Real education enhances the dignity of a human being and

The beloved scientist, teacher, and President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, once spoke with the voice of both wisdom and humility when he said: “Real education enhances the dignity of a human being and increases his or her self-respect. If only the real sense of education could be realized by each individual and carried forward in every field of human activity, the world will be so much a better place to live in.” In these words, Kalam—often called the “People’s President”—reveals the true purpose of learning. He reminds us that education is not the memorization of knowledge, nor the possession of degrees; it is the awakening of the human spirit, the refinement of character, and the realization of one’s own dignity.

To understand his words, one must first know the man who spoke them. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was born in Rameswaram, a small town in southern India, to a humble family. From the son of a boatman, he rose to become one of the most respected scientists in the world, leading India’s missile program and later serving as its head of state. Yet through all his achievements, he remained simple, compassionate, and devoted to learning. For him, education was not merely a path to success—it was a sacred duty. It was the force that lifted him from poverty and gave him the power to serve his nation. Thus, when he spoke of “real education,” he spoke from the depth of experience—a man who had seen both the darkness of want and the light of knowledge.

When Kalam said that real education enhances the dignity of a human being, he was pointing to something divine within each soul. Dignity is the recognition of one’s worth, the quiet confidence that one’s life has meaning. True education, therefore, does not make a person proud in arrogance, but proud in purpose. It teaches humility through understanding, courage through wisdom, and strength through compassion. In his view, self-respect is born not from wealth or position, but from the awareness that one’s mind and heart have been cultivated to serve humanity. The educated person, in the truest sense, stands tall not because of external honors, but because of the nobility that radiates from within.

History itself bears witness to this truth. Consider Mahatma Gandhi, who, though trained as a lawyer, found his greatest lessons not in books, but in life—in service, in suffering, and in truth. Gandhi understood that education must shape not only the intellect but the soul. It was this “real education” that taught him dignity in the face of humiliation, self-respect in the midst of oppression, and compassion even for his enemies. Through his enlightened mind and humble heart, he transformed the destiny of a nation. His example stands as a living reflection of Kalam’s wisdom—that when education awakens humanity within us, it becomes the seed of transformation for the whole world.

Kalam’s words also carry a warning. For in our modern age, education has often become a race for power, a ladder to status, a currency of competition. Many seek knowledge not to elevate themselves morally, but to dominate others materially. This is not education, but training; not illumination, but accumulation. When the mind is filled with facts but the heart remains empty, knowledge becomes a weapon instead of a blessing. Kalam reminds us that real education must balance intellect with empathy, skill with integrity, and ambition with responsibility. Only then can it serve as a bridge between what we know and who we are meant to be.

The deeper message in his words is that education is not complete until it is shared—until it transforms society. The truly educated person does not hoard wisdom, but carries it into “every field of human activity,” as Kalam says. Whether one is an engineer, a farmer, a teacher, or an artist, the mark of real education is found in how one uplifts others. When each person acts from knowledge guided by dignity and self-respect, the entire fabric of the world is strengthened. A nation that educates not only the minds but the hearts of its people becomes a sanctuary of peace, creativity, and justice.

The lesson, then, is clear and timeless: Education must not end in the classroom—it must live in our conduct, our compassion, and our courage. To follow Kalam’s teaching, each of us must seek learning that refines the soul as much as it sharpens the intellect. Let us read not only to know, but to understand; study not only to achieve, but to serve. Let every student, teacher, and parent remember that the goal of education is not the creation of clever minds, but of good hearts—for from good hearts flow all wisdom and all peace.

So let us carry forward his vision, as a torch passed from one generation to the next. Let us build schools that nurture curiosity and compassion; let us honor teachers who awaken dignity rather than fear; and let us see every child not as a vessel to be filled, but as a flame to be kindled. For if, as Kalam dreamed, each person realizes the real sense of education and lives by it, then the world will indeed become a better place—a place where dignity walks hand in hand with knowledge, and where humanity itself becomes the highest lesson ever learned.