“I was born intelligent, education ruined me”, not merely a word slogan on a t-shirt, a symbol of decadence of education. A view voiced by youth of today commenting on the maladies afflicting education. I seek to prove beyond all probability and any doubt that political interference is the ultimate corruptor of education. At the very outset, the state shall be differentiated from politics. The Indian welfare state under Article 21a is constitutionally obligated to provide free and fair education to children less than 14 years of age. Its measures are designed for eradication of illiteracy and ignorance. The political affairs or business activities characterized by artful and often-dishonest practices is competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership. Its measures are designed for echoes of blind obedience. The principal function of education is imparting knowledge and skill for the development of an individual. It is imperative for creation of such a conducive environment to facilitate independent and objective thinking. The course curriculum entails diverse subjects such as science and humanities. These basic concepts develop the code in a pupil which will form his barometer to gauge rationality and morality of human conduct. After each election we witness a change in the ruling party due to ante incumbency. With a change of government there is a change in syllabi due to political interference. The politicians deem it entirely reasonable and necessary to indoctrinate the masses with there ideologies, here the ruling party, sub serves the objective of state education to propagation of its political sensibilities. The dangerous effects of the same are prima facia evident. A student taught a ‘novel’ subject astrology scoring abysmally in the semester exams will cite unfavorable planet alignment as an excuse. A student taught a interpretation of medieval Indian society to be stagnant and uncultured will be ashamed of Indian nationality. A heavy cocktail by the political bartenders, breeds irrationality and militant sub nationalism. When selection and prescription of syllabi is dictated by political sensibilities we witness the derogation of education, the origination of propaganda. I urge my colleagues not to term the same ‘doctoring textbooks’, abusing the medical profession by equating them with aya rams and gaya rams. The cancer of political interference has multifarious forms. It also plagues education by compromising its autonomy and management. Several academicians and alumni of premier government engineering and management instructions state autonomy to be the reason de etre for their success. Autonomy imbibes the adage of thinking global and acting local, and the all encroaching compass of political interference seeks to corrode the same. The same is highlighted by the illustration of excellence of minority administered institutions. Due to there minority status, political interference here is minimal. The crystallization of this proposition being found the quality of education administered in St. Columbus School, New Delhi and St. Stephens College, Delhi. These institutions rank ahead there contemporaries due to there minority endowed autonomy. There have been relentless efforts directed against the curriculum of the school and the interview process of the college in order to monopolize dissemation of knowledge by the politicians to suit there private agenda. I seek to remind this learned gathering that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The intention of the politicians even if motivated by common good when compromises autonomy compromises independent thought, essential for a democracy. We must guard against thought control and manufacture of consent by politicians, we must ensure that our youth is not another brick in the manifesto wall. Politics Interference should not pollute the holy waters of education. It should maintain its purpose. What purpose is that you ask? “to make people easy to lead, but difficult to follow; easy to govern, but impossible to enslave”
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