In school, a long time ago, we used to have a Moral Science lesson. I found it boring and I am sure I did not acquire any moral standards from those lessons. The main reason is that those lessons were based on belief rather than reason. Now I think that we do need some such lessons in our school education. The lessons should be should be made thought provoking. Scenarios should be put before children and they should be asked to reason out the expected consequences. We should make sure that children understand the cause - effect nature of this world. Also, that things which are tolerable at a small scale can quickly become intolerable problems at a larger scale. Hence the requirement of stringent standards even in "it is too small to matter" situations. It is also important that teachers make it clear to students that schooling is only a part of one's education and that students should seek other avenues of education as well. One of the most important avenues of learning is role models. Students should be encouraged to have role models but at the same time they should be encouraged to have their own independent moral standards and also be encouraged to judge the role models by these standards. What I am trying to say is that no one should have absolute role models. Emulate whatever is good in your role model and reject whatever is not up to your own stringent standards. Children should understand that they will be role models for others. Therefore their conduct should be exemplary. When I say this it has often been said to me that "You encourage good behaviour so that others can be impressed". That is true but reason is not that I want to polish my own image. The true reason is that if I set a bad example, some will follow that bad example and the consequences of their bad behaviour will affect my quality of life. When we say "Do unto others as you would they do unto you" we expect the audience to take this on faith. The fact is that people do not take things on faith. Not even those who claim to have a faith. Since people do not take things on faith they do not get the message at all. I want to give the same message but on the basis of a reason. If I behave badly with others, they may not be in a situation to behave badly with me in return but someone somewhere will learn from my bad example and one day they will be in a situation to behave badly with me and I may not be in a position to return the favour. Remember, there are always consequences. It is a law of nature from which no one is exempt.
People say that India is doing well. Economically, socially, financially and so on. I agree but I would like to convince you that the price the citizens of India are paying to do well is enormous compared to what citizens of western societies are paying for their countries doing well. It will be nice not to pay such a high price even if that means not being so advanced. What is advanced anyway? Why are we paying a higher price for progress in India than in the developed countries? It is because we are constantly acting against each other. All of us are constantly swimming against a tide of our own making. If I am in a position of authority and you want something from me I make it as difficult for you to get it as I possibly can. And of course there comes a time when you are in a position of authority and then you make things difficult for me. This could very easily be changed to my making things as easy for you as possible (within the law of course) and you doing the same for me. We will both then be able to spend our time and efforts on real problems. It is a small change in attitude but one with the potential to make a huge positive impact.
