Change is the end result of all learning:
In 1980’s govt of tamil nadu was confronted with a serious problem.Education levels of school going children kept dwindling down and the drop-out ratio was unacceptably high. The govt had commissioned a detailed study through which they learnt that ill-healthy and acute malnutrition were the causes of falling education standards and high drop out ratio. The state govt decided to introduce a unique scheme to solve the problem-the mid day meal scheme.Within a couple of years the education levels started rising and the dropout ratio was kept firmly in check.Even today as Amartya Sen observes , the mid-day meal scheme is the prime reason for high performance of tamil nadu in primary education compared to any other state.
This incident proves the age old saying that change is the end result of all learning.Both learning and change are indispensible in order to be better humans,build better societies and shape great nations.So what is meant by ‘Learning ‘ and’Change’?How learning led to change throughout the history and across geography.
Learning can be understood as the process of acquiring new ideas , examples and processes that add value to our knowledge and thinking.For instance, when we teach a child that stealing is bad, he learns that he shall not do it. When we teach children that men and women are equal, they learn that patriarchal society is unjustified and immoral.Thus it can be seen that, from learning comes change.Change refers to a fundamental transformation in our attitudes, values and belief system.the more we learn about the society and the world , the more amenable we become for change.
How learning leads to Change? Across space and time?
Historically , from 1500 to 1860 for 350 years slavery was considered the norm.But Abraham Lincoln showed the world that, American civil war was not only about saving the Union but also about abolishing the unjust, immoral practice of slavery.As the US learnt a bitter lesson through war and they decided to abolish the slavery through 13th Amendment to US constitution.
Back to home , Mahatma Gandhi united the country and taught the world about a non-violent struggle.The world had changed their outlook and changed its attitude about violence.Before 1950’s ,Women were taught to inferior to men. Their freedoms were restrained and rights were restricted.But as we learnt about the inherent equality between men and women, we are constantly striving to achieve gender justice.
India was one of the first nations to grant universal franchise to all thus making the beginning of change.Similarly today, our regressive attitudes towards LGBTQ community are constantly being demolished as we learn about the scientific and moral reasons to recognize and celebrate LGBTQ community. The struggle to repeal sec377 of IPC is a jouney towards change.
Morever , even in the administrative sphere we see the interplay of Learning and change .
As we learn that corruption is a result of officer’s discretion, the govt is framing laws to move towards online delivery of services(eg:direct benefit transfer).Govt schemes such as soil health cards, Start-up India are all result of learning and changing policies for a better future.
History has shown us that Change is the only constant in life. Without learning and change we risk stagnation as individuals as a society and as a nation.let us now be a constant learners and agents of change so that we build a better world for everyone.for that learning must never cease and change must begin from us.As Gandhiji ones said-“our greatness lies not so much in changing the world as in changing ourselves”.
.... To be continued because changes are required
In 1980’s govt of tamil nadu was confronted with a serious problem.Education levels of school going children kept dwindling down and the drop-out ratio was unacceptably high. The govt had commissioned a detailed study through which they learnt that ill-healthy and acute malnutrition were the causes of falling education standards and high drop out ratio. The state govt decided to introduce a unique scheme to solve the problem-the mid day meal scheme.Within a couple of years the education levels started rising and the dropout ratio was kept firmly in check.Even today as Amartya Sen observes , the mid-day meal scheme is the prime reason for high performance of tamil nadu in primary education compared to any other state.
This incident proves the age old saying that change is the end result of all learning.Both learning and change are indispensible in order to be better humans,build better societies and shape great nations.So what is meant by ‘Learning ‘ and’Change’?How learning led to change throughout the history and across geography.
Learning can be understood as the process of acquiring new ideas , examples and processes that add value to our knowledge and thinking.For instance, when we teach a child that stealing is bad, he learns that he shall not do it. When we teach children that men and women are equal, they learn that patriarchal society is unjustified and immoral.Thus it can be seen that, from learning comes change.Change refers to a fundamental transformation in our attitudes, values and belief system.the more we learn about the society and the world , the more amenable we become for change.
How learning leads to Change? Across space and time?
Historically , from 1500 to 1860 for 350 years slavery was considered the norm.But Abraham Lincoln showed the world that, American civil war was not only about saving the Union but also about abolishing the unjust, immoral practice of slavery.As the US learnt a bitter lesson through war and they decided to abolish the slavery through 13th Amendment to US constitution.
Back to home , Mahatma Gandhi united the country and taught the world about a non-violent struggle.The world had changed their outlook and changed its attitude about violence.Before 1950’s ,Women were taught to inferior to men. Their freedoms were restrained and rights were restricted.But as we learnt about the inherent equality between men and women, we are constantly striving to achieve gender justice.
India was one of the first nations to grant universal franchise to all thus making the beginning of change.Similarly today, our regressive attitudes towards LGBTQ community are constantly being demolished as we learn about the scientific and moral reasons to recognize and celebrate LGBTQ community. The struggle to repeal sec377 of IPC is a jouney towards change.
Morever , even in the administrative sphere we see the interplay of Learning and change .
It's "BHARAT" not 'india'
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As we learn that corruption is a result of officer’s discretion, the govt is framing laws to move towards online delivery of services(eg:direct benefit transfer).Govt schemes such as soil health cards, Start-up India are all result of learning and changing policies for a better future.
History has shown us that Change is the only constant in life. Without learning and change we risk stagnation as individuals as a society and as a nation.let us now be a constant learners and agents of change so that we build a better world for everyone.for that learning must never cease and change must begin from us.As Gandhiji ones said-“our greatness lies not so much in changing the world as in changing ourselves”.
.... To be continued because changes are required
