The Indian elections have now entered their final lap with the results being declared tomorrow.
That being said, I wouldn't deny I'm posting this specific article a little late, but I'd prefer to comfort myself by saying "Better late than never". These elections, the largest democratic elections the Earth has ever seen, have definitely been intriguing, not to mention competitive. Never before have I seen these leaders work so tirelessly, giving their everything and not missing a chance to impress the voters. On the other hand, the media, in my opinion, has played a truly remarkable role by constantly keeping all parties on their toes, pressurizing parties when they were getting ugly, and also analyzing and debating the elections with lots of enthusiasm and dedication. The parties cautiously planning each move of theirs, using their best marketing techniques, and carefully laying down their manifesto has set me thinking on a different line, however.
If one looks at how exactly the parties have appealed to voters, one can find various issues like development, public facilities, industrial growth, eradication of poverty, and inevitably caste and religion. However, I was deeply saddened to see hardly any politician speak about education, and a way to improve the constantly deteriorating education system. I wouldn't call that surprising, however, for at least two major reasons:
1) With a growing educated population, parties might be worried that more-and-more people would be able to see right through their plans and strategies.
2) Education doesn't give any immediate benefits to the country like industrial development does, and thus is not a cause of concern to the general voter. In other words, education, yielding no instantaneous harvest, is not a good way to appeal to the common man.
On the other hand, I feel that an ignorance from the voter towards education is a matter of shame.
He wants eradication of poverty,
he wants an end to communal riots,
he wants an end to wars,
he wants a better quality of life,
he wants more literate and thinking politicians,
he wants industries coming to India,
he wants lots of employment opportunities,
he wants everything.
Yet, what he probably doesn't realize is that he can get all of this with patience and education. Education can definitely convert all these wants into a reality, with just some amount of patience.
What sort of an education? Scientific education.
How is knowing Newton's Laws of motion going to solve these national problems? It's not.
It is not the education of the theory of science, but rather the education of the spirit of science, that solves these problems. How? Let us look at certain aspects of the scientific spirit and thought:
1) Question the obvious.
2) Question everything.
3) Demand evidence for every claim made.
4) Think rationally.
5) Accept new ideas and embrace change, provided there's enough evidence supporting their authenticity.
These were just some of the fundamental elements of scientific thought, the list can go on forever. Science makes us think beyond the boundaries created in our mind. It discourages prejudices, and promotes rational thought. It makes us feel humble, yet powerful. It gives us knowledge, but leaves us thirsty for more. It tells us to search for the truth and respect all others around us. It tells us that if there are to be wars, let them be fought by thought and evidence, not by weapons and money. It teaches us equality. It tells us that it is not the purity of gold but the purity of thought that makes a person rich. It tells us to respect nature, for that, is our home. It tells us that we are all humans, not Hindus, Muslims and Christians. I feel that most of these ideas are encapsulated perfectly by Carl Sagan, out here:
I don't expect politicians and leaders to talk about education and science. I rather feel that we as voters must talk about it. We must realize that these are the long-term solution to all our problems and crises. Let us have patience, be true to ourselves, and our species. We need an educated country. We need people free of biases. We need dedicated leaders. We need a disciplined, yet free country. The wants could come later. It is a matter of shame that we value our wants much higher than our needs in the world of today. Let us work for a better India. Rather, a better world. Let us initiate the politics for a better tomorrow.
[PS - There is no intention of gender discrimination wherever 'he' has been used, and not 'she']
That being said, I wouldn't deny I'm posting this specific article a little late, but I'd prefer to comfort myself by saying "Better late than never". These elections, the largest democratic elections the Earth has ever seen, have definitely been intriguing, not to mention competitive. Never before have I seen these leaders work so tirelessly, giving their everything and not missing a chance to impress the voters. On the other hand, the media, in my opinion, has played a truly remarkable role by constantly keeping all parties on their toes, pressurizing parties when they were getting ugly, and also analyzing and debating the elections with lots of enthusiasm and dedication. The parties cautiously planning each move of theirs, using their best marketing techniques, and carefully laying down their manifesto has set me thinking on a different line, however.
If one looks at how exactly the parties have appealed to voters, one can find various issues like development, public facilities, industrial growth, eradication of poverty, and inevitably caste and religion. However, I was deeply saddened to see hardly any politician speak about education, and a way to improve the constantly deteriorating education system. I wouldn't call that surprising, however, for at least two major reasons:
1) With a growing educated population, parties might be worried that more-and-more people would be able to see right through their plans and strategies.
2) Education doesn't give any immediate benefits to the country like industrial development does, and thus is not a cause of concern to the general voter. In other words, education, yielding no instantaneous harvest, is not a good way to appeal to the common man.
On the other hand, I feel that an ignorance from the voter towards education is a matter of shame.
He wants eradication of poverty,
he wants an end to communal riots,
he wants an end to wars,
he wants a better quality of life,
he wants more literate and thinking politicians,
he wants industries coming to India,
he wants lots of employment opportunities,
he wants everything.
Yet, what he probably doesn't realize is that he can get all of this with patience and education. Education can definitely convert all these wants into a reality, with just some amount of patience.
What sort of an education? Scientific education.
How is knowing Newton's Laws of motion going to solve these national problems? It's not.
It is not the education of the theory of science, but rather the education of the spirit of science, that solves these problems. How? Let us look at certain aspects of the scientific spirit and thought:
1) Question the obvious.
2) Question everything.
3) Demand evidence for every claim made.
4) Think rationally.
5) Accept new ideas and embrace change, provided there's enough evidence supporting their authenticity.
I don't expect politicians and leaders to talk about education and science. I rather feel that we as voters must talk about it. We must realize that these are the long-term solution to all our problems and crises. Let us have patience, be true to ourselves, and our species. We need an educated country. We need people free of biases. We need dedicated leaders. We need a disciplined, yet free country. The wants could come later. It is a matter of shame that we value our wants much higher than our needs in the world of today. Let us work for a better India. Rather, a better world. Let us initiate the politics for a better tomorrow.
[PS - There is no intention of gender discrimination wherever 'he' has been used, and not 'she']
