Devotee:
Namaskar, Gurudev. First, I would like to welcome our friends. Friends, please subscribe to the YouTube channel guptasadhakshyamakhapa.com. The more you subscribe, the better we will be able to present high-quality videos of Gurudev to you.
Devotee:
Namaskar, Gurudev. We have Sujit Kumar Babu with us today. Today, I would like to discuss the increasing pressure of studies on children and the immense stress they are under.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, Sujit Babu is a Headmaster; he can explain the current situation of children much better. To be honest, children are being sent to school at the age of two. Just think—they are being deprived of their childhood and playtime. They aren't even getting their mother's milk properly. In the past, people would boast about being raised on their mother's milk; now, that's not even an option. At just two or two and a half years old, they are enrolled in school. Since both parents are often working, this trend is growing rapidly. It feels as if soon, they will be enrolled while still in the womb!
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
At school, there isn't much for them to do at that age except play around or occasionally get scolded by a teacher. People are doing this to their children so early, and the long-term harm is unimaginable. The level of pressure is so high that parents often have to carry the children's heavy bags, and as a result, many parents now suffer from spondylitis. When these children grow up, they will likely suffer from it too.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
In our childhood, we had simple books like Bornoporichoy and basic counting books. We studied until Class 4 without much pressure. Teachers would check our nails and our health every day. Now, parents don't teach children humility. The ancient saying, "Vidya dadati vinayam" (Knowledge brings humility), is forgotten because parents themselves aren't humble.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is no spiritual connection either. Children aren't taught to sit for a moment of prayer or wash up and offer respect to Goddess Saraswati. Instead, they are dragged to school like cattle. It's painful to see. Many children brought to me are ill-mannered and addicted to mobile phones—they won't even eat without one. This is a result of the parents' own mistakes. They send their kids to expensive "English Medium" schools because of social status and a "money game," while those without money send theirs to local schools.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We had great scholars like Shibnath Shastri and Salil Chowdhury who came from traditional schools. Weren't they great human beings? Today, even students in Class 7 or 8 are falling into bad habits like smoking and drinking, and their parents come to me crying.
Headmaster Sujit Kar:
I believe humans learn through struggling with nature. The essence of knowledge is knowing oneself. To do that, a child needs to interact with nature—fall, get hurt, and learn what is dangerous and what is not. While some knowledge comes from books, much of it should come from nature.
Headmaster Sujit Kar:
The problem today is that we bury children under books from the start. They are disconnected from nature, which is our ultimate mother. Now, children have allergies if they step in mud or water, and they can't handle the cold. This stunts their overall development. They are becoming like machines, seeing their parents and society as merely parts of a larger machine. In our day, we respected our teachers; today, children just offer a casual "Hi" or "Hello."
Headmaster Sujit Kar:
Furthermore, most families now have only one child, so they never learn to share. They aren't disciplined at home or at school. They grow up thinking, "I will get whatever I want, whenever I want." If they don't get it, they become frustrated or even violent. We are moving toward a directionless society composed of people without emotions or respect.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I see 50 to 100 people every morning. Many bring children under 12 who refuse to study or play. We have taken away their childhood, creating a deep-seated frustration. This is why we see an increase in old-age homes—children no longer feel love or respect for their parents; they think everything can be bought with money.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I must also give a warning. Some people are trying to mislead my followers by claiming they can solve problems in exchange for money. Let me be clear: this ashram does not take a single penny for any work. Everything here is free. If anyone pays money to outsiders without my knowledge, I am not responsible, and I will not associate with them. Spirituality here is not a business. If anyone has that mindset, they should not come here.