Neutrality of academics

Neutrality of academics

The above caption might be a bit discomforting and to some not really relevant, but I believe it’s a serious issue to look into. The power of academic hegemony is extremely underrated in the modern world of communication. In the article I will be taking up a few examples so as to further illustrate my point.

As a student of political science it is very important to criticize and question any theory, irrespective of its importance. Some of the basic areas of specialization in the discipline are open to critical questioning. Comparative politics is one such example, students are told that such a discipline based on comparison helps to find out best method, but the key question is ‘’what is the best method?’’ ‘’ what are the parameters for declaring a winner?’’. At the end of the day the answer is the modern liberal democracy, the forms might vary from parliamentary to presidential but the larger structure remains, such a discourse has been repeated to the point of exhaustion, but if we sit back and analyze the repetition, its absurdity is brought to light, what about communitarian societies and other multi communal ones? Are we to just brush them aside as irrelevant? I am not questioning any type nor justifying it, in fact the  argument is based on the fact that such a comparison is absurd, societies and nations grow differently, the post colonial democracies were different in the sense that institutions of democracy were thrust upon them rather than evolving as in the case of western countries. In the modern world a student of social science and an illiterate worker will both vouch for democracy as the supreme form of government. The challenge is to answer the question ‘’why?’’ in an unbiased manner

The usual rhetoric of academics is an extremely useful tool even in the hands of the state, as academicians this should be the very basis of enquiry. The US state department was very receptive of modernization theories and the methods of David Easton, it served as a great ideological countering tool to soviet hegemony in the cold war era, David Easton later admitted his mistake for falling prey to the foreign policy propaganda, as academicians it is our responsibility as academicians to not pursue and propagate blind value judgements, we are in the field of social and natural sciences, universalisation is problematic, each value is attached to given contextual environment.

Is realpolitik of Kautilya and hegemonic discourse of chineese tradition put on par with Morgenthau and waltz?

 I rest my case and my arguments in the hands of capable academicians and readers.

 comments are welcomed

EDUCATION

Education' it is indisputability one of the most important aspect of humankind and also a pressing need in the modern era. Education is not all about degrees, certificates and marks but also about human development. Its basic job is to enable a human being to differentiate between right and wrong, it may seem an idealistic notion in the modern cut throat world, but such values should not be underestimated.

Unfortunately the true meaning of the world 'education' has been diluted in the Indian context. The list of problems is endless and no matter how moderated one wants to portray it, it's impossible not to feel radical about it. The entire system lies in shambles and is a rotten mess. The semester system and its introduction may be the brewing debate but that is hardly the issue, there are several underlying problems which easily get papered over.

The debate about education will inevitably relate to the higher education model, but the root problems as always is at grass root level. It has become commercialized and far too expensive for most, but the quality is lacking. An expensive school with the state of the art infrastructure hardly guarantees quality education. Students are overburdened, discouraged to pursue extra-curricular activities and meticulously trained in rote learning. It is hardly a surprise that students are clueless even at the graduate and post graduate levels. As Karl Marks points out, if the bass is week, the super structure bound to fail.

 The worst part is that professors with frightening C.Vs (curriculum Vita) encourage such follies only to mask their own incompetence. The formula is simple, memorize by heart without understanding, fill up the examination sheets and carry home the marks. If such is the condition with the nation's elite universities, one can only shudder to think of the condition of others. It's the case with all streams. Creativity is despised, simply because of the patience needed to harness it. Social sciences suffer quite badly and actually are considered reserved for girls (blatant patriarchal norms) and weaker students. A student in a working class family either becomes an engineer, doctor or complete and M.B.A, not always because he wants to, but as he has no option. I am not against any stream, each one has his relevance, but only whenever properly channelized. Vocational education is completely absent. Education is only complete when one enjoys it, not when one grinds it through.

Societies, civilizations and nations have always developed through criticism, people have questioned in an attempt to develop and change for the better, and unfortunately questioning a teacher in the Indian system is blasphemy as it is considered insulting a Guru. The culture still seems to continue from the Vedic days of memorizing texts by heart. A teacher – student relationship is wonderful one build on mutual respect, where both learn from each other, it does not need restrict hierarchical regimentation where by students are even afraid to look at the teacher, let alone ask questions.

The movie 3 Idiots clearly sheds light on all these problems by potraying it beautifully. It's quite absurd to study something without understanding it, it takes no racking of brains to memorize a book, a set of notes or a guide book and vomit it, but it takes far more effort to create something or spontaneously come up on the spot solution. After all, the personalities who came up with theories and inventions were not from another planet but human beings like rest of us.

Education has to be based on quality not quantity. One can make all the laws for providing it or provide meals as incentives, but one cannot be forcefully thought. Quality education ensures that one wants to study because he or she likes it. It may not be fair to compare with other countries but learning from others may not be a bad idea. It's not a co-incidence that our best brains from all streams settle abroad and serve other nations or that bright young students frustrated with the system want to go abroad to crave out their own niche as (through) education has no respect or value in the country. The only obsession is with money and to earn a livelihood (a luxurious one). A radical overall is need it where by young dynamic people joint the educational sector to get rid of the dead wood (some of the so called professors may not even be able to crack the Net exam). The nobility of teaching must be restored.

A country has no future if its educated youth does not participate in its governance and its only obvious that criminals fill in this vacuum. Only a proper qualitative education (not necessarily degrees and gigantic marks) can prepare a nation's youth. A teacher is not the one who can help it's students get undeservedly high marks but the one who can help each student achieve his/her true optimum potential and creativity. In short we need an (educational renaissance).         

  

comments welcome 

KASHMIR

KASHMIR ISSUE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

We have all had enough time to go over this topic about Kashmir and its solutions but the situation just goes from bad to worse, its high time we get an answer but before that lets ask ourselves that are we asking the right questions because without doing so we will never arrive at the appropriate answer.

There are several constant reasons that remain in this scenario, the primary among them being the role of Pakistan and its historical consequences, it sometimes borders on the absurd that at any trivial incident Pakistan is dragged at all costs and blamed.

In the sphere of international relations no country is blameless and sacrosanct, while it would be foolhardy to ignore the misdeeds of our neighbouring  countries, one must not let obsession to become the order of the day.

The problem is that most of the civil society is asleep, understanding the surface layer  is not enough, one must try to dig deep to uncover the realities. As an educated citizen it would be disappointing to blindly conform to the notions of the state, it is extremely easy to think the way the state wants us to think. Kashmir is not the sole problem, the attention it garners in the media reflects and overemphasizes its predicament, in the northeast, villages in orissa, rural areas in Bengal jharkand one can find several conditions worse than that of Kashmir.

The media like several other mechanisms is clearly manipulated by the state, exaggerating Kashmir stories is mutually beneficial, sells in the current market and also propagates causes of the state. It is of vital importance to go beyond theses superficial layers and expose the hidden motives. The international sphere heavily depends on the domestic one as such it is beneficial to disguise domestic issues by creating a common enemy. The notion of patriotism to the nation state is clearly twisted to benefit a few, one can unite billions by potraying an external force and impending danger to national security.

Kashmir is clearly not an alien land, it is our own proper democracy and economic growth can go a long way to bring about stability. I am not suggesting to withdraw all the forces and completely abandon it, security is important but so is upliftment in the living standards, socio-economic development is crucial in helping the people restore normalcy in their lives. It is imperative to not even give the slightest opportunity to the perverted forces to recruit the youth for suicide bombings. It is quite clear that some beneficiaries want Kashmir to remain the current Kashmir but it is our duty to restore it to its rightful place as the paradise on earth.

Contented people do not need to be forcefully ruled, the civil society instead of being gainfully unemployed must rise up and  put pressure on the concerned agencies, the state is an authority created to protect the civil society and ultimately the citizens hold the power , lets utilize it not by revolution but by evolution, education is of no use if it does not uplift society.

There is a lot at stake for many parties in Kashmir but we have the maximum interest so it is imperative to react accordingly, the problem is definitely not simple but lets not make it more complex.

We cannot afford to lose this battle as in case of our failure several more areas will become Kashmir in the near future.

comments are welcomed