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