Don'T Preach

Of late, several luminaries have lamented various things in this country. First, it was crime, then corruption and now literacy. The Prime Minister has been talking a lot about our literacy rates (or is it illiteracy rates) and has come out with an outlandish idea of roping in students in class XII. His tears are nothing but crocodile tears as it is the politician who has found it convenient to keep the population illiterate to serve his own needs. Tall promises are being made about eradicating illiteracy by various dates well into the 21st century. This from a government which has to wake up every morning to find out whether it is still in power.

Literacy is a politically sensitive issue and only tough political solutions can work, not schoolboy tactics. If the Prime Minister is really interested in eradicating adult illiteracy, then I have a suggestion that will work fast. First, dissolve all the state and the central legislatures. Call for elections while at the same time amending the election laws to abolish the use of symbols on ballot papers. Hence, Mr Gujral will have to teach his constituency to read at least his name. Nominees of other parties would have to do likewise. Ditto for all the other constituencies in the country.