So Socrates provoked a discussion, and some ! I am concerned for students at the college: I see job resumes dropped in a bin with added relish, by the likes of Ambani. eric. ------------------------------------------------------------- On Thursday, April 24, 2014 12:03 PM, Jimmy de Corla <jimcorla@ wrote: Fr Frazer Mascarenhas had made a huge difference to St Xavier's College over the past six or seven or eight years he has been there. Some years ago, when Aditya Thackeray, grandson of Bal Thackerary and a student in Xavier's, led a movement to ban Rohinton Mistry's book, he showed rare courage in standing up to him. Now he has done it again, speaking up as a teacher and a thinking human being, to guide his students on the issues of the day. Of course, his letter has kicked up a storm -- every city paper has headlines on it. But that's what education is about and that's what it is meant to do -- stir up minds, young and old, provoke a discussion like Socrates did in his time.
> > > > >In the background of Elections >What is human development? > >The approaching elections have brought an interesting discussion to the public >forum on what constitutes human development and how it is to be achieved. The >Gujarat model has been highlighted for our consideration. That is very apt >because it puts in stark contrast two current views. Is the growth of big >business, the making of huge profits the achievement of high production – what >we seek? Or is it the quality of life for the majority in terms of affordable >basic goods and services and the freedom to take forward the cultural >aspirations of our plural social groups that make up India? > > >Gujarat may be doing well in the first sense, although not as good as some >other States in the country. But all the Human Development Index indicators >and the cultural polarization of the population show that Gujarat has had a >terrible experience in the last 10 years. Take the example of education: >schools for the ordinary populace show abject neglect with a very high dropout >rate in the last 10 years. Higher Education has not been allowed to move >forward. > > >To take just an example, St. Xavier’s College Ahmedabad, thrice NAAC >accredited with an equivalent of the A grade, has not been able to gain >permission from the Gujarat Government for Academic Autonomy, for the last 10 >years and has finally won a battle in the High Court to approach the UGC >directly for this status. Gujarat has also been the worst performer in >settling claims and distributing title deeds to tribal people and other forest >dwellers, as shown by the latest data put out by the Union Tribal Affairs >Ministry. Till 2013, the State, with 15 percent tribal population, settled >only 32 per cent of the claims, the lowest rate in the country. > > >As opposed to this, efforts like the Rojgar Yojana and the Food Security Act >have been called “election sops”. However some of our best social scientists >like Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze have supported these as necessary in the >emergency economic situation the country and the world is facing. The country >is grateful that committed activists like Aruna Roy and Shailesh Gandhi have >worked with the Government to initiate and sustain the Right to Information >Act which makes accountability possible. Corruption still needs to be >addressed effectively but since it is so prevalent at every level of society, >it will take civil society long agonizing efforts to root it out. > > >A massive investment in health and education is sorely needed in our country >of widening disparities and those who support big business and its unethical >profits will never agree to such public expenditure for the masses. In fact, >the worsening situation of environmental degradation and depletion, in the >lunge for growth and profit, shows up the real intentions of the greedy. None >can withstand this, as seen by the many clearances given in a week’s time >after the recent change of guard at the Central Environment Ministry, which >had earlier tried to hold the line under a different Minister. > > >So what lessons does a reflection on the approaching elections teach us? The >prospect of an alliance of corporate capital and communal forces coming to >power constitutes a real threat to the future of our secular democracy. >Support for people who pledge to work to take Human Development Indicators >higher and who commit themselves to a pluralistic culture in diverse India – >this is the hope for the future. No magic wand or divine miracles will come to >the aid of the Indian people. Their reasoned choice of individuals and >political parties who promise to work for a real quality of life for all, will >see India prosper or flounder on the precipice. Choose well! > > >Dr. Frazer Mascarenhas S.J. >Principal >
