Science is real education
Purpose of education
Education is meant to cultivate good citizens, who can think and act rationally and in a socially responsioble manner. Education is not just burdening with lot of superficial knowlege. There is lot of information on the internet. Knowlege of English and computer suffice to get any information. The real object of education is to enable analysis of information in a systematic and logical manner and take decision based on proper reasoning.
Scientific attitude is test of good education
A really educated person thinks and acts rationally. It is astonishing that we see many so called education persons consulting horoscope for fixing marriage, traveling, determining auspicious days for various events. If something goes wrong, they blame stars and consult astrologers or palmists and do not even bother to see the real facts. The only explanation for such attitude is lack of education in science. This is evidenced by the fact that doctors and engineers unlike chartered accountants and advocates do not fall prey to astrologers or palmists. Knowlege of law, accounts and history does not equipt an individual for rational thoughts and action. An advocate lost his son in a motor cycle accident. The boy was used to rash driving and disregard of road safety and traffic rules. The advocate still visits Tantriks and astrologers along with horoscope. He is led to believe that the boy could be saved by Maha Mritunjaya Mantra or something like that. He unwittibgly said that he would have spent even Rs. five lakh on Maha Mritunjaya Mantra if he had slightest hint regarding probable accidental death of his son. Now all sorts of astrologers and so called pandits are looking for opportunity to cheat him. He does not understand importance of road safety despite his so called high education. In fact, education in arts, humanities or law is not real education.
Education in Science is real education.
In fact, Science is systemised body of knowledge unlike hustory and literature. Science can be studies only in a systematic and sequential manner. Science is not just a collection of information that may be studied in any sequence. Thus study of Science discipines one's mind to think and act rationally and systematically. Science depends on observations, experiments and carefully studying co-relation between cause and affect. Hence, one who has scientific bent of mind will not accept anything without proof and verifying cause and affect relation in any matter.
Scientific attitude needs to be adopted
Not only education in Science but also adopting scientific attitude in day to day life is required for correct decisions and proper living. There are individuals who in their Science based careers like Engineering, Scientific research or medicine adopt scientific methods but in other matters give way to superstitions and orthodox ideas. It is really astonishig to see a doctor consulting astrologer to decide auspicious date for inaugrating his clinic. However, it is certain that he will adopt scientific method of carrying out various checks to diagonise the disease and cure his patients. Scientific approach must be inculcated. We must go by what we perceive, experience and establish link between cause and effect. Otherwise, we cannot see issue properly. To elucidate, it is widely believed that if a cat passes through one's way, it is bad omen. Possibly,a cat crossed someone's way followed by mishappening. There is no co-relation between a cat passing through the way and mishappening. But this led to the belief that a cat crossing way is bad omen. In England, cat is a good omen. Even educated people believe in such superstitions. Obviously, this is lack of scientific approach. Undoubtedly one who has not studied science and his apprach is not scientific is really an illiterate.
Education should be science oriented
Stress should be laid in education for adopting Scientifc approach. It may be recalled that during NDA rule, Mr. Murli Manohar Joshi then Union Education Minister attempted to include Astrology as a subject in Science stream. If he had continued as Union Education Minister, we would witness Tantriks and palmists posing as scientists.
Role of media
Many TV channels are telecasting superstitious serials and promoting child marriages etc. in name of religion. Unless these are checked,immense harm will be done. So called Obscenity is not so harmful as promoting superstitions and socaially harmful customs.
Remedy
Unless our people are able to think and act rationally and adopt a scientific approach, our progress will be hampered. Our national leadership should consider and adopt suitable measures to educate the people on scientific and rational line.
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