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I hope nothing like this ever becomes a reality. What I was worried was that if such people, popularize these ideas into the poor majority in India, then winnin

I hope nothing like this ever becomes a reality. What I was worried was that if such people, popularize these ideas into the poor majority in India, then winning by numbers is not difficult for them. When we look at the reservation of seats issue (http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/apr/12spec1.htm http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/apr/12spec1.htm), such people when in power were actually able to create policies that would harm over-all development. I wish the well-educated minority here doesn't sit back at home and we all say it our aloud that we can't tolerate such people, by going to vote! Thanks, it was a pretty nice and optimistic read :)

plinkplonk 18y ago
"When we look at the reservation of seats issue " reservation (kinda sorta affirmative action based solely on caste for any non Indian readers )uses an "economic progress" bait to line people up behind it. Whether the purported benefits actually manifest, one can debate about. Removing English Education and computers has economics working against it. Your kids won't be taught English or computers because we... errr ... want them to remain peasants forever? Besides , this move if ever attempted (it won't be . No one will be able to get it through parliament) pisses off the teachers, the urban population, students, the business folks, the bureaucrats, illiterate/poor people who want their kids to get the best education ... just about anyone who is not some kind of local language fanatic. There aren't enough of the latter around (except in small pockets) to change the last few decades of history and economics in India (though the few who do exist are very voluble). At best they are able to shift the primary language of education in middle/high school to the local language alongside English (and there is a good case to be made for that). There's simply no way this can be done at the undergrad level and above. The logistical comlexity of textbooks preparation for a few hundred branches of science, engineering etc (for e.g) would kill any initiative like this. but it won't get this far. As I said above no one will get it through parliament. As I said, just posturing :-) [ Ok I am sick of discussing politics here. Iam not sure this is an appropriate forum for this. I am signing off from this thread. ]
- jonas_b 18y ago
  Too bad you signed off man. I've had a look at your comments and I must say I've learned more about modern India from reading through them, than most books on the subject.
  - medianama 18y ago
    The best way to learn about India is to visit us some time. Not through books and/or random comments.
  - plinkplonk 18y ago
    Thanks Jonas, if you need to more information anything in particular, just send me email.

plinkplonk 18y ago

"When we look at the reservation of seats issue " reservation (kinda sorta affirmative action based solely on caste for any non Indian readers )uses an "economic progress" bait to line people up behind it. Whether the purported benefits actually manifest, one can debate about. Removing English Education and computers has economics working against it. Your kids won't be taught English or computers because we... errr ... want them to remain peasants forever? Besides , this move if ever attempted (it won't be . No one will be able to get it through parliament) pisses off the teachers, the urban population, students, the business folks, the bureaucrats, illiterate/poor people who want their kids to get the best education ... just about anyone who is not some kind of local language fanatic. There aren't enough of the latter around (except in small pockets) to change the last few decades of history and economics in India (though the few who do exist are very voluble). At best they are able to shift the primary language of education in middle/high school to the local language alongside English (and there is a good case to be made for that). There's simply no way this can be done at the undergrad level and above. The logistical comlexity of textbooks preparation for a few hundred branches of science, engineering etc (for e.g) would kill any initiative like this. but it won't get this far. As I said above no one will get it through parliament. As I said, just posturing :-) [ Ok I am sick of discussing politics here. Iam not sure this is an appropriate forum for this. I am signing off from this thread. ]

jonas_b 18y ago
Too bad you signed off man. I've had a look at your comments and I must say I've learned more about modern India from reading through them, than most books on the subject.
- medianama 18y ago
  The best way to learn about India is to visit us some time. Not through books and/or random comments.
- plinkplonk 18y ago
  Thanks Jonas, if you need to more information anything in particular, just send me email.