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Must we be exam warriors?

THE word warrior (Middle English, from old Northern French ‘werreier’, a variant of ‘guerreior’; make war from guerre; war) has been in use since 1800 CE .

Must we be exam warriors?


Ratna Raman 

THE word warrior (Middle English, from old Northern French ‘werreier’, a variant of ‘guerreior’; make war from guerre; war) has been in use since 1800 CE .

It refers to a brave fighter and epics from Ancient Greece and Ancient India speak of the prowess of strong men, defenders of their tribes, clans and territories. In contemporary times, warrior is synonymous with combatant, soldier and serviceman.

 Once, a warrior was a strong person, usually a man who fought on behalf of his group. Showcasing strength and brawn, warriors engaged in combat with the help of slingshots, bows and arrows, spears, shields, daggers and swords. Eventually, sophisticated weapons such as rifles, guns and cannon ball became part of the equipment. Foot soldiers and cavalry were replaced increasingly by sophisticated weapons.  While warriors required skill and training,   the kind of strength or physical aggression demanded in direct combats ceased to be a requirement.

The warrior continues to be part of narratives of aggression, control and struggle across histories worldwide. Popular toys, made of plastic, metal or wood depict warriors. The tin soldier in the fairytale, the plastic GI Joe in the stores and epic warriors made to order in wood, stone and ceramic form part of curio collections.

 The warrior is a popular figure in everyone’s imagination and the exaggerated swagger (strutting gait), of the ceremonial march conducted at the Wagah border every evening by Indian troops, draws huge crowds.

The word warrior has so far indicated physical prowess and strength, and aggression. Yoga simulates this quality through the warrior posture, which energises and strengthens core muscles. 

A recent help-book, titled Exam Warriors for India’s school- going students equates them with warriors. While examinations are important markers and set up a system of checks and balances, the metaphor in use is undesirable, since worldwide, students continue to be radicalised for proxy wars or drafted into fighting for their country. 

Do we really need to turn out exam warriors? Must our youth be at war with ideas and learning?   The education system is in dire straits and existing practice and policy needs to be overhauled on a war footing. 

Schools need better infrastructure and gifted teachers, who can inculcate learning and assist in growth, in place of the now chronic regurgitation of rote learning. Our young must discover a multifaceted world and learn of its rich histories and diversity and its plural sciences. They need to combat obscurantism and insularity to become responsible and broadminded citizens.  To build a nation, a nourishment of heart and minds is in order. 

 In peacetime, they must learn, read, dance, experiment, explore and create. Children need to be viewed as saplings that can grow into trees, and must be provided with talented teaching pools, better libraries and access to ideas. Guidebooks for taking examinations can never become   optimal aids. The state must enable educators and confer with educationists to address the deficit in education. Short-term political dividends will only accelerate the war on learning.

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