Golden Jubilee of Nai Talim (Basic Education)

5 September, 1962: Teacher’s Day

            

                  

         Golden Jubilee of Nai Talim (Basic Education)

          I offer my respectful and heartiest felicitations on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Nai Talim by the Gujarat Nai Talim Sangh. It is most appropriate that a convention of Nai Talim workers is being organized by the Sangh in the dedicated and inspiring ‘environment’ of the Gujrat Vidyapith founded by Mahatma Gandhi. Nai Talim we primarily owe to him.

          It is apparent beyond doubt that in the Atomic Age man’s advancement, even survival, depends on effectively linking with courage and determination education and building of character. It mseans an integrated training of the body, mind and spirit. This is not possible without an aspiration for truth and ahimsa. The character building aspect of education is the central, the key concept of Basic Education. It adds a new dimension to the teaching profession of the utmost importance. Says Gandhiji speaking of his experiments at the Tolstoy Farm in S. Africa (1910-11): “A cowardly teacher would never succeed in making his boys vailant, and a stranger to self-restraint could never teach his pupils the value of self-restraint. I saw, therefore, that I must be an eternal object-lesson to the boys and girls living with me. They thus became my teachers, and I learnt I must be good and live straight, if only for their sakes.”

          Einstein underscores the same thing. He says (1950): “The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life. To make this a living force and bring it to clear consciousness is perhaps the foremost task of education.”

          Basic Education has a significance and value as never before. It’s development – theory and practice -would need sustained and dedicated work involving a great deal of research.

          I convey my good wishes and regards to participants, and wish the convention a most fruitful session.

                                                                                                            (D.S. Kothari)

24 November 1988

Source: D.S. Kothari Papers, MSS, NMML

30 November, 2012: Passing away of Inder Kumar Gujral

Press Statement 

Some Urdu speaking friends like Shri S.H. Razi, Taqi Rahim, Shri Habibur Rahman, Dr Razi Ahmed and others met me the other day and impressed upon me the need to provide all necessary facilities for the growth of Urdu. Prof. Mohammed Hassan of Jawaharlal Nehru University had also met and talked to me some time back in this connection.

            They told me that the Gujral Committee on Urdu had made certain useful recommendations which might largely satisfy the needs of the Urdu speaking population. The report of this committee had been kept in abeyance for several years by the out-going Government. But now it has been published, and i hope, the present Government would take urgent steps to examine and implement these recommendations as early as possible.

It is only just and proper that Urdu should be treated on par with other Indian languages, and a congenial climate created for its growth. I understand, the Constitution of India provides for the education of children through their mother tongue at the primary stage. The Government must, therefore, see that in areas where there is Urdu speaking population, Urdu teachers are appointed in all primary schools and even in other recognised schools and colleges, irrespective of the number of student reading therein. Urdu should also be given a place in the affairs of the administration as far as possible.

            I am happy to note that many people whose mother tongue is not Urdu are learning it. Many of them have acquired a high degree proficiency in this language. On the other side, a large number of Urdu speaking people are also learning Hindi and some of them have acquired a competence that is second to none. This is a very healthy trend which deserves to be encouraged and strengthened. Special incentive should be given to such Urdu-Hindi enthusiasts. Only mutual efforts in this direction can create the kind of cultural synthesis that we need for building a firm basis of national integration.

It is unfortunate that inspite of thirty two years of Swaraj, Hindu- Muslim unity for which the Father of the Nation had laid down his life, is yet to be fully realised. I think that this cause would be served best if the language barrier between the two communities is demolished by bringing Hindi and Urdu closer to each other. Gandhiji had made positive efforts in this direction, but after his death no serious attempt was made to do what he had left undone. Both the Government and the people have now a duty to perform and I have no doubt that they will spare no pains to fulfil this important national task.

Patna,

March 5, 1979                                                                    (Jayaprakash Narayan)

Source: Jayaprakash Narayan III (Inst.), MSS, NMML