The fact is; yes, I would like to know WHY Smriti Irani didnt complete her graduate degree. I think all the arguments that come from the angle of Mark Zuckerberg! Bill Gates! Steve Jobs! or presume that all the askers showcase a bias of privilege or elitism are completely missing the point. The question is not one of capabilities vs. education. No one is denying that high qualifications or a post doctorate dont necessarily amount to capability or good governance and vice versa. But there is a certain ideological belief that comes with being an HRD Minister-- a commitment to the idea that education is important. Necessary, even. That there is something about education and higher education that makes it a policy goal to be achieved. That EVEN IF youre otherwise capable, it is the States mandate to allow you to reach the highest possible level of academic achievement and growth that you want to reach, and direct part of its limited resources towards that cause. That its something worth aproportioning our GDP for, instead of putting it into other pressing, perhaps more immediately beneficial welfare schemes. There are a variety of reasons for someone to not want to get into higher education-- lack of funds, lack of opportunities, the fact that, unlike primary education, its considered a privilege not a right, a belief that it isnt necessary for ones chosen career, the incapacity of the traditional system to handle non-traditional academic requirements, all of which are legitimate individual concerns and need to be looked into for the benefit of our young population. And on that count, I want to know what Ms. Iranis reason is. If its that higher education isnt necessary for success or doesnt particularly increase ones capabilities, then, while that might be true, surely its at odds with the ideology of a Ministry that, inter alia, should be dedicated to the cause of the millions of students in this country spending their entire school lives trying to get into good colleges, spending significant amounts of money, taking student loans etc., to stay in those colleges, in the (possibly mistaken) belief that their education is going to get them somewhere in life? Surely the perspective of a Minister is going to reflect in the policies made on the subject, and a use-value approach to education threatens so many disciplines not based on the question of traditional use-value at all? Surely when even Mr. Chetan Bhagat, a product of not one, but two of the premier institutions of this country, starts talking about the lack of coherent connection between education and capability in Ms. Iranis defense, it is a cause for concern? Surely we have a right to ask what we, as part of this educational system, are gaining by it? And if its some other legitimate reason that governed Ms. Iranis decision, a reason that demonstrates that our system is simply a stacked deck, solely beneficial to the already privileged, then she needs to be the first one to address the issue. We dont need the Government and Opposition parties playing a mud-slinging game of elitism vs. incompetency, what we need is for Ms. Irani to speak up about her choice, and throw some light on the current status of education, and especially higher education in India, which she is in a position to do. And if shes not acquainted with the system, then, having decided not to get into it, she must, it is to be assumed, be acquainted with its flaws, acquainted with what exactly it is that would make students want to or have to drop out of it. And indisputably, its her duty as the HRD Minister to not only initiate policy directly tackling these shortcomings in the system, but also to vocally address those issues and make her personal experience the starting point for a debate long overdue in this country. Taking pot-shots at Dr. Manmohan Singh and talking about how his PhD didnt save this country from ruination is a bad faith counter-argument, and mostly irrelevant to the question. Not least because Dr. Singh has actually performed more than admirably as our Finance Minister, not to mention internationally in the field of Economics, which, after all, is the subject in which he does have a degree. The placement of that argument in this discourse would be on the basis of the issue that Dr. Singh has a Doctorate from Oxford, which again raises questions about our domestic system of higher education. That Ms. Irani might turn out to be the most brilliant, competent and effective Minister that this Ministry has yet had is both; potentially true, and not in issue. She, after all, happens to be in the unique position of not being weighed down by traditionalism and can bring in some genuine innovation and a fresh perspective in the lagging system. Ms. Iranis appointment isnt the problem, our educational system is. Because the fact is, regardless of other considerations, this is still an important question. As citizens of this country, directly affected by Ms. Iranis appointment, as citizens of this country investing time, money, energy in this system, or even just as citizens of this country, we have a right to ask. And someone needs to answer. The real, hard question here is; what is it about our system of higher education that would make even a prospective HRD Minister not want to be a part of it?
Posted on: Wed, 28 May 2014 13:33:20 +0000
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