The Hindu : dated July 17, 1953: Year's Inauguration at School of Social Work

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dated July 17, 1953: Year's Inauguration at School of Social Work

Mr. Sri Prakasa, Governor of Madras, inaugurated the working year of the Madras School of Social Work on the 15th, and called upon the students to study the social system that was in vogue in ancient India. Dr. M. V. Krishna Rao, Minister for Education, inaugurated the classes. The Governor and the Minister were received by Mrs. Mary Clubwala, and Mr. V. Bashyam Iyengar. Welcoming the Governor, Mr. Bashyam Iyengar said that the school which was started in 1952 was doing good work with co-operation from all. He hoped that the Governor and the Minister would help the School to get full recognition from Government. Mrs. Lakshmi Ammal, Honorary Director, said that from 1953 the School had decided to restrict admission to graduates only, to maintain high standards. Dr. Krishna Rao said that he was aware of the great service which the school was rendering. The less Government was associated with the School the better it would be for its efficient running. He assured the management that full recognition would be given by Government shortly. In a Welfare State every one had to be made aware of responsibility to serve society. The Minister hoped that the students would prove worthy of the training received at the school. The Governor said, "Social service has become a science which needed proper study. Instead of the School's seeking recognition from the Government, it should compel Government to come to it for help. Kasi Vidyapith has laid down clearly that no recognition from the Government should be sought. I emphasise this point to show that there should be as little interference as possible from Government in the running of educational institutions... Religion is a binding force among people. India's caste system has to be understood against that background. Varnashrama Dharma was the scheme of life in ancient India. The word Varna has been so abused now as to become anathema. But it is not a bad term. Varna sought to organise human life and society into definite categories so that the world's work might be carried on effectively. A person from his birth knew what he was to do in his life and the parents trained him accordingly. It was an attempt to eliminate the strife of wasteful competition. In the present educational system, only a small number obtain the jobs for which they are trained. Regarding the new educational policy of the Government, someone asked the Chief Minister whether he wanted to make a cobbler's son a cobbler and a washerman's a washerman. But nobody raised any objection when a lawyer wanted his son to be a lawyer or an engineer wanted his son to be an engineer. It is a sad tendency to regard some professions as honourable and others disreputable even when the latter are very important. Society will survive if we have no Governors, no Ministers, no lawyers or judges. But it will not, if there is no washerman or scavenger. We should realise that every profession is an honoured one, and there is no question of some being superior and others inferior."

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dated July 17, 1953: Year's Inauguration at School of Social Work

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