The recent student protests in some pockets of India has brought the spot light on education and educational institutes. The most recent being the unruly and violent behaviour of ‘student goons’ of JNU. The JNU is in the grip of communist ideology and this isn’t new. The students indoctrinated in this evidently failed ideology are increasingly becoming a national nuisance. JNU is a unique problem and isn’t the focus of this article.
Shortly before the JNU fracas, it was the turn of the minority institutes including Jamia Milia Islamia in Delhi to indulge in violence while protesting against the CAA. Sadly this was in tandem with violent street riots and destruction of public property by members of the minority community . Sanjay Dixit in his article in medium.com went to the extent of calling the street riots ‘Direct Action 2.0’ similar to Direct action in 1946.
In this piece I focus on minority educational institutes. The concept of minority institutes in a ‘secular’ country was never a good idea. I am building on the thoughts of Arihant Pawariya who writes on minority or communal institutes in his piece in Swarajya on Dec 18 2019 (link at the end ). He opines that these are ‘glorified ghettos that have flourished in the garb of minority rights’. This thought is likely to resonate with the majority in the country.
He gives specific examples of marquee institutes that ‘belong’ to minorities but are overwhelmingly funded by the government. The minority tag allows them to reserve the seats to members of their sect/community at the cost of other citizens. It gives them exemptions from reserving seats for socially backward groups. The minority run schools are also exempt from RTE (Right to Education) social responsibility.
Pawariya calls for removing the distinction between minority and non minority institutes. I am in complete agreement for removing the policy of minority institutions including amending the constitution if needed as suggested by him. It is obvious allowing minority institutions as a policy is detrimental to social integration. Instead, he suggests the concept of two streams – the secular and sectarian institutes. I disagree here. I advocate a Uniform Educational Code for schools- much like a Uniform Civil code which is often talked about . All Indian students should only be offered modern science and accurate arts and history in schools and academic colleges. No child should be exposed to ‘Sectarian’ education only. Such sectarian education can be pursued as an extra curricular activity privately by parents if they so desire. This is different from research or learning at higher level which could relate to a particular religion or community. Importantly such sectarian schools should not have government financial support.
Even if there was a uniform educational code it is likely there will be ‘extra curricular sectarian institutes’ as people will be keen to keep alive the customs of their religion or community. In such sectarian or cultural institutes I would advocate government oversight ( but no funding) so that students are not indoctrinated or radicalised in a harmful way. The aim of these institution is to preserve a particular culture not the destruction of other cultures and civilisations or indulge in meaningless violence based on beliefs.
The unpleasant scenes of violence by students and others was received with revulsion by the society in general. This was not lost on the students and their supporters. They are now attempting a course correction by singing the national anthem and reading the preamble of the Indian constitution. This is a welcome change. Cynics would call this a show to fool the gullible. In more ‘normal’ times people identifying themselves with these institutes would be seen pouring scorn on the national anthem or the constitution. This has prompted novelist Manu Joseph to come up with one more of his sarcastic comments on Twitter. He tweets – Modi has introduced so many Indians to the word ‘preamble’. Although Manu Joseph said this partly in jest there might be an element of truth too. I wonder if this will actually make more people take notice of the preamble and the inevitable awareness of the improper way the preamble was changed without debate during the emergency in 1976.
I will conclude by bringing the focus back on education. It is important to offer a uniform educational code which mandates that all children should have a modern education including humanities, science, math and computers that will produce a generation fit for the 21st century. In this, teaching accurate history is very important ! Why History ? Isn’t it all about a being ready for the future? Shashi Tharoor famously admonished the British – ‘If you don’t know where you come from, How will you know where you are going ?’ This is valid for India too. The youngsters belonging to this ancient civilisation need to be aware of their history and those who are agitating on the streets need this even more.
References
Arihant Pawariya , Swarajya Dec 2019 -https://swarajyamag.com/ideas/memo-to-modi-and-shah-its-time-to-stop-pampering-communal-educational-institutions-like-jamia-amu-st-stephens-etc
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