That is not education

"That we usually call education is making man stupid." - Laxmi Prasad Devkota

Shreepanchami or Basantapanchami marks the arrival of spring season and bids goodbye to freezing winter. It is also a day to worship the goddess of learning, Saraswati. Traditionally, this day is seen as the perfect time for "Akshararambha," a ceremony where children write their first letter, symbolizing the start of their educational journey. Parents proudly take their young ones to the nearest Saraswati temple to perform this sacred ritual.

In recent years, however, a troubling trend has emerged. Many people now seem more interested in scribbling their names or messages on the walls of temples, rather than respecting the sacredness of the place. Without considering the location or the meaning behind the day, they leave marks on the very walls meant to honor the goddess of learning.

This behavior reveals an unfortunate misunderstanding of what education and wisdom truly represent. While the day is meant to celebrate knowledge and the beauty of learning, this careless defacement shows the opposite. It reflects the ugly side of our so-called "education"—a lack of respect for culture, heritage, and the very values that Saraswati stands for.