An education system on life support

The human species has come a long way to become truly humane. Evolving from tight-knit tribal collectivities into more diverse and complex societies, learning to extend love and empathy to those outside our own kind, imagining justice that isn’t rooted in power, and shifting from blind belief to scientific reasoning—none of this would have been easy.

One of the most significant milestones on this road has been the shift from monarchy to democracy. It is not hard to grasp how monumental and revolutionary this move was in the arc of human history—after all, that part of the story is well-documented. Democracy is the exact opposite of a world where the king, seen as God’s representative, ruled over subjects stripped of individual rights.

Though oft repeated, the clearest and truest definition of democracy remains this—a system of the people, by the people, for the people. The core challenge, of course, lies in clinching the ‘people’ who are so diverse and have so many collective identities. In this context we must remember that in an ideal democracy, every individual has equal and full rights, regardless of their many collective identities. That is why nations frame constitutions and laws.

All this is common knowledge, of course. But even though it is glaringly obvious, what is usually forgotten is that in a democracy, the biggest responsibility also rests on the people. If the system is by the people, for the people, then it is also the people’s responsibility to stay informed, to keep an eye on those in power, and to hold every institution to account. If they do not, it means our democracy is incomplete and weak.

For citizens to be able to carry out this duty, they must be equipped with knowledge, education, critical thinking and an awareness of their legal and constitutional rights. Equally important is the creation of an atmosphere where citizens can speak up, voice their concerns and ask questions without fear.

To make this possible, it is essential to build an education system that fosters a scientific temper and impartial critical thought. While democracies need an education system that nurtures fairness, openness and the courage to question authority, monarchies do not. In fact, a questioning mindset is dangerous to monarchies. But in a democracy, where ordinary people are the custodians of the system, education becomes a lifeline for the nation.

It is tragic, then, that despite consensus among educationists, our system has failed to live up to this vision. For the most part, it remained archaic, even if here and there a few liberal or critical elements were added to the textbooks. But that wasn’t enough to shake off feudal mindsets. Which is why, even with the growth of education, its wider access for the marginalised and the presence of liberal politics, democratic consciousness has not spread as deeply and rapidly as it should have.

Until about 10 or 11 years ago, there was at least an ongoing conversation about this gap—and those in power claimed they wanted to bridge it. To be fair, some measures were taken as well. But in the last decade or so, the government has treated these demands and efforts as hostile acts. The State’s philosophy of education has turned into the very antithesis of democratic values. It is as if the meaning of education itself has been turned on its head.

Instead of fostering a modern, liberal, pluralist outlook, educational institutions are now promoting a narrow, dogmatic, unscientific worldview. Instead of preparing young minds to move towards the future, schools and colleges are pulling them back into blind, religious and divisive belief systems. The universal moral core of nationalism is being supplanted with a chauvinistic, arrogant sense of who we are. Independent thinking is being shackled. Ghalib has vanished from the curriculum, Tagore has been tossed out.

The state has pushed hard to inject hatred against India’s plural culture. In the name of promoting patriotism, tanks used in wars are now being parked on campuses. Vice-chancellors, principals and teachers are openly being appointed on political lines. In the name of ‘practical life education’, people with no academic qualifications are being appointed in higher education, paving the way for unworthy figures to occupy influential positions on campuses. A full-blown campaign is underway to shut the windows of young minds.

A dangerous, religion-based, divisive agenda has entered our educational institutions and interference in extra-curricular programmes is routine.

Programmes and activities that encourage a scientific temper, pluralism and democratic values are being arbitrarily blocked. Lectures by dozens of respected thinkers, who are staunch defenders of constitutional values and the rule of law, have been forcibly and often disgracefully cancelled. Principals and teachers who tried to promote religious harmony have been harassed in countless ways. Some were humiliated. Some were punished. Some lost their jobs. Many are entangled in years-long legal battles.

There are now numerous colleges and universities where the administration is actively hosting Hindu religious rituals—‘Satyanarayan katha’, ‘Hanuman bhandara’ et al. This is the tragedy of India today. The centres of learning are on the verge of being overrun by ignorance. Our universities are losing their global outlook. Institutions once regarded as the lighthouses of society seem to be coughing smoke.

India stands at a crossroads. If pluralism and liberal values die out in our education system, democracy won’t survive either.

Roop Rekha Verma is an educationist, social activist and former vice chancellor of Lucknow University