College is known to be the place where we learn to develop ourselves, our behavior, our character and our personality as a whole. This is the phase where we should get matured in our thinking, look at things with an open mind instead of filling ourselves with negativity and block ourselves with a narrow thought process.
Being in the college we need to learn to see things in a broader context. Just because something is very controversial and is deemed obscene doesn't mean it shouldn't be dealt with. We are supposed to be matured adults, instead of just disapproving the very expression of the so called provocative issue.
We are supposed to develop a reasoning ability, through which we can critically and rationally analyze any subject. Just by getting emotional because of sentimental factors will not take us anywhere. Before criticizing any issue we need to understand and analyze what is being spoken about. Usage of a few inflammatory words should not make us go berserk. When all the importance is given to these words instead of comprehending the statement and its context shows how immature and narrow minded we are.
Being in a college, self expression is very important aspect of an individual's personality, how are we going to evolve ourselves when we are bound by the phrase 'sentiments will get hurt', why should a student be silenced merely because of the sentiments of the few who do not want to evolve themselves rationally.If a student is denied the permission to put forth his / her opinion on an issue which is deemed notorious, then when are we going to learn to tackle far more unsettling junctures in our future as responsible citizens? We need to setup and learn to deal with sensitive issues. Shying away from a demanding situation is beneficial to nobody, an issue controversial or not should be dealt with one or the other day, suppressing and restraining a student wont help matter. Just by shying away from issues like homosexuality wont help or solve anything.
Students should be encouraged to speak their mind without any frills as this will give them confidence to air their opinion with confidence especially in a democratic setup and make others at least think about the matter. The way of expression is also very important which should be nourished at this level as these so called controversial topics should be aesthetically put forth without giving any room for unnecessary conflicts due to ambiguous statements . The students should also be instilled to respect ones opinion and if they have any objections it should be done in a logical and rational manner instead of just taunting in a crowd. The level of maturity in an individual can be enriched only when he or she tries to objectively interpret the point of contention through the mode of reasoning. rather than getting agitated because of gregarious factors, which shows how emotionally motivated we are and being in a phase where we are being shaped to be the future of the society, they have to evolve beyond the emotional factors otherwise they are going to continue the same manner in the society in which they will play a major role.
Mob mentality is something which plagues our educational environment, a man when in a mob loses the thinking capability and is bound to lose his individual opinion. People in a mob tend to blind themselves when the mob flares up because of a few appealing words. Being in an academic environment the students should brace themselves to have their own firm opinion unlike an unruly mob in a political rally where they shout the slogans without even knowing its meaning. Due to this mob mentality, the actual message or an opinion of an individual gets lost as he / she is not allowed justify their stand. In a class room where the mob gets excited and starts blabbing and clapping, how can we expect a rational understanding as they don't want to try and listen to the reasoning? When a mob derides an individual, the key message and opinion is lost in the mockery. This extremely deters an individual's confidence to speak out. Indian parliament is very good example for mob mentality where the members of opposition start taunting a minister before he / she completes a sentence the speech. Only when a person is allowed to complete the address, we will be able to know the actual message. But a mob is such that it is too excited to listen to the viewpoints of the speaker. When a mob doesn't even listen where is the question of comprehending and analyzing the matter.
When they flare up solely by hearing a few provocative terms instead of grasping the context then the chances are that they are going continue the same way even when they go out into the society. As we all know today's young are the future of our society. If they do not develop their skills of critical and rational analysis, what is the point of their so called education? Education is supposed to develop our personality as a whole, but when in the phase where we are supposed to shape ourselves, we are leashed, our expression and comprehending capacities are curtailed, how can we expect our youngster to bring about a new energy and thought process in the society?
As responsible citizens when we see everything in a narrow and sentimental color, especially in a democracy where we make the key decisions, we are bound to be entrapped and misused by a few people who know to play with the mob sentiments for their own interests. It becomes very easy to manipulate people when they are extremely sentimental. To avoid such hazardous mousetraps we have to hold on to our opinions with a rational analysis at an individual level instead of piggy backing on the crowd.
Good read up and good observation too.
ReplyDeleteBut i feel the youngsters need to know the timings of any issues that they desire to crop up.
There is always significance for right time,place and people from wherein they would get answers to and of-course debate on the same. The reason being that if it is aired out spontaneously to the ignorant and immature audience we are only making room for sensationalists and the weaker minds who are confused always create havoc on themselves and the rest of us. As rightly said half knowledge is dangerous.
I also feel that appropriate words be used while airing 'provocative' terms depending upon the mentality of the crowd.
Rightly said about mob mentality. We know that man is good , men are bad....so is the mob who loose control of their thinking to some emotional provocative terms.
So i feel education should first involve cleaning of minds, making it strong by lot of rational and logical thinking analysis exercises and then proceed with the subject of interest.
Last but not the least it was nice reading this article, keep it up.
Nice work Bhargav. I definitely agree that college students should be mature enough to decipher controversial topics. It IS the right 'time, place and people'(in response to the previous comment). Most people graduate college and have few opportunities to spend their time exchanging ideas. College students are also at the best age because, generally speaking, its easier for them to open up to new ideas compared to older generations.
ReplyDeleteFrom my perspective, Indians are too often slaves of conformity and the mob-mentality. The creative and individual thought process should be nurtured from a young age and I rarely witness that in this country.
As we all know, the most revered people in history did wonders for this world because they dared to question and not follow the crowd.
Bhargav, you are getting at the heart of what university education ought to be. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to see you struggling with the dilemmas of life in a college. Universities are meant to open our minds and reflect upon the problems and issues confronting us. Often, however, the received wisdom of a campus comes to dominate and stifles free thought. You appear to have recognized the dangers of group think very well.
While you develop independent thought you do not have to volunteer your views to everyone unless they show a predisposition to open enquiry. Otherwise you are likely to be tagged as a rebel and a lone wolf.
It has been said many times in many languages that the essence of education is to experience greatness. Please avail yourself the opportunities in a good school to read the Great Books of the World and listen to some great thinkers who may pass through your campus.