Perfection is always achieved only tomorrow

Interview/ Prof John Varghese, principal, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi

88-Prof-John-Varghese Prof John Varghese | Arvind Jain

Q/What makes St. Stephen’s stay right up on the top? Apart from its history and illustrious alumni, what makes the college so sought after?

A/I am going to share some secrets. The first one is hard work, which is perhaps the singular most important feature which distinguishes us. The students we select are among the best in the country, they have worked hard to reach here. We have stiff competition in college, but it is not a selfish competition, it is a healthy one.

The second secret is a willingness to share. We encourage everyone to share what they have—lecture notes, meals, talents and abilities. We have several platforms for our children to share their abilities, we also tell them to excel in whatever they are doing, whether holding a blood donation drive or a musical performance.

Anyone at the top knows that you cannot stay there forever, unless you work at it day after day. I am sure the other colleges also put in their best. But we are not competing with others, the competition is from within. Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna once said that the limitations were his own. It is not a limit someone else puts on me, he said. Here, we are also constantly aware that our limitations are within us and we constantly push those limits.

Q/This has been an eventful year for education. Let us start with the National Education Policy 2020. Your opinion, please.

A/The NEP 2020 is a culmination of years of aspiration. Having been in the teaching field for over two decades, I know the many occasions when we felt a serious lapse in the policy. This document is an aspirational one, it tries to look at many of the deficiencies we have experienced. As a document, it promises to be a cure. As teachers, however, we know that our aspirations are not exactly what happens. While a good document, its success lies in how well the good intentions are carried out.

One of the many nice things in India is its cultural plurality. It must be retained. The needs of those on the fringes of education should be addressed. Then, NEP 2020 will be a real success. Implementation, and taking [along] all sections of our country, is the key.

Q/There are already protests about the three-language formula.

A/I was born in Tamil Nadu and when I was in school, there were protests against Hindi. So, I passed out of school without learning Hindi. Today, I am in Delhi and by default, have to use Hindi in several instances. I really regret that I have not had a formal education in Hindi. I know the limitations and feel that as a child, had I learnt Hindi, I would probably have done better. Having said that, I am against the kind of imposition which seems to be there. A three-language formula is not a bad one. Children are very capable of absorbing many new things. The option should be given to the child to determine what these three languages are going to be. If there is a freedom of choice, and if the government makes it possible for it to be comfortable for every child to learn in the language they choose, we will be at a level where no one else in the world can catch up with us.

Q/How has the pandemic impacted education?

A/It has affected us in many ways. This campus is extremely beautiful, but our children are missing. What is the purpose of a campus without children? It is an important part of their growth to interact with each other, have activities where physical contact is important. The pandemic is terrible, it has distanced us.

It, however, has also come as an opportunity for teachers to look at another set of methodologies—online. A teacher cannot afford to be stagnant, and the pandemic has forced them to learn things they probably never learnt before.

The pandemic came with challenges and blessings. When the lockdown was proclaimed, I put up a letter on the college website telling everyone that this was a time for us to look within ourselves, to see what is truly important to us and what we can do away with. The pandemic provided us with a wonderful opportunity to introspect.

Q/Which is that one lesson which will stay long after the pandemic is over?

A/The pandemic has made each of us understand that we are so small, a microcosm, in this huge universe, and there is something even smaller than us, which can rewrite our life. This Covid-19 virus is such a small thing, but it has got the whole world on its knees. One of the greatest lessons a teacher can bring to the classroom is a sense of humility. That there is no reason for us to gloat and strut around feeling powerful. We are not. We are always in the process of becoming better. Perfection is always achieved only tomorrow.

Q/St. Stephen’s was planning to apply for a deemed university status.

A/We would have loved to have become a university but I don’t think we are ready for that, yet. We are, however, ready for autonomy, and we hope NEP 2020 will be able to grant autonomy to the most deserving institution in the country.

Q/How do you see the youth having changed over the decades.

A/They are smarter, more technically savvy and, what hits me in the face is that they are so focused. At their age, I don’t think I had this much clarity on what I wanted to do with my life. The world has evolved and has offered them more opportunities. I think with all the cumulative experiences passed on to them through families, friends and teachers, they have become a better set of young people. While there is so much to be worried about in the world—political disturbances, natural calamities, environmental hazards—I am confident that this set of young men and women will pave the way for a brighter world.