A country’s development is not measured in material or economic growth but in the growth of its cultural capital and human development.
“History is important but historical pride is more important. However, we need to ask ourselves – what is this historical pride?”
As per Ashok Thakur, a prominent educator and founder of Muni International School, pride and love for the motherland are the ethos of a country which eventually becomes its DNA. However, with modern education ignoring cultural values, historical pride remains dormant among children. “If children are not made aware of the rich heritage of their motherland, then it becomes difficult to feel a connection to a piece of land. They need to be made to feel proud of their country, of its rich heritage,” Mr. Thakur continues, “In disillusionment, they always ask: what has our country given to us? They need to be taught that the moment they take birth in a country, they immediately become heir to its rich heritage and culture.”
It is essential to instill this feeling of pride among children from a very young age itself. While the task looks complicated, the revival of this pride for the motherland among Indians is necessary. And fortunately, theirs already a method and a way. Muni International’s flagship patriotic education program, Bharat Bodh, curated by its widely acclaimed R&D department under the able guidance of Ashok Thakur.
Bharat Bodh – Reshaping Our Understanding Of Indian Heritage
The word ‘Bodh’ in Bharat Bodh signifies knowledge without apprehensions, boundaries, or limitations. It means helping young Indians make sense of India’s rich history. The birth of a country, its geographical status, religion, language, interest, faith, and belief, are the factors that make up what is called the cultural treasure of that nation. Mr. Thakur explains that this knowledge is like bricks that come together to build a country piece-by-piece. When these factors are put together, they form the sense of a country. Bodh.
People informed with such knowledge spread best practices through their personality. A country that sets its plank on such high-valued factors will eventually see its citizens stretch the limits of prosperity with confidence and in all completeness of the thought. “A citizen may belong to any strata of the society, but if there is love for the motherland, their actions will always contribute in the direction of the nation’s development,” Mr. Thakur contends, “Development that takes place in such a way will have a rhythmic speed where all participants are full of dedication and sense of unity and cooperation.”
“A citizen may belong to any strata of the society, but if there is love for the motherland, then the actions will always contribute to the nation’s development.”
Ashok Thakur, Founder, Muni International School
Rewriting The Meaning Of Nationalism
There has been a lot of talk around the importance of learning the mother tongue in instilling nationalism. While most educators and historians will tell you that language plays a vital part. However, Mr. Thakur begs to differ, calling the idea nothing more than an illusion. He explains, “To develop the feeling of nationalism, a child needs to be taught about the entire journey of India to becoming a nation, right from the early years of schooling. Children need to be taken on a path where they learn about India through different stages of life and develop an ever-growing fondness for the motherland.”
“Children need to be taken on a path where they learn about India through different stages of life and develop an ever-growing fondness for the motherland.”
Ashok Thakur, Founder, Muni International School
As per Mr. Thakur, the feeling of nationalism generated this way will ensure that the citizens of the country see themselves as one, organized and strong unit, thus ensuring the path to complete and holistic progress of the Indian society. “Children should feel proud of their ancestors – who they were, their struggles and achievements. This knowledge would bring about a sense of responsibility and purpose, directing them on a path that ends up in becoming individuals with their rightful place in the upliftment of the society”.
A Counter-Current To Rewrite History
History repeats itself if it is not tinkered with. While evil has no tradition, goodness is transferred forward, from generation to generation. There are a lot of positives attached to reshaping how young children are made to fall in love with their country. And Ashok Thakur’s Bharat Bodh program at Muni International School does just that. “Children can learn and do a lot of good things in life if they have the sense of their nation, the sacrifices, and the vision of the founding fathers. They can make themselves self-dependent and move in the right direction,” contends Mr. Thakur.
Watch: Mr. Ashok Thakur speaks on the importance of Value-based Education
Each country has its own proud heritage and its citizens are purveyors of that feeling of patriotism. That pride should stay forever in the hearts of citizens. It’s not just about India but each country in the world needs to take a step in this direction – Afghanistan or America. “The world is like a bouquet which has different kinds of flowers in it. Variety in a process compliments each other’s importance and completeness. In a nutshell, the sense of India should not be in conflict with the sense of any other country. In reality, there is never a conflict between all the good things happening on Earth.”
“If children have a sense of their nation – the sacrifices and the vision of the founding fathers –they can make themselves self-dependent and contribute to the Indian society.”
Ashok Thakur, Founder, Muni International School
Every country and its people on this planet have gone through countless struggles to attain independence and reach where they are today. There is also a need to change how other countries are depicting in the patriotic education of a particular country’s citizens. “Children should be made to learn about different cultures, proud traditions, and heritages. Mutual respect needs to be developed which will eventually create brotherhood and love between people from different countries. It will make Earth a prosperous place. The GDP of every country will automatically increase,” he exclaims, “If these habits become a tradition for every individual, we will be on the path of optimum development of India in no time. The environment of a country is built upon culture, thoughts, civilization, and the transformation of those thoughts into action. This is a non-ending 24X7 process. If we have such an environment in our country, it will become the driving force of people and common folks won’t take much time to become the proud citizens of that nation.”
“The environment of a country is built upon culture, thoughts, civilization, and transformation of those thoughts into action. This is a never-ending process.”
Ashok Thakur, Founder, Muni International School
Mr. Ashok Thakur is already witnessing overwhelming results with this ideology and approach to nationalism with the Bharat Bodh program with kids at Muni International School.
