Society, Challenges and the Medicine

Every family in the state of Kerala spends a fantastic amount of their hard earnings in addition to the State Revenue of our 30% plan allocation being spent for education. Still the condition is quite deplorable. Our own experience in the past fifty years of Independence proved that it has created more of unemployed youth, i.e. frustrated youngsters. Looking at the economics of a typical family the budget has gone up a hundred fold.

Science is making headway in Information Technology and Genetic potentials in an alarming speed. Professors/teachers who are supposed to shape the future generations should be able to model themselves among students. The natural question at this juncture is "Do we have a conducive social situation for such a change?" The teacher student respect and admiration should be redefined in tune with the modern times.

In my early days as a medical student, some of us got an opportunity for a small interaction with Mahatma Gandhi. " India is a rich country. But my people are poor: so when you practice don't charge my people." He pointed out. From where will we get such inspiration now a days? Who can be blamed of it? The answer lies in a self-enlightenment.

Educational curriculum should fit for such enlightenment. In his recent address at Bangalore, Dr. Abdul Kalam has pointed to some future dilemmas. It is high time that we have to think of such issues. For an example, a survey conducted by the IMA in Kerala has shown that an average life expectancy is76 yrs in the case of widows and 67 of widowers. In another twenty years this will be a great problem. Then the younger generations of (below 15 yrs) nuclear families will be below 15% of the total population. i.e., 60% of Kerala population will NOT get necessary economic, humanitarian, medical, paramedical and technical support to live. If this is condition of a so-called sophisticated state, what will be that in the backward states of India?

We cannot ignore the fact that we got sick. Terrorism, communalism, parochialism and myopic outlook of national plans are the virus of it. Education backed up by social commitment is the best medicine for most of the illness of the society.

Govt. agencies alone will not be able to combat this growing insurgency. Every citizen is conscious of his rights; but conventionally forgets the rights of others. Personal insight development should come in combat with the physical infrastructure development.

We should reinstate the structural elements of education both internally and externally. What we see out side is just an extension of our internal being. Purifying the internal thoughts and answering the internal challenges is the only solution for the problems. It is factual for all sphere of knowledge and true for individuals as well as for Government.