People's Edit
Youth: A Time to be Educated
Opinion | People's Edit | Capt. Eddie Viegas | 16-Nov-2025
“‘Tis Education that forms the common mind: Just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined.” (Alexander Pope)
Indeed, if you ask any of the youngsters in schools or colleges, “What is education?” You will get a plethora of replies, ranging from getting a degree to amassing knowledge, qualifying for a job, and so on.
IIn many circles today, education is often confused with literacy. But is it so? Humanity is replete with cases of men and women who, though they may not have had a degree or any literary qualification, were not only wise and knowledgeable but also well educated.
What then is this faculty called education?
Well, many of you who have read the basics of Physics, will know about the fire triangle. Basically, Fire needs three elements. Oxygen, Heat and Matter. Remove one of these, and the fire is extinguished.
In the same way, education comprises the development of the three faculties of our personalities. Physical, mental and spiritual.
A good diet, a healthy routine and regular exercise take care of our Physical development. Reading, writing and accumulating knowledge not only keeps us well informed but also promote our mental development. But without a spiritual development (Read Religion or Morals) our Education is incomplete.
Most of the common ills that we see today in our daily lives are because we have too many people and even – “Desh Premies & Netas” who think that they are educated but are totally hollow on the spiritual side.
Cheating, procrastination, corruption, and the spread of HATRED are all results of the lack of the most important element of our education triangle – Spiritual development and morality.
If we are seeing broken roads, dry taps, poor power supply, inefficient performances at work, harassment of the common man at the hands of the authorities, broken promises at various levels, crime in various forms, degradation of the environment, violence, disrespect to elders, corruption, and above all communal divide, it is all because we lack morality. Our education is incomplete. Overall, such ignorance has a disastrous effect on us as a nation. The Church provides us with a wonderful opportunity to develop our spiritual personalities. Let us use it to the fullest.
The youth today are the future of tomorrow. If the young are determined and work towards a complete form of education, not only will they prosper as individuals but also take our nation to its rightful place in the world.
(The author is a ship and Marine surveyor. He represents numerous National & International organizations in the world of shipping as a technical consultant.)
Leave a comment
