Tag: education

Education: Show them by excelling in your studies, not money or power

The author writes how education, not money or power, is the only way to overcome oppression by the privileged castes.

Education is the only way.

Story Time

When I was in class 5 or 6, a classmate called me abusive names along with my race’s name “adivasi”. 

When I was in class 11, my class teacher said to our entire class that SC/ST people are taking away their seats.

When I was in college I was asked “what are you?” because I liked a girl from another religion.

Who Am I?

Well let me tell you what I am. 

I’m an Adivasi. I’m from the great community Santhal, who started the Santhal Rebellion(Santhal Hul) of 1855 against the British East India Company. I’m from the religion of Saridharam(which means “truth religion” in English).

And we owe our existence to great people like Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

The funny thing is whenever I asked my mother why they called me “adivasi”, my mother proudly said “So what they called you “Adivasi”, tell them yes “I’m an Adivasi” proudly.”

She said there is no shame in being an Adivasi.

And she would quote Swami Vivekananda about how “the wheel of dharma is moving”.

And my mother even taught me that we can’t compete with the general caste people based on power or money. We can only compete and defeat them with education.

And I also believe that statement.

Even now no matter if I become a millionaire, I’m still an adivasi.

Even now if I become the prime minister or president of India, I’ll still be an adivasi.

My elder sister inspires me because she is proud of her identity.

I’m also proud of my identity but I need to work on it.

Babasaheb and Education

When Babasaheb was born and when he went for higher studies, there was no reservation for SC/ST candidates. He achieved excellence in education through sheer effort in spite of all the caste discrimination he faced in his life.

I have reservation because of Babasaheb. I owe it to his great soul to work hard and study and make something of myself through education.

So I would like to reply to my classmate who abused me when I was in class 5 or 6.

I would like to say to him,”This shows you have no manners. I am an Adivasi. And I am proud of that. I am from that Santhal community who sacrificed so much in 1855 in the Santhal Rebellion for this country India. And if you think you can make me feel inferior by using abusive words about my community, you’re wrong. I am proud of my community, my caste, my religion, my race and my humanity.”

Thank you for reading this line! It means a lot.

Expressing My Gratitude To God(part 1)

The author writes a short gratitude letter to God for being there with him ALWAYS.

Dear God,
I refer to you with many names through many religions. I remember you through my heart. And I want to express my gratitude through this letter.

I’m reading the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, etc. and I am in love with you. I want to thank you for everything that you’ve given me in this life.

And I don’t know if there is rebirth or not, I just know that this present moment is all I got. There’s no past, no future, only this moment.

Thank you for this moment, for being with me for the times I can and can’t remember. 

Thank you for giving me loving parents, good siblings, good friends, good education, good health, an intelligent brain.

I don’t know if good things will continue coming to me in the future but I know you’ll always be with me.

I want to thank you for my seeming weaknesses because they taught me to go to you for strength.

Thank you for my natural strengths because they taught me to believe in myself. 

God, you are great. This creation of yours is amazing. Earth is amazing.

All the good things, good people, nature, etc. are beautiful.

Thank you for creating the ugliness in the world because they teach me to remember you for hope.

I want to express my gratitude to you for being there with me ALWAYS.

And thank you reader for reading this line. It means a lot.

Yours loving,
Anirban

Reading the Bhagavad Gita: Changing My Life

The author reads the Bhagavad Gita daily and admits that it’s changing his life. Despite not being a Hindu, he follows the Gita for wisdom.

I’ve been reading the Bhagavad Gita lately and I think it is an amazing book that suits my temperament.

The Bhagavad Gita: Waking Up Early

And I think it is slowly changing my life.

I’m waking up early and following a routine.

I think it is important to follow a spiritual practice daily. 

Be it reading spiritual texts or meditating or lighting incense sticks or something else.

But it’s necessary for the peace of mind of the individual.

My Mother’s Example

My mother has taught me to bow down to God.

She has a Masters of Science degree and she still prays to God every day.


And I think just because you’re educated formally doesn’t mean you stop praying and become an atheist.

It means you become a more serious practitioner of spirituality.

If there’s anything that education should do to you is to open your eyes to what you don’t know.

And that humility, if your education’s good, should make you a more spiritual person.

The Caste System

Mornings are for waking up. And I read the Bhagavad Gita which gives me immense joy.

Of course there are parts about the caste system.

But I just ignore it.

Because of course it’s such an old text and there will be misinterpretations which lead to parts like the caste system.

I’m Not A Hindu

I’m not a Hindu. I’m an Adivasi. I’m born in a religion called Sari dharam which means “Truth religion” in Santhali. Sari means “Truth”.

But I love reading Bhagavad Gita. 

I choose to read the Bhagavad Gita because it has a lot of wisdom. 

Not because I don’t like my religion. 

Conclusion

Today I woke up and I thought,”Mornings are for waking up. Just wake up and start typing.”

And so I did. 

And I think the Bhagavad Gita has a great part to play in this.

Thank you for reading this line! It means a lot.