Destiny of a Nation is shaped in its classrooms Piyush Patel UPSC Preparation Mon, Feb 28, 2022, at ,11:10 AM A nation is a politically organized nationality a territorial division containing a body of people of one or more nationalities & usually characterize by relatively large size & independent status. An Oxford Dictionary defines ‘Nation’ as a noun which consists of a group of people with the same language, culture, and history, who live in a particular area under one government. Meaning it is governed or consists of a set group of people who conjugates altogether to form a nation. French philosopher Ernest Renan- in his essay “What is a nation?”- wrote about the bonds that hold nations together. He explained, “A heroic past, great men, glory upon which one bases a national idea. A nation is a large-scale solidarity constituted by the feeling of sacrifices that one has made in the past & of those that one is prepared to make in the future. Therefore, to build a nation full of prosperity, unity, strength, valor, and of efficiency there is a need of a sense of entrenchment. To create such a set of people there is need of purpose equipped efficient classrooms were such people minds or thought process could be set into motion to create a nation of fulfilling destiny.Classrooms are the place where the future of the nation are molded to create a generation of people who would create a nation as destined by the principles, culture, emotions, dream, thought, or due to a belief of a group of people who imagined of such a nation. It is a center of learning. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru once said – ‘Children’s are like buds in a garden & should be carefully & lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation & the citizens of tomorrow. Only through right education can be a better order of society be built up. The children of today will make an India of tomorrow. APJ Abdul Kalam have always believed that students play a significant role to transform India into a developing country. He said, ‘Educationist’s should build th capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model. Always inspired thousands of younsgters all around the world, to never give up and believe in yourself.A nation is just a mere thought, which unites certain set of people to combine them to live, work, build together as a nation. India’s first female teacher Savitrabhai Phule a 19th century social-reformer, all her life has led the women education & their empowerment. She spread awareness against social evils such as child marriage and spoke vociferously against caste system with division between men & women. She said, ‘The lack of learning is nothing but gross bestiality. It is through the acquisition of knowledge that (he) loses his lower status & achieves the higher one.” With great vision she established 18 schools throughout India, to improve education through classrooms, with a vision of changing the future of a nation. Once she said, “We shall overcome and success will be ours in future. The future belongs to us.” Gurudas Rabindranath Tagore, stressed the need of freedom in education – emphasized in study of arts as it was crucial hot only to develop a sense of empathy & sensitivity to others but also to keep a close contact with one’s own environment, both in terms of nature & culture. John Dewey, born in Vermont, U.S.A. – viewed education & teaching/learning through a “hands-on-approach” or that children must learn by doing. Maria Montessori – born in Italy, her name still bears the education method: the Montessori Method. She designed a program & tools to create a classroom that encouraged children to learn & the freedom to choose their own materials.India as a nation has always boasted of a rich tradition in the area of learning & education since ancient times. Ancient Education is understood to be the outcome of Indian theory of knowledge as part of the corresponding scheme of life & values. The ancient Indian system of learning focuses on full physical development of the individual & the philosophy of life is taught through the spirit of religion. The Indian system of education caters both physical & spiritual solitariness. The ancient system of education has preserved or given the modern present culture to India as its destiny. The best way to understand the importance of classroom which would shape the destiny of nation is to see the antique way of classrooms which shaped the society of that time. India as a nation have been a center of learning since ancient times, we can learn how classrooms of that time have shaped or reaped the societies of that period. Since, Indus Valley Civilization had ways to teach their children. Indus writing attests to (limited) literacy, which requires learning. That civilization uses to have centralized authority and an increasingly urban quality of life. Major cities had its own system of town planning, they followed grid system & have drainage system. All these features are still taught in today’s world classrooms as well the ancient Indian culture, wealth, religious, philosophies, art, architecture as well as its classrooms or educational practices had been regarded as a source of knowledge, traditions & practices that guided & encouraged humanity of that period thought them of trading capacities with other civilizations around the world. It is clear that the classrooms of that period must had to be more performance oriented towards achieving all those accomplishments.Vedic ages classroom patterns had shaped the society which yielded out the critical thinking in societies and which has organized the functioning of society in a smoother way or develop the intelligence during the period, people like Katyayana, Panini, Patanjali, Aryabhatta, Shushutra, Charaka etc. all were born out of this culture of classroom. Some early educational institutions were introduced during this period unlike anywhere in the world. This period produced Upanishads, Brahamanas, Samhitas, Vedas, Shastras, Dharmasutras which are followed till today, which teaches the way of life in different fields. Three types of classroom setup existed namely Gurukulas, Parishads (Academies) and Sammelans (Conferences). Gurukul which origin dates back to around 5000B.C. more prevalent during the Vedic age - was actually residential form of education and the home of teacher or Acharya and was the center of learning where pupils resided till their education got complete. Aim of education was the developing of the pupil’s personality, his innate and latent capacities. This view of education as a process of one’s inner growth and self- fulfillment evolved its own technique, its rules, methods & practices. This classroom setup had set the nation of their destiny since ages. During the Vedic Period one could choose a particular profession as he liked and accordingly his Varna was determined. But during later Vedic period it came to be determined by birth.Main epics of ancient India – Mahabharata & Ramayana – reflects the importance of education were pupils from distant part gathered for instructions from far- famed teachers. Ashrams of that period use to department of worshipping for spiritual growth, department of Veda, for teaching Raja-Niti, Arthaniti & Vartta, Military section & organization, section dealing with transport & conveyances, Astronomy, Botany etc. All such departments taught the students of that age to develop their intelligence and handle the nation of tomorrow by developing leadership quality and other required qualities as per the interest of student so as to secure the future of the nation.Every age of human civilization, classrooms of that time have shaped that nation. Whether it be Gupta Age were Chanakya had taught Chandragupta the hacks of ruling and making an empire, Ashokan Age were principles of peace and brotherhood with non-violence was spread, Chhatrapati Shivaji’s period who taught Maratha’s to unite and fight tactically so as to conquer the Mughal Empire, whose guerilla warfare classrooms are still adopted in various army camps. There is no denying that the education given in the classrooms of that period has shaped the society or a nation, with invoking the peoples mind to think and prosper in that time period.During British period, the government wanted to create a generation who are engraved in colonial mindset and therefore brought such an aim-oriented classroom in the year 1835 Lord Macaulay introduced an education policy which was all about rat race to be ahead of others and once reiterated that British wanted a class of Indians who might be interpreters between British and the millions whom they governed; a class of persons Indians in blood and color, but English in taste, in opinion, in morals, and in intellect. They started interfering with our ancient way of teaching or taking classes in a classroom and introduced their own style of spreading education which was only based on memorizing the theoretical concepts of the books which at the time were helping shape their society to be intertwined in colonial mindset through their rugged style of education. There was a total absence of personality development, creation of moral conscience and ethical training. The model of the education is more commercial in nature rather than institutional in nature where education is heeded as utmost importance. Other than these there is very less amount of importance given to the other aspect of skill development of physical activity which can assist student to become a better Human Being. Well classrooms of a period can make a responsible pupil and bad shaped classroom will create a pupil of that setup. Therefore, classrooms have a greater impact in creating a personality of pupils as a generation who would handle and represent in society/nation of many dreams. Although, the classrooms of that time have created a class of pupil who had instilled national freedom fervor to liberate India from the clutches of colonial power. The classroom of colonial period also played a role in propagation of freedom struggle against the unpolitic & looting mentality of such colonial powers. It can be said that the genesis of the freedom struggle lay in the educated Indians who, with the help of the classrooms of the day would discuss, debate, propagate the ideas and strategies of attaining Swaraj/self-government. Thus, the destiny of India and the route to achieving independence had its genesis partly in the classrooms of the time.Education is the mother of leadership. It is an atmosphere of discipline, a life. It is through education only the child’s mental state is molded in a positive way. Therefore, having a quality education from the classrooms of any nation would create the future leadership, discipline and life.Classrooms are basically any place where any positive thoughts are shared which would be beneficial for one’s life. It is a place individuals’ character are made, if one’s classroom would be positive, he would grow positive. Not only schools’ classrooms but the teaching/ordination of parents is also considered to be the classroom of any person, things which are taught by someone’s parents also determine the character or personality of the person, the atmosphere of the family and how they are raised also can be said to be the classroom of person. The indigenous education is imparted at home, and/or place of such knowledge or in society- were people guided young children’s in imbibing pious ways of life. Both formal & informal ways of imparting education through classrooms shall exist in any society to develop for secured future. Obviously, Classrooms are the first learning space outside the home of any individual but the knowledge one receives from his home /family also should be considered as classroom.A healthy/positive interaction in a classroom forms the base of the person. This empowers such person to be able to sustain his life on his own terms, makes him independent either of thought or of finances, make that person able to make his thoughts heard through his comments, or create a person of altruistic nature who would be developing benevolent ideas to help society or develop someone who would have inbuilt a leadership quality so as to lead any nation in a correct dimension. They are given their own individual identity; they are shaped to speak from their own mind. This not only empower a person as an individual, but also empowers the nation by keeping its stake in safe hands of people who can stand on their own and are independent from every sort either mentally or physically. Therefore, having a classroom with such a pious aim would definitely create a set group of not dumb but responsible and that would determine the true destiny of any nation.Today, the meaning of classroom in a 21st century incorporates technology to enhance the students’ learning & prepare them for a future in out tech -driven world. Technology affects virtually every aspect of our lives at this point, which is why it is so important to make sure it is included in school from an early age. A modern-day teacher shall facilitate the classroom – were he make it more interactive – creating a conversation among students during each lesson, with problem solving methodology, creativity in learning – is an another key which resulted into success of modern workplace. Creativity has been long encouraged as part of the arts & humanities studies, but it is equally important for success in science and math. In modern classrooms students are given more inquiry-based lesson – so that they can answer question better – develop new ideas around a given topic independently, provide strong reasoning for their view & explanations. They are given feedback based on tests or academic performances. So that they know exactly their standing & work towards goals and progress. Thus, modern approach is less authoritarian than in the past.Though we do understand the importance of classrooms and how they help shape the destiny of a nation, it does not mean that the classrooms of the world in general and that of India, in particular, are efficient Certain points need to be taken care of during the evolvement of present classroom setup, explained as follows: -• The system should focus on not making students to run in a rat race rather they should be given the practical training on how to sustain in all forms in this hard life.• Rural education in India and around world is deprecating at a serious level therefore the infrastructure of providing better education at rural areas shall be improved based on the model of urban classrooms. And, policies shall increase the penetration of education which is lower in spectrum in rural areas.• The present education system is focused on achieving marks vide cramming subjects and having animosity with peers with immense pressure from them as well as over ambitious parents who judge the knowledge of the student only through their academic performance. These needs a change and the classrooms shall be designed not for such unhealthy competition but for the overall or value-based development of a child that would be beneficial for the future of his as well as for the nation.• The relationship between a guru and the student needs to have friendly & sharing (respect) relationship. As when the children’s feels that they are loved and appreciated they will emulate the same. This would certainly create a best of the children and he could be molded in a right direction and through this friendly attitude children would be able to share all their views and teacher would be able to know what can be done for particular children to shape him correctly.• Classrooms shall be designed in such way that it creates a sense of balance in individual either from inside or outside. This very ideology of balance should be taught to the kids from a young age so that they make informed decisions about work, food. Exercise and the way they wish to live their life.All the ancient, medieval & present developments of human world has been possible through the crucial contribution of classrooms. It have played a greater role in creation of an India of cultural, knowledgeable & spiritual civilization in the world. It can be said that the destiny of a nation has been shaped in its ever- evolving classrooms. Classrooms of each age has created a more comprehending and intelligence race, it has helped human to reach up into space through their technologies, invention, discoveries, thoughts & ideas. The human mind has shaped its destiny through the classrooms of the past. Thus, these classrooms shall be maintained & given stimulus to grow in right direction. Concluding my submission, I would finally want to end this note on a popular thought of Mahatma Gandhi on importance of learning for a better life is, “Learn as if you were to live forever”.