Distinguished himself both as the philosophical visionary and revolutionary, Jiddu Krishna Murty (1895-1986), a world renowned thinker, deals with the most crucial and sensitive issues of physical, material and spiritual life in his philosophical works. Philosophy, as it is generally defined, is based on precepts and so does Jiddu Krishna Murty’s works abound in innumerable precepts. As a visionary, he philosophizes the mysteries of life, sees life in minute observations,, puts them to the test of truth, and accepts something that withstands the test. A traveler in pursuit of truth, he remains peculiar in his outlook, withdrawing readers on his line of thinking. He rightly remarked that knowing the unknown is finding the mysteries of truth. The known pre-exists much before the unknown exits. He thought over the unknown, put them to test, and brought out the secrets hidden in them. His way of clearing doubts is typically Socratic – he differs from others, poses questions to the one who poses him, and later responds to them.
On the Concept of Education: Education, as we all know, is a means of gaining knowledge from multiple sources i.e. from books, from teachers, and from the world of politics, science and technology and society. It is but gathering information. This, he said, is not an end in itself. True education, according to JK, lies in acquiring knowledge about life. ‘Life’ is a continuous study of gaining experiences to the finish. Further, he has to know that which he is not concerned with something. He has something to learn from miseries, and comforts, troubles, difficulties, and sufferings of others. He writes that” He who knows his own self knows everything in life”.
Man yearns after degrees and jobs, His efforts to earn money, to lead a luxurious life and to gain wealth, to go for marriage and to beget children are generally much sought-after. Some of these are to be inevitably obtained. These material benefits, observes, JK, do not stand for life in the true sense of life. A lay man can acquire them without education. All these don’t mean life in the true sense of philosophy as enunciated by Jiddu Krishna Murty. True education should equip him with the capacity to think fearlessly. Fearless thinking helps us regain peace of mind and it paves the way for overcoming the challenges in life. It further acts as a facilitator enabling man to think beyond the horizons of knowledge.
Education should enable one to acquire the spirit of questioning. He loses independence if he works under the influence of religious, societal and governmental restrictions. This spirit of questioning and challenge are acquired education. Blind acceptance of everything is not to be taken real education. Real education is something that should impart total freedom to man and exercise greater influenced over his thoughts and actions.
On the concept of Books : Books, according to Jiddu Krishna Murty, do not benefit man much. He observes that no books needs to be read at all. He exhorts men to look at the pessimistic side of world. Books should provide readers with a complete and critical analysis of life. They should mirror life in its complexities and luxuries. At the same time, he asks his readers to avoid reading books that are authoritative, reflective and imposing. Human life itself is a book scattered around the four corners of world. A book that sincerely deals with life should be studied. It should relieve men in suffering, miseries, superstitions and hardships. He felt that man finds his books of life in varied experiences. His “ Book of Life” remains a storehouse of knowledge. This book is not be taken in the sense of a book purchased and sold out. This book should be designed to fulfill the obligations of life. There is no greater book than the book of life.
Jiddu Krishna Murty’s works convey eternal truth of life. The tone is typically philosophical. His views on education and books are full of remarkable insights. Books, no doubt, impose on readers a theoretical approach to life. But he advocated a philosophy of education and books rooted in the practical realities of life. Their message should go into the hearts of readers and stimulate them with thoughts beyond their mental capacity to define, analyze and interpret life in the true spirit. Further he wants men not be confined to mere bookish knowledge and end up with a materialistic outlook and instead persuades them to get at the truths of life and find out the inner realities. His views on education and books are radically philosophical and introspective.
The is an author and editor of 43 well -deserved books in English Literature.
