Would our schools act on this line?

We all are undergoing a very turbulent phase after the Pahalgam heinous episode, we would overcome the problem, but it calls for something else too. Shall we use the events to at least educate our students about the borders, Line Of Control, Line Of Actual Control, and the area that is with Pakistan and China? We usually shun discussing these topics with our children. Should they not have a clear concept about this reality? They need to know facts at least.

We can explain the life in the border area, their difficulties and their social life. On the Rajasthan border,the challenges are different from the punjab and Jammu and Kashmir border. Ladakh is strikingly and unconventional terrain and unlike the other borders Bangladesh border is a totally test. Some documentaries decribing the situation and life in these areas are available for us to explain our points.

How one can bake papad on the sands of the Longowal border ( Rajasthan ), is unimaginable. For miles together only desert can be seen, hardly even any green grass grows in the vicinity, and vegetation is out of question. The winter is harsh, worst is the summer. Very few human establishments are nearby, their life too is tough.

How some residents from the Punjab border have their farms on the other side and how they cross the international border to travel to their farms every day and return, we should know. How Amritsar railway station has an immigration office on the platform is a reality we are mostly not acquainted with. Lahore is just 23 km away, and people with passports travel by train to Bharat. How we can see the citizens from the neighbouring country across the Atari border, one can see and understand.

Even the Kashmir area has many villages and the other side of the river is the POK. People can see us, wave at us and of course shells too come from the other side any time. There is a constant fear of being shot at or bombarded. Many videos are available about these places. Maybe someone who visited the area can be invited as a guest speaker. How people always fear shelling from the other side, but cannot leave their land and home as it is the only source of livelihood needs to be understood.

The area bordering Bangladesh is surrounded by northeastern states. The borders are very difficult to close, sometimes there is just one brook flowing that marks the international border. People from both sides are not very different from each other, this makes identification even more tricky.

The borders along Arunachal Pradesh need special attention. The terrain, the local life, and the challenges of maintaining the security posts all should be explained.

For some development projects that are underway, students ought to know the challenges. They need to know why it is essential to have good infrastructure and the difficulties faced in building roads and tunnels due to the extremely unimaginable terrain. How our services work and overcome all and build the utilities anticipating the danger, should be taken note of. Which departments carry out such tasks, how can one join those services, all should be explained to the students.

When we say army, it is not only the contingent manning the security posts alone. It has many departments to support, technical as well as all the other aspects are covered. Those interested and have such skills can think of them as a career too.

How a career in these areas offers unique experiences which might attract students with slightly different abilities or interests.

Our students should at least know about the kind of opportunities our armed forces offer. Schoolchildren need to be made aware of all such things. They should be made aware of the career in administrative services too at this age. What are the options available, what is the minimum qualification, and how can one prepare for them, all the information can be given to them. The kind of role one has to play when one becomes a part of such a system should be known to them. How it helps a society or a nation run smoothly ought to be explained.

Of course, we need to focus on entrepreneurship and similar opportunities too, but in the present scenario, we can begin with an explanation of the role of these services.

The best talent of our society is to be invested in this field also. Our country needs upright, honest, hardworking and brave hearts to support the dream of our nation.

We need to describe the trade that is carried out with the neighbouring countries. At the same time, we need to give our children the details of their careers in the armed forces and other services with uniforms. They need to know how can a person help society by joining such services, and the challenges that need young minds to take on. There should be ample interactive sessions with people working at the various levels. Let the children ask the questions and find the answers from those who face them. Silently they would make their career choice. It would be an informed selection, not just a fantasy.

The system of career guidance needs to be a part of the education system right from the schools. At every stage, theoretical knowledge is definitely imparted, but the students must be given an opportunity to understand and choose what is their calling. The education system deals with young and vibrant minds, if we treat them as objects, we fail ourselves and our society.