A teacher’s epic lesson on Karna’s syndrome
Mahabharata, the epic by Ved Vyas, provides great learning for the masses. This mega compilation has a variety of characters that are charismatic and inspiring, giving us enough lessons of life that are applicable in today’s times as well.
In the battle, the feud that attracted maximum spectators was the one between Arjuna and Karna. Both were equally powerful, but a comparison between the two has always been the base material for poets and writers.
As a teacher, I too sometimes relate concepts and teachings of the Mahabharata with general behavior of students. In this competitive era, the bars are set high and most students concentrate on crossing the bar instead of learning the fine art of jumping. They try to mug up everything and suffer from information overload, which has serious repercussions in the exams, just like the mighty Karna, who forgot everything during the crucial time facing Arjuna in his final battle.
In my view, a major reason is faulty learning objective, wherein maximum impetus is given to achievement rather than to the learning itself. In this pursuit, students take up the glittering path ofswamping themselves in pool of worldly expectations.
Throughout his life, Karna also pushed himself to prove his credentials and his learning was for a specific purpose that might have overshadowed his skills. A shloka (verse) from Venisamhara supposed to be said by Karna is: “Suto va sutaputro va yo va ko va Bhavamyaham; Daivayattam kule janma madayattam tu paurusum” which signifies that though I am born in Suta caste, which is guided by fate but my valour and bravery has been accomplished by myself.
On the other hand, Arjuna has always been seen as an epitome of an ideal student as he had learnt the skills of archery to understand it thoroughly rather than proving something to the world. It is our duty as a learned society, not to push talented minds at the crossroads, where they start fighting with their own identity. Right from the beginning, students are bombarded with concepts and facts which saturate their nerve cells. The creative mindset usually takes a back seat and for some, it even leaves the class. Learning is targeted and efforts are invested to achieve only the goal.
Ironically, the fault-finding exercise mostly concentrates on the student. I feel every teacher cannot perform the bird’s eye test to identify the Arjuna in class, for that one has to be as talented as Dronacharya. So, simultaneously there is a dire need to produce competent gurus who can identify and foster novel thinking to steer the students on the right path.
Hopefully, the New Education Policy will target nurturing the unique capability of each student to think critically and act logically. Out of the box ideas need to be appreciated by providing autonomy and empowerment together. We don’t have to create best students but allow them to evolve themselves under a proper guard. Most importantly, don’t push them to prove themselves every hour as we really need the best for the growth of our nation, but without Karna’s syndrome.
IN THIS COMPETITIVE ERA, MOST STUDENTS FOCUS ON CROSSING THE BAR INSTEAD OF LEARNING THE FINE ART OF JUMPING