Gurudev Ke Saath

Author(s): Gurdial Mallikji, Pratap J Tolia, Sumitra P Toliya
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

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There was no Time Table here. There was only one vision, only one aim: "The Art of living together's training, teaching.." Since ages we speak "OM SAHANA VAVATU", but here actual training was given of living together, living harmoniously and nicely together! Everyone will do his work himself. Teacher will also do, pupil also. Teacher will clean his room, student also. For dining also they will sit together. Not "The teachers in this section and the students in another section". After dining, they will clean their utensils also together. After accomplishing this all, they will go for the studies, where the teachers will pray first "LET US STUDY TOGETHER" and not that, "I AM THE TEACHER AND YOU ARE THE TAUGHT!" Not that "I teach", because howsoeverwhatsoever the teacher might be educated, might be possessing, the degrees of B.A., M.A., Ph.D, D.Litt-whatsoever knowledge he or she might be having; but what, how much knowledge of the TRUTH? Only a little or not? Here I remember a sentence of Gautam Buddha. I had read it on the wall of the Mutt of a Buddhist Monk. It was written in PALI Language. I requested the said Monk to translate it into English. He did it:"BE HUMBLE IF THOU WOULDST ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE. BE HUMBLE STILL AFTER YOU HAVE ACQUIRED IT!".
Man should become more humble after acquiring knowledge. We learn only a little and become egoistic, arrogant 'Lord'! If a peon salutes us, we take pride and become joyous that "see! If he saluted the Big Boss thrice, at least offered one salute to me?" We the teachers thus expect salutes and respects from the peons and the pupils, but in Japan the teacher bows to the student! Because he believes, "They are the rising suns". Love makes everyone humble. When the sons of Indira Gandhi were tiny, Jawaharlalji was becoming their horse and even dog. He was then not thinking that "I am the Prime Minister!"
The growth and development went on taking place due to the grace of God, efforts of Gurudev and Beauty of Nature: these three factors. In those days nobody was agreeing to and accepting the fact that " Art and Music have also their important place in Education". The Great Art Master Nandanlal Bose stayed in Shantiniketan, but during his first six months of residing, no one was ready and prepared to be his student at all! The reason was, after all these students were the sons of those parents, who had acquired British Education! After about seven months, a student came to Nanda Babu and went on telling, "O Nanda Babu! What are you doing with these Art creations? Why don't you teach me too!" Thus one student came, second came, third came and thereafter several students went on learning the Arts with deep interest and liking.
This education was the education without Text Books. After getting such a unique education, the students used to go over to Calcutta, appear for the Matriculation Examination and were securing Merits and passing in the First Class. And why not? The Hand was educated, Heart was educated and the Mind was already trained and educated!
The Second World War broke out. Gurudev was Abroad. Wherever he used to go, the people were asking him: "Is there any way out for the PEACE? If you have, kindly show it to us.
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