Education: Freedom of Mind and It's Acceptance
By:Dr. Biplab Jamatia, Category: General, Posted on:2008-03-21 00:08:50

The journey of education began on this earth with the journey of mankind. Though the methodology and implementation of education has been different in different periods, the purpose has remained the same. Education has always signified learning; freedom of mind and its purpose has been to make itself useful for the development of civilization. We have been undertaking this journey of education and have managed to reach the present times.

The journey of formal education for the Tripuris attained visibility around the 1960s. Its main aim then was to create a body of literate people who could serve the administration. However, with the changes in the socio-political-economical environment of Tripura, the native Tripuri faced shortage of means for survival. By the 1970s, the biggest solution available to a Tripuri for his survival was to take shelter in education so that it could help him/her earn a degree and settle down for a good job with however small but regular income. This brought about a change in the demographic milieu of Tripura with a divide being formed between the agrarian class and the newly formed Government official class. The distance between the two grew with the migration of these educated officials to Agartala and other towns where their offices were situated.

After migrating to the town where these groups of Tripuries came in contact with the other communities who were already living in the towns at that time, they started detaching themselves from their roots. Among this class, few of them disappointed their preceding generations by rejecting their traditions, dress and language which may have been due to inferiority complex or a desire to prove themselves as superior to the rest of Tripuris or as a means of getting recognition from the other communities or due to the combination of the three reasons. But the majority still managed to retain and safeguard a portion of its culture.

It is this class that can help with the task of giving an impetus to education in the state. All of us who have the advantage of having educated parents who can provide us with means for further growth represent this generation.

Our generation not only has larger scope for education but it also has a faster rate of expansion of freedom of mind than our parent generation. This expansion has been caused by the rapid development in the world in the past few decades. Globalization has made the world a smaller place where the youth of Tripura has come in contact with the rest of the world, which has considerably broadened its horizon. The unequal rate of expansion of thoughts has generated a gap between the two generations where the values that define each generation has become different.

Our parent generation values its treasure of traditions and believes in the value system of a unified society. It is because the kind of exposure we have received and the perception of the relation between individual and society that we have is different from that of our parents.
Our present generation too has similar convictions but in a different dimension. Together with upholding their culture, this present generation finds it necessary to incorporate components from other cultures too. Hence, while the Tripuri youth is comfortable wearing a Rignai at home and at functions and gatherings, we also find them equally comfortable in salwaar-kameez and western outfits wherever the situation demands. Even our parents have no problem with regard to this as long as it is a requirement for our growth and prosperity because the main concern of any parent is the proper development of the child. In addition, they also give us the freedom to choose our own careers, a choice that was not available to them when they were students. In return, they have some expectations from their children and what creates a problem is that sometimes their expectation is at odds with the decisions of the youngsters.

If we look at it from the perspective of our parents, then this oddity arises because they care about our happiness. They are afraid of taking risks in matters related to their children; they want them to follow the tried and tested formula of gaining security in life. For instance, ten years ago, most parents wanted their children to become either a doctor or an engineer because their knowledge about other options was limited. Nowadays parents have become more accommodating towards other career options that their children place before them because they are more aware of it through the mass media, newspapers etc. Here we notice that while earlier it was the parents who decided the lifeline of the child, in today’s world, parents give enough freedom to the children to choose their own meaning of life. Situations like career, nature and place of job and selection of life partner are the important decision where we find disagreement between two generations.

In moments of disagreement parents regret why they gave so much education to their children. They also feel embarrassed facing a society, which is not supportive. They also find all their effort useless, which they carried out to educate their children. On the other hand, the children have a feeling that they are mature enough and they can take decisions for themselves. They feel that compromise is the cost they are going to pay their parent for their parenthood. Now, the question arises that who is going to sacrifice. Is it the parent or their children or both together? Parent says that they are mature enough and they always want good for their children. They say that nobody has done things like this before and so why should their children. Their thought are inclined towards social issues and traditional values whereas the youngsters are more concerned about their individual rights.  The children feel that their parents have already lived their life the way they want and the present and future is their own to decide. In the condition where parents are resigning or compromising then they feel that it is their mistake that they have given a lot of education to their children. If youngsters have to compromise then they feel that they are paying back their parents. Sometime youngsters suffer because they do not accept the suggestion from his/her parents. It is also true that sometime the tough decision of the parents ruin the life of their children. As a result the child feels frustrated all through his life because of not being able to carry out the things in his/her own way. Whatever the reason and who so ever does the compromise the main out come is that it gives lot of pain to lot of people. All these pain compels the party who has suffered to withdraw from that person who has caused the suffering.

Now the question is how can we prevent all these unwanted pain in our life or around us. This is very true that each one of us is unique in our thought and attitude towards life depending upon our past experiences and situations of life. The main issues in this matter are about the traditional thought, social values, tested experiences, individual rights, tendency to explore the possibilities and courage to take risk. If we decrease the communication gap between the two generations then they can understand each other better. Where they can set priorities by consulting the other, they can explore the possibilities and then they will be ready to take the risk. Decreasing this gap is not a one-day process rather a long-term commitment in each of our lives. If the investment is carried out by both parties in a continuous way then we can build a bridge between the gap of two generations where all issues like traditional thought, social values, tested experiences, individual rights, tendency to explore the possibilities and courage to take risk can be brought to the same level. In that condition though the pain may not be eliminated completely it can definitely be minimized. Only then can we enjoy the common goals of love, happiness, satisfaction and prosperity in life.


All the expressionless faces, burning tears and broken and feeble voices, which I come across in my life, compels me to write this article. My heart burns when I learn that I cannot decrease the amount of pain of my dear and near ones. So, here I am trying to find some answers where we can prevent the conflict, minimize the pain and flourish in a better way. Please give your valuable suggestion in this regard. I want to build an opinion pool. Kindly send your opinion to the following address:

DR. BIPLAB JAMATIA
Lecturer
School of Health Sciences
Indira Gandhi National Open University
Maidan Garhi
New Delhi - 110068
Phone No. 09313371295 (M)
E-mail: biplabjamatia@rediffmail.com


Thanking you



Biplab Jamatia






It's really a heartfelt thought shared by you. In my opinion, both parents and
children have to do certain adjustments/compromises. To the extent possible
children should do more. Because, it is the parents blessings and well wishes
which shape our life and what we are is because of their sacrifice and
unconditional love and affection. So, why cannot we return something to
them. Let this be for their satisfaction.
This is purely my perception......
All the best,

Dr.(Mrs.) Nayantara Padhi
Lecturer,School of Management Studies, IGNOU



(Article Read 625 times)
Tripura News