Humanities: A paradox of Applicability

In the blind race to compete for everything, we have forgotten who we are. We are heading towards a future of robotised humans and humanised robots. Does that indicate towards anything wrong we are doing? Do we not need to check our actions? Do we need to understand the very essence of human existence or let technological advances blind us? Should harmony not be established between character and knowledge?

In today’s era with the whole world available at one’s fingertips, learning and skill building have become easy and competitive. The sharp increase in the number of students taking up STEM subjects already indicates the shift of vision towards technology. But can technology be built without knowing what has already been made or are such technological advances socially acceptable? The learners of technology should be made aware of the fact that intended use of technology is good for humanity. This indicates that knowledge empowered with character, creative and critical thinking should be a motto. Learning humanities answers such questions and in turn develop technocrats with a humane aspect. As aptly said by Michelle Obama - “ The arts and humanities define who we are as people. That is their power- to remind us of what we each have to offer, and what we all have in common. To help us understand our history and imagine our future. To give us hope in the moments of struggle and to bring us together when nothing else will.”

Humanities is an umbrella term for subjects ranging from history, geography, sociology etc. Such is the topic’s vastness that it contains something for everyone. Every individual can draw some lesson from studying humanities. It teaches us the values of different cultures, ingredients of art making, unsolicited level of commitment shown by our ancestors in preserving history and culture while encouraging an individual to think critically and creatively. It also lets us explore the what ifs - what if the king has fought differently or what if there was never an epidemic or what if I can write a different future. It also makes us more tolerant of individuals by gaining deeper insight into their culture and traditions. An intensive study of humanity helps create global leaders. But why then the students are losing interest in humanities?

It is well-known that the students who have majored in STEM subjects are job ready, while the students of humanities end up with limited or no job prospects. What is alarming is that the funds for research in the fields of humanities has been cut significantly. But does the subject selection have to be the only guarantor of success? There are failures in every field. Not all STEM graduates are successful nor each graduate of humanities a failure. What one needs to understand is that every individual is unique. The world today needs global leaders with the brain of Einstein and the philosophy of Buddha.