"From Education to Culture: Bridging the Gap"

I recently attended a conference and heard a retired Supreme Court judge mention in his speech that the number of criminal, cybercrime, and domestic violence cases has increased, and the majority of them are committed by educated people. Yes, educated people, but not cultured people. We are not promoting culture within our organizations and that is more paramount. That statement hit me hard. I checked the statistics with the article from Business Standard. The significant escalation in reported cases is evident from 2019 to 2024, with 26,049 complaints recorded in 2019, 257,777 in 2020, 452,414 in 2021, 966,790 in 2022, 1,556,218 in 2023, and 740,957 in the first four months of 2024 alone. 

That very evening, I was catching a flight back home. While boarding, the staff announced the zones for people to queue up. My zone was announced first, and while we were in line, the staff announced that the next zone could join the boarding line. To my dismay, well-dressed people just jumped the line and pushed towards the gate. I simply could not fathom the behavior as it was obvious they could see that we were already in line. I did try to talk to them but the effort could have been more successful. Moreover, didn't they realize that the flight wouldn't leave without taking every passenger?

The judge's line resonated even more: "Most people are educated but not cultured." As an educator, I meet people around the clock. My work deals with human emotions. Over the years, I have observed a shift. Most people want an instant response when they send an email or want a document stamped. They send messages at odd hours and expect immediate action. They are also quick to believe everything they hear without even once confirming it with the other side.

Recently, a parent couple came barging into the office asking for me. I was busy watching the annual day practice, so my office staff asked them to wait. They immediately started screaming and ranting that it was meeting time, so I should be available. The next thing they asked for was the class teacher, who was busy in class. While they were waiting, they caught the teacher moving from one class to another and spoke agitatedly. In the meantime, I walked back into my cabin and asked for the parents who were creating a ruckus. The parents entered very aggressively and introduced themselves as people in very high positions and so on. Their concern was that their child was unhappy because they believed a few students were bullying him and the other students should be given some value education classes. We called for the teacher.  

Now hear her version: the child has many friends. The previous week, the child had a fight with a friend and thus did not want to come to school. The child has now made up with the friend and is smiling. So, the child simply gave an excuse. After this interaction, I made sure that the parents realized their actions and what kind of role models they were becoming for their children. They came angry but left laughing at their outburst. The concern here is having only one child and pampering them so much that now it has become difficult for us to watch them cry.

Our students left for educational excursions this week, and Std. III students left for Pune by bus. On the main road, the bus honked at a scooter many times to move from right to left as it wanted to pick up speed. The lady on the scooter got so angry that she came in front of the bus and refused to move until the driver came down and she could slap him. The teachers folded their hands and requested the lady to let the bus move as there were 40 children around age 8. She refused to understand, and finally, after two hours, the police had to be called in, and then the bus got permission to move. Seriously, I have yet to comprehend this conduct. What did she gain from this entire incident? An apology was already rendered; why was there a need to get physical? Once again, educated but not cultured.

Shouting and screaming give you no results; in fact, they take away from your cultured behavior. Additionally, you have already fallen low in front of the people you are addressing. Message to note, 'Your power does not come from your position but from your humility'.

                              

On the other hand, I have seen ordinary people command respect simply through their presence because they foster a culture of peace and love. They inspire others to view life with meaning and treat one another with kindness and respect. My sincere request to all institutions and organizations is to prioritize a culture of respect over money and status. Invest in building this culture and bridge the gap, as the memories of how you make others feel will endure far longer than your physical presence.

References: 

1. Singh, R. (2024, May 27). Here is how much Indians lost to cyber frauds between Jan and Apr of 2024. Business Standard. Retrieved from https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/here-is-how-much-indians-lost-to-cyber-frauds-between-jan-and-apr-of-2024-124052700151_1.html