Madhusudan Bairagi: Liberating a Child’s Mind

I extend my warm greetings, regards, and love to everyone present. I offer my respects to the elders. Today, I want to share some thoughts with you on the liberation of the child’s mind.

When a child is born, they are pure, innocent, free from violence, and simple. Their mind is free from all complexities. But as they grow, due to the surrounding environment and social pressures, their mindset begins to change. After coming into the world, the mother is the child’s first acquaintance, and it is under her care that they grow. The mother’s language becomes the first path to their education, and gradually, the child’s knowledge expands. The mother introduces the child to the father and connects them with the surrounding environment. The mother is the child’s first friend, first teacher, and guide. Therefore, a mother should make a vow, in the words of Sukanta Bhattacharya:

“To make this world a livable place for this child I take a firm vow before the newborn. After all tasks are done I shall bless the new child with my body’s blood, And then I shall become history.”

The child’s mind is pure and free. Protecting this free mind is our greatest challenge and most important responsibility. The education that society imparts to a child can often be harmful. For example, parents often dream of making their child a doctor or an engineer and invest heavily towards that goal. However, they fail to realize that this pressure can turn the child into a mere machine for earning money rather than a true humanitarian. Therefore, parents should be aware and ensure that the child learns to speak the truth and think in ways that benefit society from a young age.

By birth, people in our society are divided into various classes and castes, which impacts children’s minds and fosters enmity among them. There are many educated individuals who, according to conventional norms, belong to SC, ST, or OBC categories. If a child does not receive proper education, they will not learn to respect others based on their virtues but will instead despise them as belonging to a lower class. This mentality divides society, as we have recently witnessed in Bangladesh.

In India, people of many religions, languages, and ethnicities live together. In the words of Atulprasad Sen:

“Different languages, different opinions, different clothes, In diversity, see the great unity; Witness the rise of the great nation in India The world will stand amazed, The world will stand amazed!”

This timeless song’s core message continues to inspire pride in our nation’s past, present, and future.

In matters of religion, our society has Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, and other communities, and there is mutual hatred among them. However, in times of collective crisis, people come together, and their moral values are awakened. Then why can’t we remain united in times of happiness? A wise person is one who maintains the same mindset in both joy and sorrow.

When teaching children, we often adopt a harsh disciplinary approach, which instils    fear in them. This fear engulfs the child’s pure mind with feelings of complexity, which destroys their creativity and self-confidence. But if we, as guardians, become friends with the children, they will gain the courage to speak the truth and the confidence to act. In this way, they will grow up to be successful and confident individuals.

The liberation of the child’s mind is under serious threat today. The lack of appropriate time, playgrounds, suitable teachers, and caring people is weighing down the child’s mind. In today’s micro family structures, the child becomes everything for their parents. Caught between the demands of their parents, the child loses their own desires and creativity. They are confined to studies and various activities all day, leaving no time for play, physical exercise, or mental development. As a result, the child grows up to be a ruthless, stubborn, insecure, anti-social, and unpatriotic individual.

There is a shortage of playgrounds, parks, and a healthy environment for children. The scenes they witness in parks often create restlessness and instability in their minds. With the rise in unemployment in the country, criminal activities are also increasing, and many children are falling victim to this. Unknowingly, they are being drawn into the dark world.

Competition is another major issue. The word “competition” is dear to everyone, but it has a deep connection with time. There is a vast difference between making a child excel in competition through rote learning and making them an exemplary person through proper education. The former is short-term, while the latter is long-term.

Over time, parents are increasingly eager to enrol their children in English-medium schools, even if they themselves never attended school. This trend is seen not only in cities but also in rural areas. In bearing the cost of their child’s education, parents are becoming financially drained. When it comes time for the child’s higher education, they are unable to bear the expenses, and as a result, the child is deprived of higher education. My plea is not to send the child to an unrealistic dreamland but to introduce them to reality.

What a child needs most is the development of reasoning, writing skills, and the ability to learn different languages. Learning languages is essential because it enables the child to use meaningful words and make informed choices. Language plays a crucial role in shaping the child into an ideal person. Without practical knowledge about educational and financial planning, the chances of the child going astray are high.

The child must be instilled with the hope and belief that their parents have sacrificed for their education and that they will consider the matter beyond financial capability. Good people can be found to support good deeds. God does everything for the greater good. One must build oneself through the struggles of life. In the words of Michael Madhusudan Dutt, “The poor are the friends of the poor.” Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar always helped the helpless like a true friend. Michael Madhusudan Dutt also benefited from his support.

Children today are deprived of short stories and moral lessons. They do not learn the moral stories that have been passed down in our society for generations. These stories contain messages that inspire a child to do great things in the future.

Let us all pledge to create a healthy and beautiful world for our children. With this hope and dream, I conclude my speech, seeking your support.