QUO VADIS?

QUO VADIS?

Quo Vadis, though not English, has come into use for writing in English while lamenting over certain happenings or trends that do not convince those who expect some criteria to be adhered to. Slowly the size of the population that raises the question is on the increase. There could be a number of reasons that render credence to the need for the question. “Quo vadis” means where do you go? Or it is an expression indirectly cautioning us against the prospect of our landing in a mess. Every day the fear gets fortified with happenings around not providing a glimpse of hope for restoration. Thus far, I have just suggested the prelude for the expression, without as yet providing a justification there of. As we proceed into the matter, I expect concurrence from our readers at least on the basics of the issue. At the very opening I have suggested that more people seem to entertain the same opinion. This is an observation based on deteriorations in most spheres of activity in our country. I am not too sure if this is a global phenomenon or it is confined to India alone. Indications are that the phenomenon is fast spreading as to achieve a global status. Indians may take solace that we are not alone and that we are the “leaders” in this global trend.

The evil I am referring to is casual attitude. Chances of reversal appear rather remote with none inclined to restore any order – be it for self or for other general consideration. Most things have become topsy-turvy and none is ashamed of it. Acts of shame seem to land people in fame and media glorify their acts in the name of investigative journalism. Perpetrators of violence seek amnesty and human rights activists rally behind such appeals. They seem to have varied values for the rights of different humans; for them the dead are gone even if in large numbers; the single dry criminal should not be punished. All hollow arguments are raised.    Quo  vadis?

What is the issue?    Every item of daily life seems to have come under a change. It does not appear to be a change for the better in the sense that convenience alone matters the most, even in place of righteousness. Values have drifted towards dilution and materialism. There is an uncalled for urgency about everything. There is a mad rush to do anything new with no regard whatsoever for relevance. There is a greater tendency to be opportunistic to gain the maximum advantage even if it means being obviously vulgar. Materialism seems to rule us. Are these attitudes wrong? On the face of it, it may not appear so. But if one considers the methodology adopted and the relegation of

inputs like effort, competence, gaining skills and knowledge, certainly the trend is diabolic. I prefer to call it diabolic, as any society cannot hope to survive in the long run if its members do not stay equipped by the skills of hard labour, mental acumen, effort-based empowerment and righteousness. None of these qualities can be augmented except by right training and effort. Many seem to have priorities improperly prioritized. By a logical sequence, training, acquisition of skills, turning adept in use of skills, building-up a wholesome knowledge and gaining experience in a specific avocation are the right approaches to any empowerment. Once the steps are carried out to perfection, almost invariably righteous-ness gets duly infused into the mind of the individual. So long as a person sticks to patient methodologies of learning, chances of failure are negligibly low, besides moulding a “rich character” to the person. Do we see these priorities being faithfully observed? Very rarely we see it happen because people have set their eyes on the terminal stage of achievement, long before learning the right steps of progression.

Where do we err?   We seem to err everywhere in the sense that we are guided by what others believe. It all begins with the schooling. We try to put our children in schools where instructions are offered through the “English Medium”. There is nothing wrong in this approach provided the parents can supplement the efforts at school. Parents who have no formal training through the English Medium education are merely overwhelmed by the thought of the education being given to the child. Any child convinced of the proficiency of the parents, behaves better in studies. On the contrary, if parents are not adequately equipped, the child takes to deviant methodologies of telling the parent “you do not know much”. The parent wrongly takes delight on the prowess of the child, failing to realize that the child tries to “keep the parent off “   certain territories. Unfortunately, such parents feel shy of meeting the authorities of the school to elicit information on the child’s progress. This is the first level bungling with the future of a child. The remedy is quite simple, by the parent spending time with the child from day one to find out and follow what is being taught at the school. If systematically approached, the child and parent would both come to grips with the situation and the child would not resort to deviant methods said earlier.

To continue                              Prof. K.Raman

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