experience and self-realisation vs. 2nd hand gyaan

I've always been in favour of experiential education rather than the theoretical education done in schools which usually has little or no meaning for the students. But when talking to a friend recently I realised that this also applies to life in general and not just from the social construct that we call "education".

I often have the urge to speak out what I feel about something and the opinions I have on various issues. Usually this is because I feel that there are many flaws in the story the we are enacting as a society. But then there has been a process that I have gone through that has helped me form these opinions and I suppose this process is important and not just its end-results.

So I have realised that it is better to let people go through their own learning and experiencing processes and realise their truths themselves rather than trying to convince them to believe in my own world-view.

Cuddalore trip

Last few days have been pretty active. First the cuddalore trip on fri and sat, then the human rights workshop (@ IITM) on sunday, a talk by an ex-collector of cuddalore... happily exhausted i am.

The cuddalore trip expanded my reality sense. I had already known about the terrible pollution over there but its one thing to know and another to actually experience it yourself.
Also got to interact with the people who are living with that pollution everyday, who regularly see their children faint as poisonous gases are released from the industries. Listened to the story of fishermen whose livelihood is being affected due to fish dying because of toxic effluents.

Apart from the deadly poisons, cuddalore is and extremely beautiful place. We got to experience this beauty through a boat ride on the river Uppanaar. It is very sad to see such beauty being destroyed by greed and apathy.