It’s ironic how we spend most of our lives learning, assimilating and broadening our horizons with acquisition of knowledge and yet when we are asked to define the essence of education many of us get perplexed. Maybe because the dimensions that measure it are infinite. Man's quest for learning and acquiring knowledge for centuries has not been satiated. Education, from my perception, quoting Swami Vivekananda, is 'the manifestation of perfection already in a man'.
 
Proper education equips us with the ability to lead a dignified life and cope with adversity with enormous fortitude. It enables us to make choices for the larger good of humanity. It also elevates our moral fiber. It enhances our communication skills and strengthens our bonds with society at large. It also promotes our intellectual curiosity and analytical ability. Education nurtures our cultural, spiritual and moral values - it also trains us to be sensitive human beings responding rationally to many challenges in life. It also develops our potential to distinguish between the good and the evil, between the right and the wrong besides promoting our discretion to always choose the right options to make us winners in life.
 
Plato was a great Greek scholar of the 4th century BC. He was named ‘Plato’ referring to his broad forehead, hence vast knowledge. From his philosophy sprang two schools of thought which today are know as “Plato’s School” and the dialectic ‘school’ of philosophy.
 
When I looked up the dictionary for the definition of education it said that education was 'to teach and train as if bringing up a child –so that his power of mind and body are strengthened'. It then became clear to me why Plato wanted the class room to be next to the playing arenas and gymnasia - it was the fact that physical growth and mental growth hence education went hand in hand.
 
It is often observed that education has often been employed to educate man a little more about himself and also perhaps understand his stature mentally and physically. Education is the good drill instructor which teaches us hope though the assimilation of knowledge it keeps us fit by teaching us to think and to live. Life is a mystery but education is the ladder on which we can climb and subjugate the fortress of ignorance. Education is very complex in it self yet it makes the world around us a much easier place to survive in .Diogenes felt that “Education is a controlling grace to the young, consolation to the old, wealth to the poor and an ornament to the rich.” Education is something that one cannot claim to know all about for its roots are too deep and spread over enormous space. The concept of education has undergone radical transformation over the years. It is also a very important instrument of self esteem, prestige and power .
 
Since it imparts diverse skills it increases opportunity for gainful employment in society. Education also enables us to explore higher areas of learning and promote scientific knowledge and technology so indispensable for growth in the modern world. The advancement of education in medicine has alleviated the sufferings of millions of people afflicted with numerous life threatening diseases. Since the last century major diseases like malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis, polio and leprosy have been brought under control providing great relief to multitude of people. It has also developed human capital and turned humans into productive assets to achieve high levels of economic growth. If it was not for our education and knowledge mankind would not have reached even thefringes of civilization and would still be struggling to cope with scourges of the dark ages.