What next?

Like many Indians living abroad, after I had my fill of the material comforts, a career, home, etc., I started feeling the urge to do something more fulfilling. What next? More often than not the thoughts of doing something for the homeland I had left behind kept coming up. But what? India is full of problems...and hence opportunities. But what? And how? I reflected on 101 problems and every time I kept coming back to education. Change in India needs to begin and end with education. India desperately needs basic fundamental education. Not the type of education that teaches ABC and Maths, but the kind that teaches basics such as, honesty, hard work, self esteem, cleanliness, hygine, and above all ability to think, innovate and bring value to the society in however little or big way. Of course basic literacy is also important but less important than these attributes, which alone can uplift the society.



In 2010 I relocated to India and had an opportunity to observe the education system more closely. I am very discouraged at this point to see the current system in place. Except a few exceptions here and there, most schools are following a colonial system with herd mentality. There is total lack of any out of box thinking. Schools are businesses with the aim of pleasing the customers (parents) without any concrete focus on child's best interest based on scientific methods or even common sense. Fundamental change is needed but the task is too big and daunting, so I am starting with my daughter's school which BTW is more progressive and open to suggestions.