Did Sacred Heart teach a lesson that we don't need to learn?

A lot has been written about Ruchika Girhotra, the 17 year old who committed suicide, three years after she was molested by the then Inspector General of Police S P S Rathore. Most of it makes us shameful of the existing corrupt system of India that protects the rich and powerful at all cost. But the silver lining comes in the form of the media pressure and the civil movement that has brought this case in limelight and is determined in making Rathore a social outcast and punishing him for his misdeeds. The conviction in Jessica Lal case has given an inspiration that will hopefully change the age old adage of public memory being short. The media has ensured that we don't forget Jessica, Priyadarshini Mattoo and Ruchika, at least, until the culprits are brought to the hook.

Many people and institutions have been accused of abetting Rathore's crime, but the most glaring for me is the school from which Ruchika was expelled. School is almost sacred in our lives because it is hugely responsible for shaping the minds of young lives and defining the future of our society. Sacred Heart, which is one of Chandigarh's most prestigious schools expelled Ruchika, driving her closer to her end. A school is supposed to help its students in distress, give them the emotional support and teach their other students the right value of fighting against injustice. The so called prestigious school has done exactly the opposite. What kind of lesson the students would have learnt in an institution which supports the hooligans and expels a hapless victim?

The definition of a good school has changed today. Parents want to send their kids to these prestigious schools most of which are convent schools, because they think these will mould their children into fine human beings. But do an English sounding name, over charged fees, great infrastructure, having celebrity children, teaching to rote to become high scorers in board exams, is all that makes a fine school? What happened to schools that cultivate creativity, teach harmony and not always competition, empathy towards your fellow classmates, drive to fight against injustice? Rabindrath Tagore's Shantiniketan taught us that maths, science, history, geography does not make a school. Hopefully the new age schools today will take an inspiration. I have a dream that one day I build a school where we can teach our children subjects beyond the boundaries of board exams. And when I realize that dream, I hope to take an inspiration from the right places.