Then And Now Poem by Sharad Chandra

When education was
search for truth
acquisition of knowledge,
inculcation of values
for the good of humanity
a child grew into a man
giving back to life
what life gave him.

Carrying out instructions
didn’t impair his personality
respect for the other
deflated not his vanity
it taught him the meaning of life
joy of living
in peace and humility
filled his mind with
thoughts uplifting.

Today—
power, money, and high position
have scored over everything else
sole marks of distinction
supreme goals of education
man has died
humanity buried underground
what you see all around
are lifeless automatons
floating up or down
according to the skill learnt
to cut throat of the other
or lose his own.

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