The “Knowledge” building viewed from the beach road.
The aim of education is not to prepare a man to succeed in life and society, but to increase his perfectibility to its utmost.
– The Mother (CWM, 12:120)
The Higher Course was the final stage of our studies at SAICE. We entered “Knowledge” at the age of 17 or 18. We were now treated like young adults with the complete freedom to pursue the subjects and the lines of study that interested us, with the teachers that we wanted.
A 2nd year mathematics class in progress.
… in education, both tendencies should be encouraged side by side: the tendency to thirst for the marvelous, for what seems unrealisable, for something which fills you with the feeling of divinity; while at the same time encouraging exact, correct, sincere observation in the perception of the world as it is, the suppression of all imagination, a constant control, a highly practical and meticulous sense for exact details.
– The Mother (CWM, 10:164)
In the selection of topics for the undergraduate and advance courses of study, we were not confined to a single faculty such as Arts, Science or Engineering Technology even though we may have belonged predominantly to one of them. Many of us ended up with a quite a varied mix of subjects.
Reading and discussing Sri Aurobindo’s works.
If one reads Sri Aurobindo carefully one finds the answers to all that one wants to know.
– The Mother (CWM, 12:208)
This was also a time when we were exposed to a number of Sri Aurobindo’s major works – The Life Divine, The Synthesis of Yoga, Essays on the Gita, The Human Cycle, The Foundations of Indian Culture, The Future Poetry, Savitri – opening our minds to the stupendous depth and breadth of His vision.
The Central Hall of Knowledge.
Not only Science but Art, not only book-knowledge and information but growth in culture and character are parts of a true education; to help the individual to develop his capacities, to help in the forming of thinkers and creators and men of vision and action of the future, this is a part of its work.
– Sri Aurobindo (SABCL, 26:411)
The 3 years in Knowledge were a period of discovery and increasing maturity and through it all our teachers were always there to help us and give us individual attention (often the class had just 2 or 3 students). We also had many hours free to study on our own. All of us remember sitting in the Central Hall with our friends or by ourselves in the Silence Hall – working, discussing or just dreaming. These were also years full of fun and camaraderie, something that the annual Knowledge Programme captured so well.
Knowledge students participate in the annual 1st December programme.
We want here only those who aspire for a higher and better life, who thirst for knowledge and perfection, who look forward eagerly to a future that will be more totally true.
– The Mother (CWM, 12:354)
The three years in Knowledge passed like a dream. Our sojourn in a very special institution was coming to an end.
The outgoing students pose for a final group photo with some of their teachers.
Of one thing you can be sure – your future is in your hands. You will become the man you want to be and the higher your ideal and your aspiration, the higher will be your realisation, but you must keep a firm resolution and never forget your true aim in life.
– The Mother (CWM, 12:122)
Finally after 17 years at SAICE the day arrived when we had to leave. On completing the Higher Course at about the age of 21, the Centre of Education awarded us no degrees or diplomas, but the years at SAICE had armed us with a holistic education and a Vision of life that would stand us in good stead in the years ahead.