The new Hindi   movie ” THREE  IDIOTS ” has managed to bring to sharp focus the great Indian paradox of college education where Knowledge by Rote Method scores over ” Real Understanding of Life skills ” and success as demonstrated by rank  is more coveted than practical excellence . Narrated in a lighter vain with a good dose of slapstick comedy with occasional parody overtones and usual melodrama , the Aamir Khan starrer has  entertained all with very pertinent questions posed to the Educational System in this country and its impact on the middle class struggling to create bread winners for the family with total disregard to individual talent and aspirations of their offspring .

The Indian education system is on fire both from the government and  the stake holders .Today’s news about de-recognising more than 40 Deemed Universities in the country in one go explains the deep rooted malaise in our system . The so called formal education system especially for technical education is creating  ” unemployable graduates ” in thousands  and this percentage goes up every year as new engineering colleges appear on the scene. It is a collective failure by all agencies and we hope the new education policy on the anvil corrects this malady forever before it is too late .

Many of us exposed to the wonderful yearly publication titled ” What color is your parachute ” by Richard Nelson Bolles should spread the message contained in the book  to all our friends in India so that students are encouraged to select a career based on their individual talent . Read this along with Howard Gardner’s  ” Theory of Multiple Intelligences ” and we have a fairly good frame work to follow to select a  career as well as a pedagogy for teaching . We should also overhaul the present examination system and replace it with projects and industry assignments especially for technical education . For post graduate and doctoral levels , research with bias on Indian issues should take precedence . Once we have the Will ,Funds can be found from anywhere without any problem.

Let the  subtle  message from ” THREE  IDIOTS ”  be a wake up call for all!!

Note – I was pleasantly surprised to read the column by Jayanthi Natarajan , Congree MP in the Deccan Chronicle on  18 Jan  titled ” To Idiots,with Love “. She has done a great service to the society by writing so candidly about the message contained in the movie . Thank you Mrs Natarajan.

44 thoughts on “Praise for ” 3 Idiots” – The paradox of Knowledge vs Understanding .”

  4. Dont you think society also needs mass-produced graduates without necessary real understanding, in addition to the seekers of excellence?
    I think Indian education system serves a majority who regard education for attitude rather than education for profession. Minority who seek to excel would find a way to success themselves. Why is it necessary that a student of engineering should become good engineer? There is nothing wrong if he becomes a good manager eventually.

  5. I agree we need numbers but not at the cost of quality . A mechanical engineer who calls a mechanic to repair his garden pump set or a civil engineer who cannot repair a theodolite cannot sustain themselves in the long run . They will be at the mercy of supervisors who at times may even cheat them for personal gains .

    I support your view that engineers could become good managers and that is most welcome in any society.

    Thank you.

  6. Harikumar,
    I think you get me all wrong. A person who pursues profession without understanding would not only be cheated but also would be cheating the society. Like a doctor without proper knowledge.
    My point is why do we link education to vocation, at all? Please visit my link where I examine this at length.

  7. Thank you . I have read through your blog . We are talking more or less the same thing. There is no quick fix solution to the malady . But at least an awareness towards quality of engineering education is happening against the trend of mushrooming new colleges all around . If education is in harmony with vocation , it enhances the overall effectiveness.

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