Look Beyond The Text Book!

Whenever I sit down to think about the state of the art technologies and advancements that we as a country are imbibing and achieving, there arises questions as to how many people are directly impacted. Is the estimated turn around as expected to be? Is this the solution for numerous problems we face? Does that simplify tasks at hand?

I will be wrong in stating that we are not reaping the benefits of technology. An astounding success story is that of mobile technology. It has penetrated every corner, virtually, making life easier. Hail telecommunications! Apart from that, that I can think of at this very moment, there hasn't been a notable revolutionary change in the ways of living if you consider the country as a whole. Of course, there is information technology but its more hypothetical than practical, at present. Glad, we are emerging! We are so prosperous in terms of population that every technology has a flip side, in abundance.

• Enhanced medical technology through CT Scan led to increased female foeticide. 
• Advancements in chemical industries have aggravated environmental hazards without proper waste disposal methods.
• Automated meters installed on your public transportation systems are tampered in every possible way.
• You have rain water harvesting mechanisms in households whilst the city streets flood with no proper drainage system.
• And many other instances where there are more offenders than followers, more problems than solutions!

The point is, the downside is equally persistent as its upside. And with such unequal distribution of knowledge, how are we going to be a developed nation even after 65 years of independence? We are in a state where the rich continues to be rich and the poor continues to be poor. (If I have to interject, I ain't a communist!) The scale of equality doesn't seem to exist for the good. And the mother of all these problems is quality education in this country.

One has millions of schools and colleges, but how many of those institutions produce quality students and citizens? How many villages still do not have proper access to basic education? The country is mostly run by semi-literates. These are the guys who are key policy makers and who are 'our elected representatives'. And how is it remotely possible for any advancement in a rapid mode as is required now?

The apathy towards education is dancing in the way of progress. People's decisions are clouded by emotions - where enforcing English medium in regional schools leads to protests. Women are still a inferior lot who are emerging only as decades roll by. There is uproar against adaption of modern agricultural techniques, viz., genetically modified crops. In addition, the quality of education has a direct impact on economy. Had it been a stronger economy, we would have outsourced many a jobs rather than being outsourced!

One topic worthy of mention is : the Right To Education Act passed in 2009. As we have been witnessing, it started taking shape only  in the academic year of 2012-13. However, it has brought along its own problems and glitches. Many economically backward population were completely unaware - by the way, they are the key stakeholders! Such are the communication channels and such is the set up. No forums created, no measures undertaken to drive it across and the government is still milling around. And there is a mammoth struggle in steering the rule in the right direction! If this is the outcome after 4 years of initiation, then when can we expect the fruits!?

For once, lets accept that the country, along with many laudable achievements and laurels, is also infamous for its rapid growth in the area of corruption; high-end or low-end, the range is always wider. This is a great analogy of the superior taking advantage of the inferior in many cases. The inferior is that one mere peasant who is either an illiterate, semi-literate, literate, nonetheless - lazy, irrational or whose mantra is "Short Cut To Success" or the one who digs a way out of the judicial process etc. Had education been wider and laws been stronger we would have been marching with heads held high, always. The parasite is so existent and in some cases dormant, that there are many new injuries surpassing recovery of the old.

Its disgraceful that most of the productive work is lost in resurrecting the errors caused by improper processes, unethical behavior and undutiful actions. Its quite hard to single out a reason for a snail paced progress in terms of quality, but the result is as we see it today. We are reaching an impasse along with progress, simultaneously.

The inequality in the standards of education clearly demarcates rural from urban sectors. Why cannot there be unified standards? Doesn't it help farmers adapt new technologies easily, innovate and enrich farming methods? Doesn't it result in increased productivity and hence increased revenue? Will it not stop movement of people for petty jobs to cities? Doesn't this innovative cities? Doesn't this improve the living conditions of urbanites? Doesn't this result in a just society? Doesn't this reduce crime rates? Doesn't this create more jobs? To a greater extent, this is also a solution to brain drain!

As much as I'm sounding as a pessimist, I'm optimistic enough that we will have better leaders in the future with a belief that the longest way round is the shortest way home. It could be anyone of us. We have our bit in everything we do. Let our decisions be judicious and we shall conquer, one day! We just need to pick pace, isn't?  :)