VILLAGE ECONOMY > CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRAMME > Adult Education
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Adult Education |
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This has been woefully neglected by Congressmen.
Where they have not neglected it, they have been satisfied with teaching
illiterates to read and write. If I had charge of adult education, I should
begin with opening the minds of the adult pupils to the greatness and vastness
of their country. The villager's India is contained in his village. If he goes
to another village, he talks of his own village as his home. Hindustan is for
him a geographical term. We have no notion of the ignorance prevailing in the
villages. The villagers know nothing of foreign rule and its evils. What little
knowledge they have picked up fills them with the awe the foreigner inspires.
The result is the dread and hatred of the foreigner and his rule. They do not
know how to get rid of it. They do not know that the foreigner's presence is due
to their own weaknesses and their ignorance of the power they possess to rid
themselves of the foreign rule. My adult education means, therefore, first, true
political education of the adult by word of mouth, Seeing that this will be
mapped out, it can be given without fear. I imagine that it is too late in the
day for authority to interfere with this type of education; but if there is
interference, there must be a fight for this elementary right without which
there can be no Swaraj. Of course, in all I have written, openness has been
assumed, Non-violence abhors fear and, therefore, secrecy. Side by side with the
education by the mouth will be the literary education. This is itself a
speciality. Many methods are being tried in order to shorten the
period of education, A temporary or permanent board of experts may be
appointed by the Working Committee to give shape to the idea here adumbrated and
guide the workers. I admit that what I have said in this paragraph only points
the way but does not tell the average Congressman how to go about it. Nor is
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