Patience and perseverance

I was going through the Education Times of Kolkata Edition dated 17^th September, 2012 to catch up with the latest trends of education around the globe. The article which caught my sight was the one having the list of grad schools around the globe for pursuing Masters and PhD studies in different fields. The section also tells that the number of foreign students in these Universities is increasing day by day. This year there is 10 percent increase. The previous year had a lesser increase. The stats interprets that there will be more number of foreign students going to foreign lands for the cause of their belief that they will have a better future and can give service to mankind. Last night, I was discussing the adversities one student has to face when he or she moves to a completely new place for higher studies. Academically, the student needs to have a thorough knowledge about the subject he or she wants to study for the coming years in the Universities. Again, he has to know the type of country he is going for further studies, the life style they follow, the type of food they consume, etc. I, being an Indian, had a few more challenges to share. Most of the people in our country are below poverty line. My family is a middle class family where my role is to support my family members in the old days. So, I need to be established in whatever field I choose to study.

Road to knowledge

One of the problems many countries of the World face while students from there go for further studies in prestigious Universities is to be fluent in English Language. It’s not a shame to say that many Indians staying in rural areas are deprived of the education in English language. Surprisingly, stats say that among the various nations in the World, the English language is studied and practiced most by the Indians. So we are developing bit by bit. I think there are many nations, like us, still practicing hard to learn the language. In the last few days, I met many people whose spouses have gone to foreign Universities for studying in unique fields. There are sections of people I know who follow the orthodox way of completing their bachelor degree, get a job and get settled. They have their own responsibilities and I do respect their duty for their family. But there is section among them who all go with the flow. I have met with them and I do think they have something n them that can change the future. I was amazed to see the patience and perseverance they have to opt for such subjects. I too have a liking for ‘earthquakes and smart structures’, which is itself unique for the fact that it has been recently studied and commercialese. Recently, I saw the trailer of an upcoming movie named ‘English Vinglish’. I think the subject is  about a woman settled in USA, but lack in speaking English. So, she faces problems, which builds up and creeps into her own family. So she decides to uproot the problem from its foundation. She joins an English tuition class and learns the language. I am not sure that I watch the movie, but it had already moved me by the patience and perseverance. I salute all the students from different countries, going to foreign lands for pursuing further studies and showing us the patience and perseverance we need to have to be winner.

Admission to foreign lands

The growth of interests by the students of India has increased since the last decade.  Last night, I read in an article of the Telegraph newspaper about the number of students’ accommodation in Indian and Chinese universities. In the 80’s and 90’s, the number students getting masters and PhD programs in India was more than the Chinese counterparts, but , this decade the Chinese have exceeded in quantity as well as quality. The quality is also a major criterion for the selection of universities by the students.  When we go through our Indian history, we came to know that there were universities like Vikramshila, Nalanda and Taxashila, where students from distant lands used to come and study various subjects. The then students used to prefer the type of preparations taken by the Indian universities. But now, students with the better profile prefer have a foreign degree in his or her pocket rather than getting admission in Indian universities. The alarming fact is they seldom come back to serve the nation. Although for the last few years, students after completing their courses are coming back to our country. It’s a relief, but at the end, we are lagging behind in quality and quantity of students going for further studies, specially Master of Science and doctorate in philosophy. I know many good students who have failed to succeed something good in our country, but, they are doing better outside. The reason for this is the monetary help and support they get from the universities. One of my friends’, with a rather average career, have succeeded to establish his own company by dint of shear knowledge and investment from the professors. They have also helped him to get a good pointer while passing out. In India, if you think you can beat up the heat of the ‘rat race’ and create something new and ‘out of the box’, then, think again. If we need to improve the quality masters and PhD programs in India, then we have to start it today onwards. We can start by learning from our Indian friends settled in foreign countries. They will definitely help us. Slowly, we can improve our quality. Besides, the foreign universities have huge lab facilities, which we lack. So, the only way to cope up with them is to increase the infrastructure of indigenous institutions. We can even increase the number of universities, if required, as done already by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) organizing committee last to last year. But the quality of education shouldn’t drop down at any cost. We should remember what great Swami Vivekananda had said “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.” So, perfection in the path of education is a must. I remember, in the days of my football practice in standard seven, our beloved Tapan da used to tell everyone about ‘perfect practice’ and not simply ‘practice’. Now I do understand how important the word ‘perfection’ is in the phrase. So, by the support and blessing of our elders, slowly and steadily, we can improve our education system in India.