World's First Distance Education Experiment By Eklavya in Mahabharata

So you think distance education is a modern day concept? Remember Eklavya? He was declined university education by none other than Dronacharya. Reason? Oh he could not admit any student who had higher potential for archery than Arjun. Eklavya was an archery prodigy. And by mere virtue of declining education to Eklavya, Drona had proven himself unworthy of a disciple as gifted as Eklavya.

Eklavya however besides all his talent was beguiled by world’s fixation over Drona as the world's best teacher for archery. And nothing but the best would do for him. He did not lose hope however. He was a tribal, born out of the local soil, made of the same materials that built the gurukul's environment, where the Pandavas and the Kauravas were being incubated, for the end of world war forthcoming in the future. He believed in perseverance, persistence, hard work and most of all smart work. He was not one to be disheartened by rejection.

Then and there he devised his own personal YouTube lecture source. A tree top from where the teachings of Drona could be observed from a distance and then practiced assiduously. He may have missed some important lectures, happens to Open University students! But he learnt the skill!

What were his strengths? These are some:

- Observation skill

- Willingness to persevere

- Out of the box thinking

- Problem Solving

- Ability to improvise

- Never say die attitude

- Learning from mistakes, as he did after having lost his precious thumb of right hand!

Now why on earth did this wise non-disciple of Drona have to go cut his thumb of right arm? Gurudakshina for Drona? Drona in the course of Mahabharata proved himself unfit of such reverence in numerous occasions! That was the paradox people! No one gets away without a guru in the real world, sooner or later distance education turns turtle at you and that is when the first real life experience gapes at you and you have nothing but bookish knowledge to stand for you. 

He could have just run for his life at that moment. Declared that having denied him education, Drona had primarily let him down, he had not served his duty of a guru by not keeping him and caring for him in the gurukul. He could have said that, while his blessing was much appreciated, absence of it would not lead to any particular tragedy in his life. Why on earth did Eklavya have to brag! He hid and learnt the skills, he must have known better than to show up and own up his crime! Miserable even in success!

Whatever be Eklavya's reason to abide by the gurudakshina ask, Eklavya was made of much sterner stuff. He did not give up, he became a left handed archer. Because Eklavya was an archer and archery was the only art that absorbed him. What else would he have done? Become a tribal apothecary? What medicines would he administer? Become a tribal lord? What skills of leadership had he learnt? Distance education has its pitfalls! Eklavya had only observed and learnt some of the best archery tricks and it is commendable that he stuck to it under daunting circumstances!

The lesson learnt from Eklavya is, go for distance education if you wish to, but it is probably better if you found a less efficient teacher instead, at least you will not end up cutting your thumb in the end! Even the best teacher in the world is not worth it!