The Courage to Live Beyond the Self: A Simple Story on Rethinking Education

The sweet smell of sandalwood filled the air as I stood in front of the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. It was June 2025, and the summer heat couldn’t dim the devotion around me. The temple bells rang softly, and the crowd hummed with prayers. I saw a young man, maybe in his early twenties, bowing deeply before the idol of Krishna, his face tense with hope. He was probably praying for a job or good marks. I wondered: Would Krishna grant his wish for personal success? It made me think—are we teaching our kids to be brave like our heroes, or are we teaching them to be scared and selfish?

The stories of Lord Rama, Krishna, Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, and Subhas Chandra Bose aren’t just tales—they’re lessons in courage. These great souls didn’t run from challenges or chase personal comfort. Rama faced exile without complaint. Krishna guided Arjuna to fight for what’s right, not for fame. Gandhi gave up everything for India’s freedom. Bhagat Singh and Bose risked their lives for the country. None of them cared about their own sukh—their own happiness or wealth. So why do we, who admire them, keep running after small, selfish goals, afraid to stand up for something bigger?

Today, education in India is mostly about getting good marks, landing a job, and living a “safe” life. We push our kids to study hard, compete, and aim for a big salary. But are we teaching them to be strong like Rama, wise like Krishna, or selfless like Gandhi? Or are we making them afraid—afraid to fail, afraid to speak up, afraid to dream big? I’ve seen this fear in students, and it worries me.

A few weeks ago, a young girl named Priya came to me looking for a part-time job while preparing for the UPSC exam. She was smart, full of energy, and determined. “Sir, I want to clear UPSC and make my family proud,” she said, her voice full of fire. I smiled and asked, “Priya, when you become an officer, will you work for justice? For your people? For something bigger than yourself?” She went quiet, then said, “I… I haven’t thought about that.” That moment hit me hard. Our schools teach kids like Priya how to pass exams, but do they teach them what to do with that success?

I recently came across some words that made me think deeply. They asked: Why do we pray to Rama or Krishna for jobs and money when they never lived for such things? Why do we go to temples asking for personal gains when their lives were about sacrifice? The words called out the Hindu community, saying we’ve become the “most fearfulzty, caught up in emotions and limitations. They said our temples and saints are teaching us to be scared, to beg for things instead of fighting for our rights. Those words felt like a wake-up call.

At my own Smarto Experiential School in Haryana, I’ve seen what happens when we teach differently. Founded in 2022, our school focuses on learning by doing, not just memorizing. I remember a student,.on, who struggled with math but loved building things. Instead of forcing him to mug up formulas, we let him design a small model bridge. His eyes lit up when he saw it work. That’s what education should do—spark joy and purpose, not fear. I pray every day, not for a bigger house or more money, but for the strength to keep teaching kids to think beyond themselves, to build a better world.

But most schools aren’t like this. They trap kids in a race for marks and jobs, making them scared of failing. Parents, too, get stuck in this trap, pushing their kids toward “safe” careers instead of meaningful ones. The words I read said it clearly: Fear is in our blood. We don’t speak up for what’s right. Instead, we go to temples, hoping Krishna or Rama will fix our problems. But Krishna’s advice to Arjuna wasn’t about praying for success—it was about working hard for the greater good, without expecting rewards.

Krishna’s words in the Gita ring true: “Do your work, but don’t chase the results.” Yet, how many of us follow this? We pray for a job, forgetting that if we get it, someone else might lose it. Are we asking Krishna to pick sides? Temples like Banke Bihari aren’t there to grant wishes like a magic lamp. They’re there to remind us of gyaan—knowledge about living a life of purpose. The steady idol of Krishna at Vrindavan teaches us to stand firm, like the unshakable rock at Kedarnath, and do our duty with courage.

Digging Deeper: What Education Should Be

So, what should we teach our kids? Education should build courage, not fear. It should teach students to question, to think for themselves, to work for others. Kids should learn from Rama’s strength, Krishna’s wisdom, and Gandhi’s sacrifice—not to copy them, but to live with their spirit. Parents need to stop asking, “Will my child get a job?” and start asking, “Will my child make a difference?” Schools and temples should be places where fear is left behind, where kids learn that true success is about helping the world, not just helping themselves.

A 2023 NCERT study showed that over 60% of Indian students feel stressed by school pressure, but only 15% feel ready to face real-world challenges like making fair choices or helping society. This gap is a warning. We’re raising students who know facts but not purpose, who have skills but not courage. The words I read demand a change—an education that mirrors our heroes, teaching kids to act selflessly and live boldly. As I walked out of the Banke Bihari Temple that day, I felt a fire inside me: to push for an education that creates not just job-seekers but changemakers—people who fight for justice, progress, and the greater good.