Rethinking Teachers, Parents, and Learners: A Reflection Inspired by Sitaare Zameen Par and R. K. Narayan
"Breaking the Cycle of Punishment: A Reflection on
Learning and Humanity through Two Stories"
As part of our academic exploration of education, parenting, and teaching through literature and cinema, Megha Trivedi Ma’am assigned us this reflective writing task. After studying R. K. Narayan’s short story “Crime and Punishment,” which examines key issues within the education system and the roles of teachers and parents, we were encouraged to watch the film Sitaare Zameen Par in theaters. This reflection aims to connect the insights from both works, deepening our understanding of education’s human side.
Introduction
Education, authority, and compassion are recurring themes in literature and cinema, often explored to critique societal norms and provoke introspection about the purpose and methods of teaching. Aamir Khan’s 2025 film "Sitaare Zameen Par” and R. K. Narayan’s mid-20th century short story “Crime and Punishment” both serve as compelling narratives that challenge traditional notions of education rooted in authority and discipline. Though separated by time, genre, and context, these works converge on a shared humanistic philosophy: that learning is most meaningful when it is grounded in empathy, humility, and the recognition of individual differences. This paper examines how both “Sitaare Zameen Par” and “Crime and Punishment” interrogate outdated pedagogical models, repositioning the role of teachers, parents, and authority figures as facilitators of growth through understanding rather than enforcers of rigid norms. Through this comparative analysis, the discussion illuminates the enduring relevance of compassion in shaping inclusive, ethical, and transformative educational practices.
Background: "Sitaare Zameen Par"
“Sitaare Zameen Par” (2025), directed by R. S. Prasanna and starring Aamir Khan, revisits themes of disability, empathy, and education within Indian cinema, positioning itself as a spiritual successor to Taare Zameen Par (2007). While the earlier film focused on childhood learning disorders, "Sitaare Zameen Par" broadens its focus to adults with intellectual disabilities, using sport as a metaphor for inclusion, resilience, and self-worth.
The narrative follows a disgraced basketball coach assigned to train a team of neurodiverse individuals, highlighting his gradual transformation from prejudice to understanding. Through humor and human connection, the film challenges stereotypes surrounding disability, offering a progressive and affirmative representation rather than evoking sympathy or sentimentality.
Culturally, the film reflects shifting attitudes in Indian society towards mental health, inclusivity, and the ethics of education. It invites academic discussions within disability studies, postcolonial narratives of empowerment, and cinema’s role in shaping public consciousness. "Sitaare Zameen Par" ultimately reaffirms the human value of compassion, dignity, and respect across difference.
Background to R.K. Narayan’s “Crime and Punishment”
R. K. Narayan, one of India’s most celebrated literary figures, is renowned for his subtle yet sharp portrayals of everyday life in Indian society, often infused with gentle humor and deep human insight. His stories frequently revolve around the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi, a microcosm of Indian middle-class life, where he masterfully explores universal themes through local characters. “Crime and Punishment,” one of Narayan’s well-known short stories, exemplifies his gift for presenting complex moral dilemmas through simple, relatable narratives.
Published in his 1947 collection "An Astrologer's Day and Other Stories," “Crime and Punishment” reflects Narayan’s characteristic style-straightforward storytelling laced with irony, compassion, and a keen understanding of human psychology. The story revolves around the relationship between a young, arrogant tuition master and his student, a child who eventually teaches the adult a lesson about humility and the limits of authority. Set against the backdrop of postcolonial Indian society, the story subtly critiques authoritarianism in education, generational conflicts, and the flawed expectations adults impose on children.
What makes “Crime and Punishment” enduringly relevant is Narayan’s ability to weave everyday incidents into narratives that question broader human tendencies-power, ego, punishment, and kindness. Through this seemingly simple tale, Narayan invites readers to reflect on how authority, when exercised without empathy or understanding, often leads to unexpected consequences.
Rethinking Education Through "Sitaare Zameen Par"
We -students of Department of English, MKBU- watched the movie Sitaare Zameen Par in the theater along with our classmates and juniors, which made the experience more engaging and meaningful. Through this, we also learned the importance of supporting newly released films by watching them legally in theaters if shows are available. Such experiences not only enrich our understanding but also respect the efforts of filmmakers. It reminded us that shifting to pirated or downloaded versions harms the film industry and takes away from the joy of a shared cinematic experience.
Question.1: How Does the Movie Portray the Education System?
Introduction: A Cinematic Critique of Authority in Learning
Aamir Khan’s film "Sitaare Zameen Par" (2025) offers not merely a narrative of sports and redemption but a subtle critique of the educational and rehabilitative structures that govern people with disabilities. Much like R. K. Narayan’s short story “Crime and Punishment”, the film questions the conventional, often authoritarian, practices of education where discipline, punishment, and hierarchy outweigh empathy and understanding. Both works emphasize how human growth thrives not under fear but through compassion and respect.
Authority vs. Empathy: Challenging Outdated Models
The movie exposes how educational practices, even in the sphere of sports coaching, often carry the residues of harsh, result-driven systems. The protagonist, a fallen coach, initially embodies this rigid model - prioritizing success over humanity. However, through his interaction with intellectually disabled players, the film critiques this approach, revealing how real learning is relational, not transactional. The journey from discipline-based authority to compassionate mentorship echoes Narayan’s tutor in “Crime and Punishment”, whose arrogance collapses under the weight of his own failure.
Inclusion and Alternative Pedagogies
Where traditional education often marginalizes those who do not conform to its narrow standards, "Sitaare Zameen Par" celebrates inclusion. The film shifts the focus from competition to collaboration, from achieving norms to recognizing individual potential. It advocates for alternative pedagogies rooted in kindness, humor, and patience-principles also quietly suggested in Narayan’s story where the child indirectly becomes the educator.
Education Beyond Institutions
Both "Sitaare Zameen Par" and “Crime and Punishment” remind us that education is not confined to classrooms or textbooks. The transformative ‘teaching’ in both narratives happens through unexpected encounters: a child correcting a tutor’s arrogance, and differently-abled adults reshaping a coach’s worldview. The failures of formal systems give way to the triumph of lived, humane experiences.
Conclusion: A Call for Empathy in Education
Ultimately, "Sitaare Zameen Par" critiques an education system more interested in output than humanity. In its place, it offers a vision of learning where kindness and respect form the foundation of any meaningful pedagogy. Like Narayan’s short story, the film invites us to question whether we are truly teaching - or simply enforcing - and whether humility might be the first lesson we need to learn.
Question.2: What message does the movie give about the role of teachers and parents?
Introduction: Beyond Traditional Roles
In "Sitaare Zameen Par", the portrayal of teachers and parents transcends conventional authority figures and highlights their deeper ethical responsibilities. While teachers and parents are often viewed as disciplinarians or guardians of future success, the film challenges this notion. Instead, it presents them as facilitators of empathy, self-belief, and holistic growth - a perspective that resonates closely with R. K. Narayan’s short story “Crime and Punishment”. Both works suggest that the true role of authority figures lies not in enforcing control but in enabling growth through understanding.
Teachers as Learners: Humility Over Hierarchy
The coach in "Sitaare Zameen Par" begins his journey with arrogance, viewing his disabled players as burdens rather than individuals. His transformation reflects a broader message: teachers must first unlearn their prejudices and hierarchies to genuinely educate others. Teaching, the film suggests, is not merely about imparting skills but about fostering confidence, dignity, and humanity - lessons best learned through humility. This mirrors Narayan’s tutor, whose belief in punishment is quietly dismantled by a child’s unexpected defiance.
Parents as Nurturers, Not Enforcers
While the film focuses more on teachers than parents directly, its underlying philosophy extends to parenting. Parents, like teachers, are cautioned against projecting their own insecurities and ambitions onto their children. Instead, they are urged to recognize individual differences, especially in those who do not fit into conventional molds of success. This reflects a progressive, compassionate view of parenting aligned with contemporary discussions on emotional intelligence and mental health.
Emotional Intelligence as the Core Responsibility
Both works underline that authority figures - whether in homes or classrooms - must move beyond rigid discipline to embrace emotional intelligence. "Sitaare Zameen Par" shows how humor, patience, and kindness create spaces for true development, while “Crime and Punishment” demonstrates how cruelty or arrogance isolates and harms both learner and teacher.
Conclusion: Reimagining Responsibility
The film ultimately conveys a powerful message: the roles of teachers and parents are not defined by power but by empathy, patience, and the courage to change oneself. True education begins when these figures prioritize the well-being and individuality of those under their care, recognizing that they, too, are participants in the lifelong process of learning.
Question.3: How does it compare with the story?
Introduction: Shared Concerns, Different Contexts
At first glance, Aamir Khan’s "Sitaare Zameen Par" (2025) and R. K. Narayan’s short story “Crime and Punishment” may seem unrelated - one is a contemporary film about sports and neurodiversity, the other a mid-20th-century story about a private tutor and a mischievous child. However, beneath these surface differences lies a shared critique of authoritarian education, the misuse of power, and the transformative potential of empathy and humility.
Authority, Arrogance, and the Fallibility of Teachers
Both works highlight the dangers of educators who operate from arrogance rather than understanding. In “Crime and Punishment”, the young tutor believes he can shape the child through threats and violence, only to find his authority undermined by the child’s clever manipulation. Similarly, in "Sitaare Zameen Par", the protagonist coach begins with a rigid, success-driven mindset that ignores the humanity of his neurodiverse players. Both narratives expose how authoritarian teaching ultimately fails and humiliates the teacher more than the student.
Learning Through Humility
A striking similarity between the two works is how the ‘teachers’ themselves undergo the most profound learning. Narayan’s tutor must confront his own foolishness and powerlessness, while Khan’s coach learns that true leadership requires compassion, adaptability, and patience. Both characters move from pride to humility, echoing a timeless lesson: those in authority must be open to change and self-reflection.
From Punishment to Compassion
Punishment is central in both narratives, but its ineffectiveness is starkly revealed. In “Crime and Punishment”, the physical punishment is absurdly futile; in "Sitaare Zameen Par", psychological punishment through harsh expectations is shown to alienate and harm. Both stories argue that growth comes not from punishment but from patience, empathy, and human connection.
Conclusion: A Shared Educational Philosophy
Despite their differences in form and setting, both "Sitaare Zameen Par" and “Crime and Punishment” critique outdated educational models rooted in fear and authority. They celebrate a more humane, emotionally intelligent approach where teachers and authority figures learn alongside those they guide. Both remind us that humility and compassion are the true foundations of meaningful education.
Question.4: What did you feel or learn after watching the movie?
A Lesson in Compassion Over Achievement
Watching "Sitaare Zameen Par" left me with a deep sense of how easily society, and even well-meaning individuals, overlook the importance of empathy in the pursuit of success. The film gently but firmly reminded me that education - whether formal or informal - must be rooted not in competition, results, or punishment, but in human connection, kindness, and the recognition of every individual’s unique abilities. It challenged my assumptions about how we define intelligence and success, urging me to value emotional intelligence and resilience as much as any academic or athletic accomplishment.
The Power of Humility in Teaching and Learning
What struck me most was the protagonist’s journey from arrogance to humility. His transformation taught me that authority figures, whether teachers, parents, or coaches, must be willing to unlearn their biases. True leadership, the film shows, lies not in control but in the ability to listen, adapt, and grow alongside others. This insight closely echoed the moral in R. K. Narayan’s “Crime and Punishment”, where the teacher’s failure springs from his refusal to respect the learner’s individuality.
Reframing Success Through Inclusion
Finally, "Sitaare Zameen Par" left me with a sense of hope. It shows that success is not about fitting everyone into the same mold but about creating spaces where everyone, regardless of their abilities, feels seen, valued, and empowered. This lesson feels particularly relevant in today’s fast-paced, result-oriented world where differences are too often ignored.
Conclusion: A Film That Educates Beyond the Screen
Ultimately, the film reaffirmed my belief that education - whether in schools, families, or society - must prioritize compassion, patience, and humility. These values not only help others grow but also transform us into more empathetic, understanding human beings.
Conclusion
Both "Sitaare Zameen Par" and R. K. Narayan’s "Crime and Punishment" offer enduring lessons about the responsibilities of educators, parents, and authority figures in shaping not only minds but also hearts. They critique rigid, punitive models of education and instead advocate for approaches centered on empathy, patience, and the acceptance of human diversity. Through the journeys of their protagonists from arrogance to humility, from control to compassion these works reaffirm the necessity of emotional intelligence in any learning environment. Ultimately, they remind us that true education transcends the confines of classrooms and sports fields; it is a lifelong process rooted in mutual respect, human connection, and the courage to change. In a world still grappling with inclusion and mental health awareness, their messages remain profoundly relevant, urging us to rethink success not as conformity, but as the flourishing of every individual in their unique way.
References
Prasanna, R. S., director. Sitaare Zameen Par. 2025. Aamir Khan Productions.
“Sitaare Zameen Par.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 July 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitaare_Zameen_Par. Accessed 20 July 2025.
“Sitaare Zameen Par | Official Trailer.” YouTube, Aamir Khan Talkies, 13 May 2025, https://youtu.be/YH6k5weqwy8?si=ap6GwdjCxW5XoxDm. Accessed 20 July 2025.
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment