A disciplined nation: Is it a mission impossible?

Lionel Wijesiri

What on earth has happened to us - a nation with a 2500-year old grand history?

Take for example, our lack of discipline and lack of consideration for others. I feel sad that we Sri Lankans, who behave so well when we go abroad, behave so terribly at home. We push our way around when there is no need to.

We jostle and crowd around counters. We hate to stand in queues. We crowd round the entrances in buses and trains. We show no consideration for children or for the elderly. When driving, we jump the red light just because there is no policeman around. Three-wheelers drive on pavements just to race ahead. We spit and throw garbage anywhere we like. We do not treat public property with respect. In short, we are no more a disciplined, considerate nation.

Indiscipline has become a trait in our society today. It is seen even in legislative assemblies and the parliament. Documents and other objects are thrown by the members at one another. Abuses are lashed. What can we expect from such politicians? The indiscipline of the political leaders is reflected on the whole society. The whole nation suffers. The country doesn’t make progress.

Why acts of indiscipline?

It is therefore obvious that there is also an urgent need for maintaining discipline in political and social life because indiscipline has crossed all limits in these areas. All these things have lowered the image of the Sri Lankan in the eyes of the common man as well as in the whole world.

The reason for acts of indiscipline cannot be attributed solely to the individual the act is coming from, but also to the environment and society the individual is coming from. Though from a tender stage one is influenced by society and the environment, parental responsibility is the major influence in one’s life, given the fact that parents have the major responsibility of nurturing the child.

Norms and values

This is so because, to the child, the guardian or parents are the only people to be trusted.

Acts of discipline begin from our various habitats. If a child is not taught how to show discipline and be disciplined, the possibility of the child living out of the life of discipline is very high. It is very easy for a child, to copy blindly, attitudes from parents or guardians, especially when those attitudes are exceptionally against the norms and values of society.

When one grows without learning to behave disciplined, one tends to adopt any bad acts in any environment he or she finds himself or herself. For instance, learning not to adopt the act of keeping the environment clean will surely not be problem for one to litter the environment where one finds him or herself.

Though charity begins at home, the reality of a child derailing from the rail of a disciplined life, is very ordinary in terms of peer pressure influence. Peer pressure is a good educator of bad habits and indiscipline. A well-behaved person will love to make it a point, to adhere to all rules and regulations, pertaining to the good of the community and the people, but for peer influence he or she will decide to go against them.

Eradicating indiscipline

Schools and religious institutions can help in improving discipline in the society.

Teachers, who most often serve as the second parents of children, can help foster the acts of discipline in life in children. Teaching them spiritual and moral values, through their reading of textbooks on good behaviour can go long way to mould and monitor their behaviours.

Religious leaders can help people know and appreciate the purpose and effects of a disciplined lifestyle.

This could be very effective, since a great majority of the citizens of Sri Lanka are deeply religious.

It will come a long way to make majority of the population to be discipline and well mannered.

National Cadet Corps

In addition to these factors, I believe that the National Cadet Corps of Sri Lanka can also play an important role in fine-tuning the disciplinary attitudes of the present younger generation paving the way for a better citizenry in the future. Of course the present National Cadet Corps in its curriculum of training has stressed on discipline, adherence to law, inculcation of virtues, sociality and courtesy among the principal motives of training. The Corps has done a marvellous job and has succeeded to gift to the nation a host of glorious sons spanning over three generations. Yet, I believe much more could be done.

In my visits to Singapore over the past two decades I have seen how its National Cadet Corps operates. We can learn a lot from them if we want to effect some changes here. The Mission of the Singaporean National Cadet Corps is to train and inspire cadets using effective training curriculum, so that each cadet shall develop character, courage, sportsmanship, self reliance, discipline and civil mindedness. It has few basic guidelines.

Loyalty to Country: Loyalty to and love for country must be deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of all cadets; these are imbued in the cadets by way of their commitment to serve the nation through maintenance of high discipline and training standards.

Esponsibilites

Uprightness: Exemplary conduct together with strong moral strength to differentiate right from wrong; honesty and truthfulness in carrying out duties with full responsibility. Leadership: Role modelling and influencing fellow-cadets to aspire to their highest potential both academically and in NCC training and activities; leadership by example and through involvement with peers and subordinates.

Discipline: Timely execution of tasks that have to be done, even though they are difficult and painful, and doing them to the best of one’s ability; self-discipline that produces mental and physical toughness and strength.

Commitment & Responsibility: Taking training seriously and aspire to benefit optimally from the experiences; show of dedication and pride to the corps.

Care for Fellow Cadets: Genuine concern for the well being of fellow cadets during and outside training; this care and concern will facilitate esprit de corps and maintain a high level of morale and cohesiveness in the NCC.

Membership

Adventurous Spirit: The spirit, daring and passion to venture into the unknown, and explore the undiscovered and unchallenged realms; this adventurous spirit would widen the perspective and outlook of our cadets.

Singapore citizens and permanent residents should join the NCC as a school Co-Curriculum Activity (CCA) around the same time they enrol for Secondary School at the age of 13.

They then stay for a term of 4 to 5 years. Cadets who wish to stay on in the Corps after completing their secondary education may apply to undergo a three week long Cadet Officer course. Cadets passing out from the course are then appointed Cadet Officers.

Within the framework of the training programme NCC cadets have the opportunity of taking part in many activities. PT, or Physical Training is widely emphasized in the Corps, and a typical PT session could take up about an hour. As part of the NCC’s mission to develop resourceful, responsible, resilient, loyal leaders and team players, the NCC offers a wide range of adventure and experiential programmes and activities.

Nation-builders

Our youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. So it is vital that they grow up to be exemplary human beings keen to contribute to nation-building. A reorganized and restructured National Cadet Corps will go a long way in instilling this quality in students.

It can provide the youth an opportunity to serve the nation as the second line of defence during calamity and to be a dependable developmental force during peace.

Through institutional training, adventure sports and outdoor activities, they will develop qualities of leadership and discipline, courage and confidence, esprit de corps and a secular outlook, all hallmarks of committed and productive citizens. If the Government make NCC compulsory, the youth of today will become responsible and disciplined nation-builders of tomorrow.