VALUE EDUCATION AND NAMASMARAN: DR. SHRINIWAS JANARDAN KASHALIKAR

Student:
Sir, Why don’t you emphasize on value education; instead of NAMASMARAN?

Teacher:
In general; the values are inculcated through an interaction between; our innate core and what we see, hear and experience! Hence exposure to universally accepted values is useful; in as much as exposure to universally condemned values is harmful.

The idea of value education rightly aims at blossoming of the students along with the teachers! Blossoming essentially involves the opportunity and assistance to grow from within and bloom! But every individual has different personality with different qualities. Every individual has different family background; different socioeconomic condition; different culture and different political atmosphere. Every individual is different in several other respects; such as geographic and historical backgrounds also!

Considering this; it is obvious that the values have to be adopted with their relative feasibility! NO value is an absolute truth!

In such a scenario; the efforts to “impart” certain values; with uniformity; can be in conflict with one’s culture, religion, ideology, race, and nation and amounts to regimentalization!! It is subtly coercive and dictatorial.

If I possess a value that is condemned or if I dispossess a value, which glorified, I may develop guilt complex and conversely; if I possess a value that is adored and don’t possess a value that is condemned, then I may begin to feel proud and arrogant, which in both cases; is unhealthy!

There cannot be dictates and/or a blue print for blossoming!

NAMASMARAN, which is like water, oxygen or electricity, stimulates inner growth and development; and grooms the potentials; without arbitrary commandments. It helps us to grow naturally so as to break the shell nonviolently and get freed; from the “egg of ego” we are otherwise confined to! It sets us free from our pettiness and sectarianism, which are the basic cause of discord, antipathy and strife, in side as well as outside!

Hence I prefer NAMASMARAN; to value education and prefer to practice, promote and emphasize NAMASMARAN; in fact; to everything else!!