Education
There is no point in bashing DPS,
DPS is a machine, with many schools. The RK Puram School is but a collector from the subsidiary schools. Admission is difficult. It is the flagship brand.
The schools are geared for high academic achievement, and it is quite obvious our Jat girl qualifies. The lack of English is a silly excuse. She would pick up, we all did and do.
The rejection is only a symptom, of what is lacking in our society.
As a bit of background:
Contrary to a general perception, that Jat society had a well-developed education system pre 1857, in the shape of school supported by the panchayats. The Haryana/Western U.P. Sarv Khap system is a good example. The educational system of the Jats can be traced back to at least 800AD
See:
Shivirpur, Sikarpur
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JatHistory/message/1722
The history of Handauhli- education in 800 AD India
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JatHistory/message/1718
When the 1857 war way lost, the Sarv Khap destroyed, the school system was also destroyed, and the downfall of Jat society started. Within a couple of generations they were reduced from the status of independent republicans, to the status of uneducated ryots/peasants.
The coming of the Arya Samaj movement in 1850 on saw a resurgence of the Jat spirit, and saw paradigm shift occur.
The problem was a total lack of schools, and a lack of boarding facilities for students.
The mechanics to success, was the establishment of Gurukuls, in Haryana, U, P, Rajasthan, and Punjab.
Dr Birbal Singh, Dudhee ji etc on this list can point to the strenuous efforts of the members of Jat society who brought about and created an educational system, Dr Birbal Singh’s family, if I may be allowed to pay a compliment, were instrumental in rising over Rs 1 crore in the 1950’s towards this goal. {That would like 100 crores today- $ 25 million US]
Over 500 schools were set up, and there are hundreds of thousands of Jats today, who owe their current success to these efforts, and they rose from their relegation to the bottom of society in Rajastan and elsewhere, to the forefront of society today.
The struggle and sacrifices of the participants is an inspiring story, and hopefully someone will a movie of it sometime. (Soon?).
This leads to what is the need today.
- The language of success today is English, not the vernacular.
- Government School in rural areas are moribund, there is little or no teaching.
- Gurukuls are falling behind
We have once again a need, and an opportunity to create another paradigm shift.
The need is obvious- improve the curriculum, and teach English from Kindergarten, shifting The medium of instruction from Hindi to English.
[Punjab has made a beginning, with English being taught to children form Grade One reason being, that the Punjab people are aware that their kids cannot compete internationally if they are not fluent in English. The Philippines have shifted the medium of instruction for their schools to English- the results will be an entire country will be fluent in English]
Now the opportunity, if we can recognize it, is here once again, to bring life to movement for upliftment of the community. To bring about another paradigm shift in our attitudes, and bring a renewal that will address the needs of our society today, as our forefathers did, 50, 100, 150 years ago.
There is the need to the new generation to come forward and take the reins of the movement, and do something that they can look back with and say proudly to themselves,
” I did something in my lifetime, to change the future of our community."
There will be many suggestions. but we do not have to re invent the wheel.
We have institutions like Gurukul system. The infrastructure is already there, builingds, administration, students.
The problem is determine the specific goal, and bring together the resources including funding.
One suggestion for a goal I have is:
Bring all Gurukuls to the CBSE standard, in English medium
Raise money, hire teachers, and improve facilities.
Mechanics are already there- the North American Jat Charity for members in America. The Surajmal educational society. The All India Jat Mahsabha.
They are Jat Mahsabha is holding a large meeting in Gwalior in November 2006
The interface with the Gurukuls is there in the form of Dudheeji. Dr Ram Arya needs no mention for his outstanding contributions, and naturraly this small list does not include many who deserve mention, and are privately doing much on their own.
We have energetic and concerned members with vision like Rajendra K Kalkhande, who can lead the effort, if they are able to and can create the time from their other commitments and accept this ardous challenge.
We have forums like this for communication.
These are some of my initial thoughts.
Our challenge is can we bring some practicality in?
Ravi Chaudhary
n d best way to maintain false standard of the parents as well as child....they take a child scoring above 90 n claim giving the good results......
.they keep parents as well as d students in illusion dat they r d best n nobdy can outshine them.. schools are made to make an uncapable child capable .... ib saarey balak capable aawengey too school ka ke kaam reh jaga.......
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