Teaching patriotism to children is not about coaching them to be soldiers and sending them off to war. It is not about singing our national anthem daily or celebrating a particular day. Patriotism is about respecting the nation, the people living within its boundaries, and every aspect that builds our country. The feeling cannot be a compulsion. It must be a choice and the option should be available to young minds. And what better place to teach patriotism than schools, the very place where students go to learn.
But is it as necessary as history or science?
Let’s answer this with an example. During the Kargil War of 1999, around 200,000 Indian soldiers marched to our northern borders to reclaim the captured territories by enemy forces. They fought for 60 days and 60 nights. Lived in hostile conditions. And over 500 of those brave soldiers gave up their lives. Till day, we celebrate Shaurya Diwas in every part of our country to pay respect to their valor and remember their sacrifice. What motivation did those men have? What prompted them to selflessly walk into the battlefield and fight for their country? Were science and history responsible?
It was their desire to protect their motherland. To protect their fellow Indians, to rescue their soil. Patriotism brings in a sense of mutual respect and we start teaching this land as our home. We do not allow intruders in our house, nor do we let anything happen to it. Teaching patriotism to students will inculcate the same feelings among them and they will start treating every Indian as family. Along with academic subjects, residential schools in Sonipat are conducting sessions dedicated to building patriotism and it is way more than about just singing our anthem.
How will it benefit students?
Through patriotism, if a child develops the feeling of mutual respect, he/she will take steps to protect another fellow Indian. It may happen by joining the army or it can simply be helping a person in need. The rate at which government property is destroyed will reduce, crime rates are bound to decrease and the sense of fraternity, which our constitution promotes will keep on rising. What we learn as a child remains with us and if we choose patriotism right from the start, we will do our bit to give back to our nation.
For instance, the best school in Sonipat will have programs to carry out community services. Students with patriotic feelings will willingly join such campaigns to help the underprivileged. The need to uplift the country as a whole will serve as motivation and the lessons they learn will shape their careers. Their life’s choices will not depend on their selfish needs and they will stay humble in their success. Even the sense of protecting their nation as a home will bring forth the sense of rationality and they will remain unmoved by false claims. They will logically choose the government, positively criticize the leaders and responsibly execute their democratic rights for uplifting the country.
What steps can schools take to instill patriotism?
A regular session of singing the national anthem can help to really let the words sink in and even the institution can have our flag flying from a place of maximum visibility. Experiencing these two daily will remind the students of the country they reside in but the teaching should not stop at that. The top CBSE school in Sonipat have identified the best ways to expose students to the feeling of patriotism and not forcing it upon them and some of the techniques include:
- Celebrating the lesser known days along with the national holidays. Schools can take time out from regular activities to pay respects during the Shaurya Diwas or pay homage to the brave hearts who defended the nation during the Mumbai and Parliament attacks and so on.
- Modifying the way the lessons are taught. The class of Indian history can include videos of freedom fighters along with the textbooks. Even the institute can arrange video sessions for the students and show them documentaries of the Kargil War to give them the actual feel.
- Or, schools can invite retired army personnel to have a talk session with their students. This way, the students will get to hear first hand accounts of the extent of the army’s patriotism and draw inspiration from it. It is easier to relate to another person and these lessons tend to have a long-lasting impact.
Teaching Patriotism is a necessity
Not for the sake of the country, but for the student’s personal development as well. Swarnprastha is one such unique institute which gives importance to develop respect for the country among its students. It makes full use of every opportunity to instill patriotic values along with the regular lessons. The right teaching today can safeguard the country tomorrow and that is what it is all about.
