Missing Lessons in Our Classrooms

Without compassion, connection, and moral grounding, even educated individuals become vulnerable to extremist narratives. India must rebuild an education system that shapes hearts as much as minds

- OP SINGH

In schools, students are not taught how to handle anger, how to understand others' pain or how to bridge differences

In public debates on education, we often speak with pride about high-scoring students, competitive examination toppers, and the technical brilliance of India’s young professionals. We celebrate intellect, analytical power, and career success. But in this celebration, we tend to overlook something far more fundamental: education of the heart. True education is not merely about sharpening the brain; it is about nurturing compassion, empathy, emotional understanding, and a sense of connection with society. Without these softer, deeper values, even the brightest minds can become vulnerable to dangerous ideologies. The recent terror blast in Delhi, in which several well-

educated medical professionals were arrested, is a disturbing reminder of this gap.

For decades, policymakers have believed that education acts as a shield against radicalisation. The assumption has been simple: a person equipped with knowledge, logic, and professional prospects is less likely to be misled. However, the Delhi blast case has exposed the cracks in this belief. Investigations revealed that the terror cell behind the attack was not made up solely of underprivileged or disaffected youth. Instead, it included doctors and other white-collar professionals—people who had undergone rigorous academic training, who had years of medical education behind them, and who were entrusted with saving lives. Yet, they became instruments of death.