Contrarily, Gandhi's personal choices shape his informal education. In the section appropriately titled "My Choice," Gandhi asserts his vegetarianism to a friend by saying "A vow is a vow. It cannot be broken." For someone whom we later find out despises public speaking, this is an act of courage. He walks miles in search of vegetarian meals and personally seeks out vegetarian dietetic books. Gandhi's venture with vegetarianism fosters in him a sense of intrinsic motivation to learn outside of law school. His hunger for knowledge is fed by his non-curricular experimentations and involvement in the Vegetarian Society. I think he is suggesting that the pursuit of knowledge has to come within, regardless of how prepared you think you are on the outside. His friend Narayan Hemchandra is an example of this -- sure, his English grammar isn't great and in English society, he might be ostracized, but he has passions for multiple languages and is confident in the person he has become. Passion, loyalty, dedication, self-acceptance, tolerance - these are the things Gandhi sees and learns outside of formal education.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Gandhi and Education
Perhaps, in Gandhi's eyes, a man is shaped not by his accomplishments, but by his choices. Anyone who has the ability to pass a test can go to law school, where a curriculum and a set of predetermined goals are set up for you and the end result is quite clear. In the United States, from grades K-12, and even up into higher education, there is little autonomy given in regards to what subjects one must take, when one must go to school, and how long a particular section of education should last. There are written expectations and non-written expectations -- community service is supposedly voluntary, but how many hours did you need for that dream school? Gandhi has to pass matriculation exams, memorize Civil Procedure Codes, attend departmental dinners, and read a variety of books he has no interest in reading in order to fit the mold carved out by law school. He finds little fulfillment in these things. Not to say that a foundation in basic principles of learning is bad, but there is more outside of the walls of school.
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Very intriguing point! I think you are absolutely right. I don't feel that Gandhi is necessarily criticizing the school system as much as he is explaining that your education is not enough by itself. You must expand your knowledge autonomously and seek the truth. No one can teach you the most important things in life, they can only point you in the right direction. Gandhi's attitude is what makes him a notable person. He is a role model for society as he upholds his personal morals and ethic code, and remains independent while still relying on public resources.
ReplyDelete"I don't feel that Gandhi is necessarily criticizing the school system as much as he is explaining that your education is not enough by itself."
ReplyDeleteThank you for articulating the larger point! This is indeed what I was trying to explain, and after our discussion in class today, I acknowledge that I left out a lot of the points that put value on a formal education, but one can only say so much in a blog post. A combination of both formal and informal would be ideal.
It was interesting to see Gandhi making a conscious effort to westernize himself not only in English law but also by taking dance, violin, and elocution lessons. These additional classes may not be purely academic, yet Gandhi does see how Victorian England saw them as still formal activities that breed good English citizens. I thought it was very interesting when Gandhi read the Bible for the first time and how he “could not possibly read through the Old Testament” and the book of Genesis “invariably sent [him] to sleep” (68).
ReplyDeleteIt is not until the New Testament catches Gandhi’s attention for its emphasis on humility and comparison to the Gita. While Gandhi eventually stops attending his supplementary classes, he does begin to read more works from India, like Bhagavad-Gita, which has a great influence on Gandhi’s life. He takes an active role in his vegetarian lifestyle, even creating his own failed club.
It is through exploration and experience where someone gains a certain type of education. Like you were both saying, there are varying benefits that come with formal and informal education yet both are invaluable in different ways.