“Aamir Khan’s ‘3 Idiots’ About Indian Education”- Prof.M.S.Rao

“The real process of education should be the process of learning to think through the application of real problems.” - John Dewey

I enjoyed watching the Aamir Khan’s film ‘3 Idiots’ which is really thought provoking and highlights about the present Indian education system. Aamir’s performance was amazing in the film. Aamir is very choosy about his roles and assignments. As expected he delivered his best and proved that he always strives for perfection. He cultivated his own brand over a period of time. He is always different with an exclusive brand image and audience.

The film criticizes the glaring anomalies in the Indian education system which needs to be reinvented. It highlights the challenges in our present education which emphasizes on rote learning and memory. The film is an eye opener for parents, teachers and educational institutions to know the real pulse of students and act accordingly.

There are several takeaways from this movie which, of course, have already been mentioned in this blog often. You may read my postings in this blog on education about the present fate of education system in India. I am sure you must also be aware of these challenges.

What makes the movie different is the way the life of students is presented to reach common man by adding all elements like comedy, tragedy, love, emotions, and feelings. The film is blend of education and entertainment. Precisely, it is edutainment. Let us look at few takeaways from this film.

• Pursue your passions. Don’t let your passions be diverted or dictated by others.
• Parents should understand and appreciate the areas in which their children are really interested and capable of excelling.
• Suicide is not the solution. Look for avenues to come out of the problem. Don’t brood too much about problems. Instead, look for solutions for every problem.
• Don’t quit but stay on to your passions however tough the path might be.
• Don’t excessively worry about employment. Look how much pleasure do you get while working? Once you know what gives you enjoyment while working, you don’t feel that you are working any more.
• Always contribute your best without looking for returns.
• Follow the simple and straight approach rather beating around the bush.
• Finally, whenever you are faced with problems console yourself by saying that ‘All is Well’.

The film provides hope for Indian students where they can pursue their dreams as per their passions. It is an outstanding and message oriented movie for everyone especially for parents, educators and institutions to empathize with students so that they can excel in their area of interest. It is good for them and society as a whole.

To conclude in the words of Aamir Khan, "The Indian education system should encourage the spirit of enquiry in a child. Rote learning and the grading system should be done away with. I believe that if you want to learn something you will find a way to learn it. Institutes should be flexible in the manner in which they teach students rather than follow a rigid curriculum."