Patriotism in the Curriculum

Cross posted on educatorslog.in

I was just wondering how much of our curriculum is devoted to patriotism? How many children know about the heroes of war? How many do a follow up to see what the families are going through? Those who have fought and died while fighting, do we know about them? Do schools tell stories of their valour? To tell stories could kindle a feeling of inquisitiveness, to know more about those people who have actually left their homes, and loved ones to be at the border fighting and dying for us. If nothing, we would respect and love our country a little more and be proud citizens.

The youth today is so obsessed by their own selves that they , I feel, need to understand those youth who have given up their all for their country. I was happy to learn that my daughter is studying about 'History of Indian Independence' in her undergrad. course of B.Tech.But what about the heroes? Does the history syllabus in schools cater to this at all? I for one would like to know of schools who are taking note of this and have some portion of their syllabus dedicated to patriotism. There is so much of time and money spent by the media to cover the film world, what about sparing some more time to India and its people who are there at the front braving it all for us?

Why should we crib when children rush out of their country at the smallest given opportunity? Here is a poem, not written by an Indian, which I thought I would share it with you all:

Larry Vaincourt has been writing for many years and has been published across Canada and the United States; this poem was first published in 1987 in his newspaper column. There are several versions of this poem circulating the web containing errors; but what you see below is the original text. JUST A COMMON SOLDIER
(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.


And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.


He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.


Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?


A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.


It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.


Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?


He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.


If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

Brigadier PT Gangadharan
Kozhikode(Calicut)-673016
Tel-0495 2356863/9447766863
Also a few links you could go to: