progress of the society. Most of the Indian Ministers are less educated but still they have significantly contributed to the country’s economy. Let us ponder upon some of the following examples-

·       Narendra Modi (Current Prime Minister of India) has a ‘Bachelor of Arts’ degree with third class. He is less educated but still making our Indian economy prosperous and globalized

·       M Karunanidhi (Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) has completed his education till 10^th standard

·       Uma Bharti who is the Minister of Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation is least educated and completed her education till class 6

·       Gulzar Singh (Cabinet Minister from Punjab) is only undergraduate

It should be therefore noted that education along with ethics and morality is a key to development and education solely is not a deciding factor for progressive economy.

EDUCATION’S ROLE IN CIVILIZED SOCIETY-

Education accelerates the growth of society by providing civilized people. Education plays a vital role in making an individual open-minded and empathetic. Being educated does not mean going to the educational institutions, acquiring knowledge and getting certified but rather implementing that gained knowledge practically. Education shapes the personality of an individual including his/her attitude and moral values. It civilizes the people and encourages them to stand against nationalism. Let us understand with the help of an example as to how education makes a difference and how it creates progressive and civilized society.

In the presidential elections of Unites States, voters were given choice between Hillary Clinton (Democrat) and Donald Trump (Republican). The state such as California which is highly educated voted for Democrat Clinton and states which are less educated such as Wisconsin showed their support for Republican Trump. The reason behind the decision of voters is solely because of the education. More educated people abandon social problems such as racism or any form of prejudice. Educated people have ability to safeguard themselves and be less susceptible to any kind of violence.

 

EDUCATION & OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITY-

In this competitive era, education is the top requirement for any occupation. Be it any business or job or healthcare or technology services, education develops the intellect and professional skills of an individual. It makes an individual capable of making decisions and develops the perspective within the person to take things and situations in most appropriate way. We all are acquainted with the very fact that educated people brings in more prosperity and flourishment to the society. The educated people are much more confident and aspiring in life and are able to accomplish variety of tasks. Educated people are moreover skilled, innovative and creative that provides them with appropriate and competent occupational opportunities. The intellectual development as a result of education helps an individual to even establish their own business with right and effective strategies thereby generating more employment opportunities for others.

EXCESS EDUCATION MAKES A MAN ARROGANT AND EGOISTIC?

We are now well versed with the multiple and diverse roles of education in different sectors but the crucial question is whether the excessive education makes a man arrogant? But before that we should understand the meaning of ‘arrogance’ or ‘egotism’.

Arrogance is one of the inborn traits of an individual. The arrogant person thinks of himself/herself to be superior and that he/she always make correct decisions and their viewpoint is always right.

Education when in excess is given to a person makes him egoistic. There is a saying that ‘excess of anything is bad and toxic’. Therefore, there is limit to everything. Here comes the need for nutritive education. Education is not merely acquiring knowledge but also to imbibe within us the civilized nature, the moral and ethical values, the humbleness and modesty.

I would like to share my personal experience where I met with arrogant and highly educated people. While I was interning under a law firm, I was being supervised by many of the associates of which some of them were highly egoistic and treated me as if I am zero and not worthy to work under them. This experience of mine made me to underestimate myself. But at later stage I realized that learning was my sole purpose which has been fulfilled.

However, while sharing my views on nutritive education and reviving my experience, I realized that it is objective case where-

·       Some people are highly educated but not arrogant

·       Some people are arrogant but not highly educated

·       Some are both arrogant and highly educated

Therefore, education and egotism are not necessarily co-related. Maybe, the highly educated people judge others who are subordinate to them by the reason that they are more knowledgeable. There may be a case where highly educated people are humble and polite, for instance, APJ Abdul Kalam who always worked for the development of country with utmost respect and courtesy despite of being highly educated. He respected every single individual and showed his politeness. Therefore, relation between arrogance and education is totally objective and wavering. There are many people who are down to earth and are devoid of any arrogance or ego.

Let us take one more example where in presently; educated woman is is not necessarily arrogant. An arrogant woman remains arrogant whether she is educated or uneducated. The woman being highly educated wants to marry a man who is more educated than her or who earns more than her. Is this demand in anyway signifies arrogance? Even an uneducated woman wants to marry a man who is job class or is successful. Therefore, I understand that arrogance is inborn trait in a person and differs from person to person that what they inculcate and how they carry themselves.

CONCLUSION-

I would like to conclude that education confers not only knowledge and skills but much more than that and nutritive education is important in shaping the civilized society and its people. Apart from the discussed segments, education plays an integral role in technology and healthcare too. In nutshell, the basic idea was to bring clarity as to whether excess education makes a person egoistic or less education makes a person less knowledgeable. Further, less education does not make a person less knowledgeable as education along with moral values shapes the personality of an individual. If person is less educated but is cultural and ethical, he/she is still a powerful weapon of the country. Therefore, nutritive education is of great value when it comes to the development of an individual.

 

GURNEET KAUR

BBA LLB (H)

ICFAI UNIVERSITY, DEHRADUN

 Disclaimer: This article is the personal opinion of the author. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any Indian Government or any other Government of the world.