न्यायपालिका - कार्यकारी गतिरोध सुलझना आवश्यक

Here is an editorial I wrote for a leading Hindi newspaper. Enjoy, and the link to original image is at the end.

भारतीय राज्य व्यवस्था की सबसे बड़ी खूबी है उसका संतुलन। हमने 1950 से ही, संविधान को अपना सर्वस्व माना, और राज्य के हर अंग को उसके अधीन करते हुए, ऐसी व्यवस्था बनाई जिसने इतने विशाल और विविध देश को 70 सालों से संभाल रखा है।

हमारी राज्य व्यवस्था तीन स्तरों पर कार्य करती है - केंद्र सरकार और उसके संस्थान व निकाय, राज्य सरकारें और उनके संस्थान/निकाय, एवं स्थानीय प्रशासन निकाय (शहरी और ग्रामीण) जो जड़ों तक फैले हुए हैं। चूंकि ये एक वृहद् व्यवस्था है जो विभिन्न सरकारें मिलकर चलाती हैं, अतः संविधान में अनेकों संतुलन बनाये रखने वाले सूत्र दिए गए हैं, मसलन केंद्र-राज्य-स्थानीय निकाय संबंधों को परिभाषित करना और एक निरपेक्ष भाव से उनको चलाते रहने हेतु अनेकों स्वायत्त निकाय भी बनाना।

किन्तु सत्ता का एक श्याम पक्ष होता है - सत्ता भ्रष्ट बनाने की ताकत रखती है, और पूर्ण सत्ता पूर्ण रूप से भ्रष्ट बनाने की ताकत रखती है। इसीलिए, हमारे लोकतंत्र को तीन स्तंभों पर खड़ा किया गया है, एक पर नहीं। पहला - विधायिका (लेजिस्लेटिव) अर्थात संसद व विधानसभाएं, जो कानूनों को बनाती हैं और इन्हीं में से बनती है सरकारें (राजनीतिक कार्यकारी), दूसरा - कार्यपालिका अर्थात प्रशासनिक व्यवस्था जो चुन कर नहीं वरन परीक्षा से चयन होकर आये लोगों से बनती है, और तीसरा - न्यायपालिका जिसका मुख्य कार्य है संविधान की संरक्षा करना, कानूनी विवाद निपटाना और कानून की व्याख्या करना (बनाना नहीं)।

What is wrong with the Indian education system?

I have been teaching students some of the toughest courses since 1993. My analysis of the mainstream education’s failure to deliver is summarised in 5 points below.

1. Wrong ownership - Colleges and schools are largely owned by people who have no stake in actual process of education inside the classroom. Typical owners - large landlords, business tycoons, real-estate moguls, politicians, civil servants (by proxy), liquor manufacturers, etc. Principals are powerless, teachers fixated by routines and Boards unwilling to radically alter their approach. So all pillars are ossified. Who’ll bring the change? Definitely not the ones not holding the chalk.
2. Wrong models - Today, and here on, learning has to be truly border-less. While one needs a certain syllabus and boundaries to make it concrete, the free enquiry model of learning is nowhere present. Teachers themselves don’t know how to leverage the internet and technology to teach. Installing a so-called “smart” class is considered the ultimate leap into 22nd century. What a grotesque application of money to solve a deeply intellectual problem. Results are obvious. 
3. Wrong grading process - Over the years, grades and marks have turned into a joke. Everyone with a decent effort scores so high, lacs emerge with perfect ten pointers. What’s the point? Boards compete with each other in ways not entirely productive to overall raising of standards. While this is all debatable, the grade inflation is killing a genuine separation of chaff from the grain. And in parallel, everyone is preparing for some competitive exam using entirely different yardsticks. This schizophrenia is perhaps unique to us! As a school-owner jokingly told me - “We know all parents know ki asli padhai to ghar par tuition laga kar hi karni padegi!” (real education will be only through personal tuitions at home)

   

   Re-imagining the building blocks

4. Sham in the name of government schools - The most well-funded part of the education system - government schools - are largely broken. Until by law we make it mandatory for government servants’ kids to be educated only there, nothing will change. Just do that, and see the miracle in 5 years.
5. Distorted social ideals - Society needs degrees for marriage, for jobs, for parties, for marriage receptions, for matrimonial advts, for prestige and for dowry. Skills are no one’s concern. And most companies only want genuine skills. No doubt, carpenters are earning thrice what normal engineering graduates are. And doctorates? You have to meet some of these newly minted “doctors” and have a 10 min rigorous discussion with them to realise why India has turned into a consumer nation, not a creator nation.

Indian mainstream education needs not just a rethink, it needs total redesign. Society and its drivers have changed dramatically in the past 10 years. More drastic changes are afoot. In that light, are we really prepared? With each year’s delay, we are consciously turning our demographic dividend into … you know what.

This article from Times of India dated 11-July 2016 by R Jagannathan summarise the jobs scene neatly. Yes, our education system is not responsible for this change that has happened, but it is responsible for responding appropriately. Students in schools and colleges have to be prepared for this world, not the one that existed 20 years ago. (you can zoom in to read)

Thanks for reading, and have a good day!

A comprehensive, topic-wise and useful collection of my various posts and answers can be found here. Enjoy.
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What are the biggest mistakes you can do in life?

These are some striking ones.

FIRST, by not respecting those who love you the most. Taking them casually. Assuming they'll always be there and there are more important things at hand that merit attention. And then, slowly seeing their love and affection diminish as the poor souls fail to get any reciprocation.

The Worst and the Best

SECOND, by only chasing stuff that is totally temporary and has no lasting value. Each such experience will make you poorer, and hungrier. The vicious circle goes all the way down. You cannot get permanence by chasing scintillas. They may give pleasure in the "here and now", but life needs much more to be fulfilling.

THIRD, by assuming that your present skill-sets will see you through for the next decade or more, and not constantly reinventing yourself. It actually is quite easy - keep an open mind, embrace change, read a lot and love new thoughts.

FOURTH, by constantly berating and insulting your own roots. While you may think you look stylish and "in" doing that, those who truly seek originality will maintain their distance. That's one powerful treasure you are now going to miss.

FIFTH, by destroying yourself in your own eyes. And that's done by bench-marking your Chapter 1 with others' Chapter 100 or 350 or 799.

Life is too precious to be lost in worthless pursuits. Love your work, but don't lose yourself in it. Create value, but don't become worthless in doing so. Build brands, but ensure your own gets built too. Be thoroughly sincere towards your work, but don't forget detachment. Best of luck!
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What are the most important things I should teach my child?

Well, there are many, and these can form the top list -

• Be a great learner.
• Listen to wise people with an open mind and closed mouth.
• Read an hour daily.
• Don't hoard stuff.
• Don't be a brands person. It's the quickest route to spiritual death.
• Discover new perspectives without losing your own.
• Read two hours daily.
• Write something with a pen on a paper daily. Have a good handwriting.
• Walk.
• Laugh a lot. Laugh like mad!
• Fail. Enjoy failure. Emerge with lessons.
• Respect others' success no matter how much you detest it.
• Read a lot daily.
• Don't be a jerk, meet and talk to people.
• Help someone in need regularly.
• Learn about the Universe; it's the most mysterious thing you won't ever get out of!
• Love science and its approach. But don't hate religion and spirituality.
• Learn Sanskrit shlokas even @ 2 or 3 per month.
• Cry when you need to. Don't be ashamed of it.
• Don't expect a smooth, hassle-free and scratch-free existence. Enjoy the tumbles. Love life!

And guess what - these lessons apply to all of us! 

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