IS EDUCATION A PRE-REQUISITE FOR SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRACY?
Education as a pre-requisite for a successful democracy compels one to think about the traits that need to be associated with a democracy. Is it the same, what Abraham Lincoln had said once “government for the people, of the people and by the people. “ May be a lateral interpretation of it; a system of governance by a sensitive population for their own need and working towards greatest good of the greatest number. Thus, the success of a democracy squarely lies on the people and the desired goals of it can be scored, if it functions within a small geographical area having a sizable population; like Greek city-states. Experience has shown that the success of a democracy peters of when both; the area of operation and the population expand. The quality of democracy lies only with intense interaction and accountability among various components; the people and other governing machineries created for their benefit. Than, what about India, which occupies the distinction of being the largest democracy in the World.
Somewhat surprisingly, the basic literacy level, leave aside the education index of the population is abysmally low in comparison to a host of developed as well as developing countries. The widely prevailing perception is that, among the various formats of social contracts, democracy stands as the least harmful. Human civilization is replete with instances that reinforce the principle of inherent craving of the mankind to thwart any type of suppression under the multifarious guise of monarchy, dictatorship, totalitarianism or the more acceptable communism and socialism. The indomitable human spirit for freedom has overthrown slavery, apartheid and demolished the iron curtains and not necessarily with the aid of education. Democracy provides the platform with scope for maximum human expression and acceptability of this form of governance hinges on being the lesser evil among the lot, not an absolute bliss in itself.
To quote a cliché some people can be fooled for some period but all the people cannot be fooled for all the time. No suppressive regime, with any degree of military might, has been able to withstand the simmering anger of the people in spite of the illiteracy of the mass. The collective consciousness of the people has a being of its own, that manifests in rebellion and precipitates a capsize of the applecart. Some glaring examples that stand witness to the almost instinct-like spirit for self-rule, in the living memory are the French revolution, abolition of slavery in North America, Indian Independence from British colonialism, the collapse of Berlin Wall, the melting-down of apartheid in South Africa etc. The moral of the story is that unlike other creatures’ human beings have the propensities to strive for a system of governance that permits a laissez faire of thought, expression and feelings, which are only possible in a democratic set-up. Thus, it can be fairly assumed that in the absence of education or for that matter even elementary literacy the mankind has moved towards a safer goal that can be called a democracy.
A vibrant, successful democracy is participatory in its fundamental structure. The art and craft of distributive decision making constitute the kernel of democracy. It is a way of consensual political existence that provides civilized outlet for both the will to power and desire for self-determination. The former, to the ruling class and the later, to the general mass. Success demands the ruler as well as the ruled to be capable of forming their own opinion and making an evaluation of it, in proper perspective. A heightened degree of tolerance is a necessary corollary of the democratic mechanism. These attitudinal ingredients are inculcated by a suitable exposure to different stream of humanities. This ability to weigh the pros and cons of the issues that have a bearing on the economic, political, religious affairs of short term and long-term existence can be relegated to persons of dependable integrity. This act of choosing the right person is the arduous part of a functioning democracy. To elect a representative who possesses the capability to reconcile the conflicting interests of separate groups is a complicated exercise and demand the acumen of a perspicuous person. The tribe of small time manipulative operators, masquerading as politicians are a dime a dozen. This act of choosing the right man reposes a great responsibility on the people in general. Here comes the role of education. The crucial decisions taken by so-called uneducated mass of India belies the misconception that the so-called ignorant gullible people are incapable of electing the suitable party or person. It must be borne in mind that the choice has been always the best among the available alternatives on the part of the electorate.
Education per se provides a window to the world. Nevertheless, how much one chooses to see depends more on the factors like the vision and the desire to behold than on the size of the window. Now education has been devalued to the level of a tradable commodity and has lost its sight as an instrument of liberation, a means to nourish greater values in life and attempt to realize it. Education has purely become another means of production i.e. a way to open new frontiers in materialism. The hues of hedonism have multiplied. Education has undergone a metamorphosis and the product is a mechanized cerebral entity that knows the price of everything and value of none. A handful of events will speak volumes about the decay that has seeped in to our educational edifice. Unlike the olden days, the majority of the present parliamentarians are educated and what have we seen in the vote of no confidence. The shady deals behind the desk speak volume about the immaturity of our democratic set-up. The parody of democracy enacted through horse-trading of worst forms, projects a humiliating spectacle in the international arena. When issues like poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, health care and the omnipresent terrorism are awaiting immediate attention, the whole nation is criminally diverted to contemplate with exaggerated seriousness the construction of a temple, the expansion of a shrine, the trial of various types of missile to be used on a imaginary enemy and a litany of equally hollow issues that are endlessly discussed ad nauseaum.
Gandhi has become archaic and Machiavelli has become the friend, philosopher and guide of the modern era. End matters, forget the means, however unethical it may be. The core values of democracy like liberty, equality, fraternity and most importantly respect for the law have corroded to the extent of becoming almost non-existent. The scholastic education has failed to make any dent on the indoctrination of the value system. Education as such cannot transform the format in which the democratic principles are practiced. Moreover, we have seen the democratic mode of governance however rudimentary it may be, among the illiterate people.
Democracy, in order to be successful needs the impetus of education as a basic quality among the electorate. A vibrant democracy demands the participation of the populace in all the major decisions, taken by the state. A large number of people cannot be able to exercise their opinion effectively in all cases for which this has to be done through the trusted representatives of assembly and parliament. An informed opinion, being the essential condition for a healthy democracy can only be formed by an exposure to the various media and a minimal analytical thinking by the people that does not necessarily demand a high degree of sophistication in the hierarchy of education. This requires only a modicum of education and can very well be provided by the state for the larger interest of the society as a whole.
A cursory glance at the consequences of the democratic mode of governance in India provides ample examples of the utter failure of this intended system. The Neheruvian model with the trickle down effect of economic activities accompanied with a democratic political framework has failed to deliver. There is an economic resurgence post 90s with high GDP, surplus cash reserve, rich consumerism, but again no palpable change to any of the major ills that the country is grappling with- large-scale rural poverty, massive rural unemployment, illiteracy, female infanticide etc. The proof of the cooking lies in the pudding. Government is of no value if, the living standard of the populace does not improve by the political design of the state. Perhaps the uncanny maturity exhibited by the people in the post-emergency polling and the electoral debacle of the ruling party after the Bofor scandal and toppling of government on more than one occasion due to skyrocketing of prices have created the impression of India being a vibrant democracy. Democracy in India is a manufactured illusion, created by the press, media and the politicians. The majority of population has a very apathetic participation in democratic activities of any nature. Rather other fringe activities like; the cyclic ritual of electioneering, observation of Republic day, Independence Day, election rally with a cacophony of noise, rigging, booth capturing etc. are mistaken as all-about a throbbing democracy. This couch-potato interaction by casting the ballot in far flung intervals and than to be passive recipient of government information regarding the projected ventures by the Govt. and the leader cannot be treated as a democratic activity by any stretch of imagination. This deliberate negligence of making democracy functional in the grassroots level by involving the members of the locality in the various affairs of the political entity has resulted in the loss of relevance of the objectives envisaged in democracy.
Mushrooming of terrorist incidents over the Indian landscape is symptomatic of the accumulated frustration of the people in being the passive onlooker without any opportunity to participate in the decision-making fabric of the political set-up. Unless the culture of exchange of views, discussion of issues affecting the basic needs of human life and a collective decision in the ultimate action plan is entrenched at the grass root level the snowballing effect for the entire society will not start. By this, the present alienation of the mass from the regular process of democratic practices will get a healing touch. The existing scenario makes the entire thing look like an experiment in the political laboratory where the citizen is a guinea pig. A thoroughbred approach to the implementation of the “panchayat raj” will have to be strengthened to provide a solution against present political apathy. For the participant members the awareness of the different aspects of modern existence with its ramification is indispensable in order to partake sensibly in the act of governance for common good. Here the crucial role played by education comes in to focus. This may not be so demanding as to claim the possession of any sort of specialized knowledge but the basic ability to read the situation with an ability to feel the pulse of the time. Elementary education will suffice.
The free flow of information holds the key. More than ever, it is felt that “knowledge is power” and the unrestricted access to the relevant information by the hoi polloi, has the potentiality to make democracy a success in the truest sense. Technology provides the means to disseminate information at the flip of the finger. Wide spread penetration of telephones and internet, can bring cataclysmic transformation in the way the business of public affair is handled to-day. Ever expanding application of IT must be made the serving tool of the public for finding solutions to the numerous problems encountered in everyday living. The right to information act has dawned a new era in this front. A full-fledged implementation of this may take some time but this is a positive step in right direction. This will break the opacity of the unscrupulous elements and let people know the truth behind every policy and decisions. This is going to prove as a pillar to democracy of the same import as a free press and universal adult franchise.
Education, considered in isolation can hardly be presumed as a necessary input for a strong and sturdy democracy. The poor, hungry and unhealthy can hardly be expected to exercise any mode of unbiased decision-making, however educated or enlightened they may be. The holistic approach provides the clue to creating a conducive environment for a democracy to blossom to its full potentiality.
2009年4月29日 11:6hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii