When India gained independence, the Constitution drafters had no alternative but to adopt the Westminster model of democracy. One reason being it was already ingrained into the system and secondly for want of choice. I remember during the sixties one of my civics teachers, a staunch critic of everything British would often mention that the Indian democracy is only on numbers that is, he used to say, five fools and four wise men would make nine fools. There is neither value nor wisdom. Recent happening would make one think there seems to be much truth in his statement. The Ancient Indian Philosophy of Dharma and the rulers’ obligation to ensure the welfare of the people seems to have been forgotten by the ruling elite.
In the present system of Indian democracy with the system of adult franchise, persons below 18 years are not allowed to vote thus eliminating nearly 20% of the population, the right to choose. Of the remaining 80% it is not that every one exercise their franchise, the average would be around 50 to 60% that is nearly 40% do not cast their votes. Approximately 30% of the total population does not cast their votes. Thus in all 50% of the population do not or are not allowed to exercise their choice or selection of their representative. Of these 50%, usually the winning candidate often secures only about 30% of the votes cast.
By this process the winning or the elected candidate is chosen by less than 20% of the total population of a constituency. Therefore any pretence on the part of an elected candidate that he represents the majority of people is a mere euphemism, blame it on the system, that he or his party gets to decide the terms of governance of the people. The Government in power having thus being a representative of the minority of the people need to exercise restraint and has the responsibility of being a trustee for the unrepresented 70 to 80% of the population, in all their policy implementation. They have no authority either moral or legal to dictate the course of the future of the generation whom they do not represent.
It is when the government unilaterally imposes their party’s or personal idea like in Goa the issue of MoI. The democratic governance unfortunately becomes autocratic and often the views of a minuscule minority is projected as views and opinions of the majority. Thanks to the media which does often distort facts to suit certain view points.
One is reminded of what happened in the neighboring state of Karnataka some three decades back when a new outfit was formed headed by a then famous film personality, the movement for compulsory Kannada medium at primary school spread like wild fire throughout the state, there was agitation all over and rampant violence and destruction of public property. It was then that one of the news papers reported that this film personality’s children were studying in English medium schools not in Karnataka but in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, the agitation ended abruptly. It does often happen that these medium of instruction chauvinist often are motivated by objectives and goals entirely different from what they proclaim and often self interest takes predominance over interest of the children.
It is an internationally recognized rule that Medium of instruction, is one’s personal choice and for those who are tender of age, the choice vests with the parents and not with anyone else. In this age of Information technology the parents know best what would be the best interest of their child.
The government’s move to provide special grant to only some languages medium schools, thus depriving others , without any rational basis for such discrimination will not only be unethical but unjust as well, all these children are citizens of the country and residents of the State and have a right to enjoy equal rights and privileges .
There is of course need to preserve and promote native/State language, but are there not more creative ideas and methods for such promotion rather than jeopardizing the feature of the children of the State. Providing quality education and opportunity to excel are of course the State’s primary duty towards every child, which could be achieved by appointing qualified and competent teachers in sufficient numbers, providing infrastructural support and good amenities in schools and generally promoting quality education. True it is that quality is lacking in Science education in the State but the answer is not medium of instruction, the answer is adequate number of quality teachers and quality equipment and facilities . Along with it the State should ensure availability of quality text books and reference books and other study materials for the students and create generally a scientific temper and inclination amongst students. Sadly, there is very little discussion on quality of science teaching, availability of competent science teachers and equipments in the public forums.
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire,” wrote W.B. Yeats.
How do you light this fire when the match stick is dampened with prejudice and the vision of the educators and planners are clouded by distorted priorities?
(The writer is a professor of Law and former Dean, Faculty of Law, Goa University)
