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The victim of racist attack is struggling between life and death. Sarvan Kumar a 25 years old Indian living in Australia was the victim. He has suffered extensive brain damage because the racist assailant drove a screwdriver into his head. He family is in shock back here in India. The Australian authorities were reluctant in issuing visa to his family and relatives to go there in Australia and see him. They are backing the funding of medical treatment that he is getting there in Australia. After the media interventions finally the Australian authorities have issued the visa to his Uncle Dr. Srinivas who has left for Australia. He said that Sarvan’s father is in a state of shock and dint want to go to Australia, thus he is going on their behalf. Sarvan’s family is based in Andhra Pradesh. Sarvan’s father said that though Australians call themselves a developed nation but they have no humanity. If police in Australia would have taken some action when an Indian attacked in train, this would not have happened.  Sarvan’s father Mr. Chidambram is a farmer and is not in a postion to afford the foreign trip. He is facing problem in meeting the cost of sarvans treatment in Australia. He has approached the government of Andhra Pradesh for financial help who in turn promised to help. The challenge to reach Australia and pursue the legal procedures.  

 In the last three weeks four incidents of attack on Indian Students have been reported. The Indian students community has taken to the streets in Australia as they are protesting against this brutality. The students assembled at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Sarvan Kumar is undergoing treatment in this hospital. Students were holding placards against these attacks. The protestors were advising to think twice before coming to Australia. These incidents have given a shock to the students and the authorities in both countries. Those who have faced racist attacks said that since these attacks are specifically on the Indian students thus we can say that these are racist attacks. Baljinder Singh, another 25 year old victim said the same.  He said Indian government should do something.

 More than 95 000 Indians live in Australia. More than 30000 students go every year to Australia. Such attacks would impact negatively relations between both the countries. Australia has been a favorite destination of Indian students in the past few years. They have been  going to get education and for some it is a way to get the permanent resident status. With such incidents coming in light it has become clear that Australia though a developed country is a racist country. People look down upon the people of Asian origin in Australia. They do not give the status of equality to them. Australian authorities have admitted that possibility of racism cannot be ruled out in these attacks.

The study of the Vedic literature shows that a well organised system of education existed in India during the Rig Vedic Age. The Aryan realized the importance of knowledge and educational brilliance. The Rig Veda gives some details about the Brahmchari or the religious student.  The training of the Brahmchari took place at the home of a Brahman Teacher (Guru) who was the chief figure in the system of learning. The student was expected to treat his teacher with utmost reverence and render full obedience to him and serve him all the time. The main subject of study was the Vedas, and long hours were devoted to its mastery. The teacher would instruct the few students seated on the ground about the hymns of the sacred book. For many hours daily they would repeat verse after the verse of the Vedas until they had mastered and memorized them. In this age, the women also received education. The Rig Veda contains the hymns composed by twenty different poetesses. Visvavara, Sikata, Nivari, Ghosha, Kamosa, Lopamudra and Urvashi are the names of some of them. It is presumed that the Rigvedic people did not know the art of writing. This was undoubtedly practiced by the prehistoric people of the Indus valley. But it is significant that the early literature of the Aryans was transmitted orally.

In the later Vedic period, the society attained a high level of intellectual development. Learning became both religious and secular. The study of Vedic texts brought into existence the science of grammar (Vyakarna) in its different branches such as Phonetics metre and etymology. Geometry grew from the rules for the erection of sacrificial altars. Apart from these subjects, prosody, rituals, astronomy, law and logic were included in the courses of study. Certain rules were laid down for studentship. The first rule was Upanayana ceremony by which the Brahmchari was initiated into student life.  He was to practice self control and beg his bread. He was constantly to keep before himself the aims of learning – Sharadha (faith), praja (progeny), Dhana (wealth), Ayu (longevity) and Amritaya (immortality).

The teachers were generally Brahmans, but in some cases the belonged to Kshatriyas caste. They taught their students in their hermitages which in the later period came to be designated as Guru-Kulas, and developed later into great universities. There the teachers provided the students with boarding and lodging, maintained with them intimate and affectional relations and instructed them in all arts and sciences. Higher Education in Philosophy and religion was imparted only to a select few. Ordinarily the instruction began with Vedas and Upanishads. Some passages in the Upanishads indicate high standard of learning, direct method of instruction, close relationship between the teacher and his students and a wide range of subjects taught.

There existed many center of Vedic learning and different schools of thought. These schools were presided over by renowned teachers. Vedic scholars exchanged their views by occasional assemblies organised by generous and enlighted kings. Debates were commonly held to discuss difficult problems of philosophy and religion. For instance King Ashvapati of Kekaya was such a distinguished teacher that even Brahman scholars approached him for learning the doctrine of Atman. King Malinda is said to have knowledge of 19 arts and sciences. Many great scholars like Yajnayavalika, Uddalka; Aruni his son Shvataketu and Devabhanga either belonged to or lived in India. Some women also received education of high order. Gargi and Maître attained the highest spiritual knowledge and could even challenge Yajnayanvlikya, the great Philosopher of the age. Many teachers of India enjoyed a high reputation of their mastery over grammar and correct language use.

The period of studentship lasted at least till the age of 25 years but often in case of Brahmans it was extended to 36 or even 48. Females were also entitled to Brahmacharya, but in later times restrictions were placed on their admissions into Vedic texts. Another remarkable feature of education in ancient India was the fact that the Aryan youth, however, high or low might be the position of his parents, were treated alike and were expected to undergo the same discipline.