Tuesday 24 November 2020

Is Education needed to lead a country ?

 If an 8th pass or a 12th pass is a minister, the educated citizens are upset. Why ?



Knowlege is vaster than schooling, degrees.
Kamarajar never finished his scooling. " Kamaraj's father died when he was six years old and his mother was forced to support her family. In 1914 Kamaraj dropped out of school to support his family. He worked in his uncle's provision shop."
But under his chief ministership, "The State made immense strides in education and trade. New schools were opened, so that poor rural students had to walk no more than three kilometres to their nearest school. Better facilities were added to existing ones. No village remained without a primary school and no panchayat without a high school. Kamaraj strove to eradicate illiteracy by introducing free and compulsory education up to the eleventh standard.
He introduced the Midday Meal Scheme to provide at least one meal per day to the lakhs of poor school children ((The Mid-day Meal Scheme, was first introduced in 1920 by the Madras Corporation with the approval of the legislative council, as a breakfast scheme in a corporation school at Thousand Lights, Madras for the first time in the world)) Later it was expanded to four more schools. This was the precursor to the free noon meal schemes introduced by K. Kamaraj in 1960's and expanded by M. G. Ramachandran in the 1980s.[citation needed].

He introduced free school uniforms to weed out caste, creed and class distinctions among young minds."
A grounding and exposure as a farmer or an artisan should be the essential for leadership for this country.
Those grown up in affluence and in public schools are alienated from the people. They may be clerks to the actual leaders who need to be from the people.
More education only bestows more snobbery, and ensures a deep divide from the people.
Priya Ramanathan, Jaganraja Appadurai and 8 others
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  • Chitra Sharan
    Ex CM Thiru Kamaraj is a standing example of how education just does not matter to be a leader. Heart in the right place and plenty of common sense is what is needed. Education most often than not gives complicated sense to people than common sense.
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  • Kirron Bindu
    Pls take some medicines to extract the CPI and CMP out of u . Ur views sometimes are unreasonable at best and unreasonable at worse .
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    • 5y
  • Aparna Krishnan
    My understandings are from my village. Gandhism, Marxism, and every other ism insofar as it is rooted in that reality, and addresses the needs therein is of value to me. The deep common sense and rootedness of the ordinary Indian I would stand by anyday.
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  • Ekta Agarwal
    Aparna
    , you are mixing two very different concerns here. These 9th and 12th pass were educated in the most elite schools in the country and chose to idle their life. One of them was also in IPL, and also accused/convicted of eve teasing. Their parents, both were former CMs. They both have income declarations running into crores. If they were a farmer or an artisan, they would have been welcomed, but do you seriously think they deserve it? It is just dynasty politics at play, eligibility just doesn't have a chance. They have an elder sister who is a doctor, another sibling is an engineer, so on , so forth. They chose to do nothing, and now their Dad decided they are fit for politics. Please just do not go by 9thPass slogan, there is much more underneath it.
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    • Aparna Krishnan
      Exactly. So question that ! Lets not drag in the bogey of formal schooling.
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    • Aparna Krishnan
      And a potter or farmer would never have been welcomed. The elite would have been hooting at his accent and dress. We are more deeply snobbish than we knoe. There are layers and layers of conditioning to deal with.
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  • Rajesh Pandey
    I ageee with Aparna Krishnan that Education has the danger of bringing with it a closed mind. But, in this case the persons we are talking about are already in possession of closed minds which dynastic elitism brings. To compare them with Kamraj is gross blasphemy 🙂
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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran
    Kamarajar, case dismissed!
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Uneducated himself but ensured maximum govt schools were built and educated millions, who are the ones who made TN the best state in any socioeconomic parameter.
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  • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
    No one would have hooted if a Kamarajar had been given a top post, but we are not talking about Kamarajar here. Tejaswi Yadav has no credentials - be it academics, social activism or even moderate achievements in any field of choosing.
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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran
    Academics, Social activism would be nice things to have, but this notion that someone not educated won't deliver reeks of class bias. People who defended Smriti Irani are criticising Tejaswi. Ironical!
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      I agree with you that one should not be criticized solely for his/her educational standing viz a viz degrees. But, let us not get too carried away with unrestrained ideas about egalitarianism. A finance minister has to be erudite in modern economics. Smriti Irani in that sense is not a ideal choice for education minister, but she can definitely articulate her opinions(language is immaterial) clearly, unlike the person in question.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      This is not egalitarianism, but grounding. For the past 25 years we've had world bank grade FMs and economists ruining India. Might as well have someone who understands village and local economics.
      Tejaswi himself said, dot judge a book by it's cover. Isn't that enough articulation in an elite friendly language?
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      //Tejaswi himself said, dot judge a book by it's cover. Isn't that enough articulation in an elite friendly language?// I'm sure you don't really take this one liner self-appraisal as a definite indicator of his 'hidden potential'. Reasonable judgements can be made about a person's capability based on a his past history and track record. I'm afraid there is no redeeming features in Tejaswi Yadav - none at all!
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Well, looks like you've already made up your mind.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Inspire winning the highest seats, he with his brilliant political mind made Nitish the CM.
      Modi with his corporate/upper caste backing had to concede defeat to Laloo.
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      Let's keep our minds open, but not too open to allow garbage inside it! ஐந்தில் வளையாதது ஐம்பதில் வளையாது
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Who do you support?
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  • Rajesh Pandey
    Agreed, those who had defended Smriti Irani have no right to question the 9th fail Dy. CM. But, others have, since he owes his chair to dynastic succession alone.
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  • Komakkambedu Himakiran
    Haha, dynastic? Name one field in India except agriculture, livestock keeping, fisheries and artisan work where there is no dynastic policies?
    When Rohan Murthy can be accepted in Infosys, I'll accept Tejaswi as a minister in Bihar. He's privy to one of the most brilliant political minds of India.
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      Right! I'm sure Bihar has benefited immensely from the enterprise and wisdom of this most brilliant political mind ,Lallu Yadav.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Ask the oppressed people over there. Just because the upper caste filled corporate owned media portrays him as bad, we don't have to believe it.
      He is not good or bad, he's just political.
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      Yes, The perception that Fodder scam is an actual scam is essentially perpetuated by the upper class mentality, whereas Lalloo was just being political.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Let the law take its course. We are not debating the scam or his part in it. I just said he has a great political mind which is a perceptive issue.
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      That political mind would benefit the masses if it comes out with ideas on governance, like Nitish Kumar does.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Well, he's used that to back Nitish, so why do you complain?
      Meanwhile the brilliant mind of Modi & Shah put up posters of cows in the 5th phase of the Bihat elections held in 4 eastern Bihar districts with high Muslim population. Muslim radical Owaisi also put his best efforts in that phase, both got the rightful thrashing by our politically savvy RURAL Bihar folks.
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  • Rajesh Pandey
    Komalkambedu Himakiran Anu ji, if dynastic succession is acceptable to you, then I have nothing to say. We agree to disagree.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Well, if you accept it in other fields, why not on politics? It's not like they are made MLAs or MPs, they still stand the electoral test.
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      Granted, Lallo is cute and charming and hence he stands above 'upper class' criticism.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      No the whole portrayal of him as a rural duffer is by the upper caste media and so called intellectuals and he plays to the galleries. He's a student leader from the JP movement. Most people don't know that.
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      One can be rural and uneducated and still maintain a dignified demeanor 
      Komakkambedu Himakiran Anugula
       On the other hand one can be highly educated and still be a buffoon if we go by the example of the GOP.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      What's your point? Who do you support?
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      "Rural and uneducated and still maintain a dignified demeanour"
      Haha, that's exactly the classist bias I mentioned.
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      Class, bourgeois, et all..We all know which school of thought prompts such misguided talk.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Haha, spoken like a true blue Nagpurite!
      I hate Left as much as I hate the right!
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      That does not automatically make you a centrist. Taking words out of context and assuming a high moral ground by claiming to be above the so called 'class biases' as you put it, doesn't make your opinion sound any more reasonable than a leftist. You started the ad-hominem salvo, not me. 🙂
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Ad-hominen? What does that mean?
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      Attacking a person's character rather than rebutting/ dealing with the points raised. Essentially what the 'class bias' type arguments lead to.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Well, what do you say to someone who goes after someone's education credentials?
      Did you do the same when Smriti Irani became HRD minister?
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      Already talked about Smriti Irani in this thread. Invalid comparison.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      So is your egalitarian argument
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      Without mincing words, I have to say that anyone who supports politicians like Lalloo with misguided notions like 'class bias', 'corruption is better than communalism', 'goonda raj is better than riots', 'he represents the poor and lower classes', 'he is a cool, charming and astute politician', etc are guilty of abetting the most regressive brand of politics that has enslaved the people of our country for the past seven decades. You would do well to realize that so called seculars like Lalloo indulge in every dirty trick to divide the society based on caste and religion for securing their vote-bank.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Haha, BJP is upper caste politics!
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      If they were so progressive why did put up cow posters?
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Anyone accusing politicians of caste politics needs to look at the parties they support. They will inevidently be upper caste!
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      Where did I support BJP here? In fact I tend to agree more and more with Markhanday Katju that every politician is deeply corrupt and the system needs a complete overhaul. It would be infinitely more acceptable to celebrate Nitish's or more broadly the coalition's victory, but what you chaps are infact doing is celebrating Lalloo's victory and projecting him as a hero and savior of secularism. I hope you realize that this is a problem.
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Haha, Nitish is not pandering to caste? Heard of Mahadalits?
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      For that, he did get a stab on his back from Jitan Ram Manjhi 🙂
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      That's irrelevant here, you said Nitish, and I've proved he also panders to caste.
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    • Naveen Manikandan Periasamy
      He can actually get some work done on the ground and personally is not corrupt.
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  • Rajesh Pandey
    Laloo remains a convict till date.
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  • Aparna Krishnan
    We have had plenty of white collared white-men-in-brown-skins running the show, with sheer disdain for the illiterate masses. Believeing that the road to development can be lined with dreams and bodies of the illiterate masses. And then when they are moved out of villages into slums it is for their good. Give me men and women with village understanding in their blood. On their understanding, we will work. It will be rooted in reality. And finally, in respect. The 'feudal' landlord has greater understanding and respect for the SC that the educated activist (who calls them the 'masses') ! Yes, this I know goes beyond the pale of political correctness.
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  • Alladi Mahadevan
    Aparna Krishnan
     neither it is global the educated have gone nuts or the uneducated have gone nuts. Boils down to the actual attitude of people towards people na
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    • Aparna Krishnan
      No. Education. modern education, carries a huge baggage. It alienates, makes supercilious, and teaches disdain. We need people rooted in indian ways (yes, that means 'less educated' !) taking charge. Give them a chance !
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    • Alladi Mahadevan
      O 
      Aparna Krishnan
       more people are looking at the pitfalls their education has given them 🙂
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    • Aparna Krishnan
      I am worried about the pitfalls it has given the 'uneducated' !!
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    • Alladi Mahadevan
      ya no doubt but either way we cannot be sure. We have seen the educated and uneducated capitalising on the situation 🙂
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    • Aparna Krishnan
      The 'uneducated' are rooted. The 'educated' are alienated and condescending. Even if all else was considered even (which I dont, but that we'll keep aside for now.). I will go for the rooted one.
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    • Alladi Mahadevan
      Ya that is a choice but inspite of all circumstances you are speaking of both sides have capitalised on the situation. We cannot say this is right or wrong na 🙂 Again more than saying whether to have the educated or uneducated would prefer something actually happening.
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    • Alladi Mahadevan
      Btw the issue here Lalu and his family running Bihar. I would not support them with or without education 🙂
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  • Rajesh Pandey
    A person convicted for corruption is not personally corrupt ? Sounds interesting !!!
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    • Komakkambedu Himakiran
      Looks like you've got Laloomania! The point made by the person was about Nitish!
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  • Rajesh Pandey
    The preceding comment mentioned Laloo. Hence my presumption.
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  • Vidyasankar Sundaresan
    But these aren't any 8th and 12th pass children from anywhere in India, are they? They are dynastic heirs. Do they really represent a victory of the common man?
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    • Aparna Krishnan
      These are bad examples. But do you think that if a 8th pass farmer were to rise, the educated elite could stomach it. they would be sure that he will drown the country, they would die of shame at his tamil-fluency and halting-english. Their deepest patriotic drives would come to the fore as they bewail the country's fate.
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    • Aparna Krishnan
      Also if a very corrupt harvard educated politician's son (also harvard educated) were to inherit the mantle, it would cause less heartburn than here.
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    • Vidyasankar Sundaresan
      You know, different sections of the educated elite just choose different targets to fling mud at. Some question Smriti Irani, others question the Yadavs. This doesn't make the educated people completely wrong, nor completely right.
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    • Aparna Krishnan
      The educated, because of their very education, are alienated from the people. In that sense I would prefer a man of the soil to lead. And, as for corruption, each has equal claim to that heritage. the elite cloak their corruption sometimes by making laws that legalize it !
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    • Aparna Krishnan
      Lallo's scam may have cost the country less than some hightly educated who sold the country at one stroke to IMF !
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  • Rajesh Pandey
    The elite dynastic rulers have generally proved themselves poor leaders in post Independent India, with a few notable exceptions like Naveen Patnaik. The urbane children of Laloo are neither rooted to the ground nor are educated. May I dare say that education has some advantages too if one has compassion.
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  • Rajesh Pandey
    India has had tall and respected leaders like Devi Lal who had delivered results for the rural population, despite lacking educational degrees. So, a genuine grassroots leader like Anna Hazare commands respect of the urban educated class and Laloo's sons fail to get the same, both not having educational degrees, notwithstanding. So, people have capability to differentiate, I believe.

  • Pavan Manikanta Kumar
    (Updating my comment) In the last few years things are changing for better. Many IITians have entered into entrepreneurship and trying to solve issues in India.
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  • Aparna Krishnan
    In my experience, the higher the modern learning, the lower the understanding of the des, the lesser the common sense, and the lesser the social sense.
    The de - schooling path is much longer. Been there, done that.
    So to me IITs have meant little, as also IIMS or IISc. If a few of them are attempting something my best wishes to them.


All of us, educated in English medium, let us never forget.
That our education has alienated us from the soil of this land in final ways. That was what McCauley designed it to do.
To realise that is the first step.
To search for the way back. Guided at each step by the peoples of this land ... The homecoming.
Most however stay unaware of their loss of roots. Assuming on the contrary that their IIT, or IIM or Oxford degrees mean something special. And in that deluded state, take on the reins of the country. A country they have lost understanding of. And drive it to disaster.

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