As I was browsing the newspaper today, I came across an intriguing blog titled “Kite Flying: An Allegory of Meditative Union” by Chetan Selva. The author drew striking parallels between the art of flying a kite and the process of meditation—right from preparation to execution. He compared elements like selecting the right day, setting up, launching, and adjusting for changing winds to the various stages of meditative practice.
While I may not yet be inclined toward meditation and remain preoccupied with the relatively mundane tasks of daily life, the article sparked a different thought. I began to reflect on an issue that weighs heavily on many of us today: How do we train the minds of children and young people to steer in a direction that benefits society?
In our increasingly materialistic and distracting world, this question has become more critical than ever. For decades, STEM education has been prioritized, often reducing learning to a mere means of earning. While this approach has its advantages, it risks neglecting the holistic development of the next generation. To ensure that this cycle does not repeat with our grandchildren, it’s imperative to broaden our perspective on education and values.
Parenting and nurturing children, I realized, is much like flying a kite. It requires a fine balance of preparation, guidance, and trust. Just as a kite needs a strong foundation, steady control, and the freedom to ride the wind, a child needs the right environment, consistent encouragement, and independence to explore and grow. Only then can they rise to their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
Building the Foundation: Crafting the Kite versus Nurturing a Child
The strength of a kite lies in its structure, and the same is true for children. Small kites perform well even in weak winds, just as children trained to adapt to challenging situations by using minimum resources remain grounded despite external adversities. However, children raised in excessive luxury may falter when conditions are less favourable—akin to a kite that relies on strong winds to fly.
The spine of a kite must strike the perfect balance—neither so rigid that it becomes inflexible nor so weak that it cannot steer the kite. Likewise, parenting requires a delicate equilibrium. Parents should neither be overly strict and imposing nor excessively lenient and ignorable by their children.
The recent tragic incident in Pune, where a 17-year-old builder’s son allegedly mowed down two motorcycle riders under the influence of alcohol, is a stark reminder of the dangers of an overly lenient approach—akin to a kite with a weak spine, unable to maintain direction. On the flip side, excessive rigidity can lead to frustration in young people, pushing them toward extreme decisions like suicide.
Just as the optimal bend in a kite’s spine ensures stability and manoeuvrability, raising children requires a balanced blend of family values, structured house rules, and parental pragmatism. Parents must embody these principles themselves, creating an environment where discipline coexists with freedom. This balance allows children to grow with independence and self-awareness, ensuring they remain grounded while aiming for the skies.
Bridling the Kite: Aligning Education with Capacity
The process of tying the bridle strings to a kite involves precise measurement and balance. The lengths must be adjusted carefully to ensure stability and control during flight. Similarly, when raising children, it’s crucial to assess their intrinsic capacity and align their education and career paths with their natural aptitudes. This alignment offers a realistic perspective on what can be achieved.
For instance, keeping the top string of the bridle slightly longer enhances a kite’s manoeuvrability. This small adjustment mirrors the importance of tailoring a child’s education and career choices to their unique talents. If a child has a natural flair for fine arts, sports, or music, it is unreasonable to expect them to excel equally in fields like medicine or engineering—and vice versa. The role of parents and mentors is not to impose but to nurture and guide the child toward their natural direction of growth.
Similarly, when a kite is tied to the wheel, its ascent requires careful manoeuvring, particularly during the first 100 meters. This phase is akin to making critical career decisions that align with the young person’s capacity and aspirations. With the right foundation and support, children eventually require minimal steering, learning to navigate life’s challenges on their own.
The Isha Upanishad: A Balance of Vidya and Avidya
Verse 6.11 of the Isha Upanishad encapsulates this duality beautifully:
“विद्यां च अविद्यां च यस्तद्वेदोभयँ सह।
अविद्यया मृत्युं तीर्त्वा विद्ययाऽमृतमश्नुते।।”
“One who understands both material knowledge (avidya) and spiritual knowledge (vidya) together transcends death through material knowledge and attains immortality through spiritual wisdom.”
This verse reminds us that a kite requires both a strong bridle string (avidya) and the invisible force of the wind (vidya) to soar. Material knowledge provides the structure and control necessary to navigate life’s challenges, while spiritual wisdom lifts the kite higher, imbuing it with purpose and meaning.
Guiding the Kite: Discipline and Freedom
Flying a kite requires precise control—a gentle pull to guide it and a timely release of the string to let it soar. Similarly, raising a child is an art of balance: offering discipline while granting independence. The following verses from ancient scriptures resonate deeply with this idea:
“माता शत्रुः पिता वैरी येन बालो न पाठितः।
न शोभते सभा मध्ये हंस मध्ये बको यथा।”
(Chanakya Neeti, 16.16)
“A mother and father who do not educate their child are their worst enemies, as an uneducated child is like a crane among swans in an assembly.”
And:
“उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः।।”
(Bhagavad Gita, 6.5)
“One must elevate oneself through their own efforts and not degrade oneself. The self is both a friend and an enemy depending on one’s actions.”
Soaring High: The Joy of Letting Go
When a kite soars high, it brings joy and pride to its flyer. Similarly, when a child achieves their dreams, it is a shared victory of their hard work and parental support. As Manu Smriti states:
“यथा खमचलं सर्वं नतिरुपयते महान्।
तथा कुलमहान् पुत्रः सदा नेच्छेत् प्रतिष्ठितः।”
(Manu Smriti, 9.22)
“A great son uplifts the family just as the vast sky uplifts all elements of creation.”
The goal of parenting, like kite flying, is not control but support—developing capacity in the children to rise, fall, and rise again, soaring higher each time. In doing so, we celebrate their growth while preserving the timeless values that keep our culture grounded.
Inspire Positivity 