have disappeared into thin air.
Good nature in men and women is on the decline.
Ancient Aryan wisdom is frittered away
Western education is on the rise.
(Telugu poem)
(SSS Vol.31, pp. 419-420)
Western education has spread so deep that culture is submerged
out of view;
Western education has spread so deep that family bonds are
loosened much;
Western education has spread so deep that Aaryan wealth is
frittered away;
Western education has spread so deep that gaudy speech and dress
fascinate all.
Tis considered wrong to talk in the mother s tongue;
T is considered foolish to tread the ancient path;
Tis considered cheap to honour the Guru now.
Bharat had unique goals for education in the past. You must relearn them and revive them.Vidya, it was understood, caused splendour to emerge from the heart. Vidya implied dedication for mutual service. Today, education does not impart the virtues of renunciation, selfless love and sympathy. Monetary return should not be the aim. Dependence on others should be avoided. Self- reliance is the most desirable virtue. One should always have the future of one s country in view and mould oneself into an ideal for others. (SSS Vol. 15)
As the craze for Western education has increased, the study of vedic texts is being neglected. Parents should teach their children what is good and what is bad right from their childhood. They should not be satisfied merely by securing admission in a college and acquiring a degree by their children. They should ensure that their children utilise their education to serve the nation. (SSS Vol.37, p. 39)
Western education had a tremendous influence on our conduct and culture. Our people have become decadent. All our traditions have dried up completely. People have changed their dress and other habits. They are not happy to speak to their own mothers and wives. They think that it is wrong to respect the code of conduct of their elders. This has become a fearful situation. What shall I say about the condition of Bharat? Her citizens, like the elephant which does not know its own strength, do not know the strength of their culture. (SSB 1978, p. 95)
The Bharatiyas, today, do not know their greatness just as the elephant does not know its own strength. It obeys the command of the mahout and sits when the he asks it to sit and stands when it is asked to do so. In the same manner, the Bharatiyas are imitating the western culture under the influence of western education. (SSS Vol.42, p. 80)
The influence of Western education has resulted in the dwindling of interest in the study of the Sanskrit language. It has caused the disappearance of domestic felicity and the erosion of the principles of arya dharma. People are enamoured of external appearances and behaviour, and consider speaking in their mother tongues a fault. They hesitate to honour the norms of social etiquette and regard it a burden to respect teachers and elders. Timidity is prevalent everywhere and has become a contagion.
If women flock to offices and take up jobs, who will be there to look after home and perform the domestic duties? If both husband and wife take up vocations, who shall perform the household chores? If mothers go to school to teach the children of others, who is there to teach their own children? If women take up books and go about like men, who will look after the kitchen? By a woman taking up employment there would be fewer financial problems for the family, but several other difficulties would arise denying happiness to her. (SSB 1979, pp. 1-2)