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Is Education a pre-requisite for successful
Democracy
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8/14/2008

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Saurav Mishra
BA LLB
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KIIT LAW SCHOOL
BHUBANESWAR
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ORISSA

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Email: tutul989@gmail.com

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 IS EDUCATION A PRE-REQUISITE FOR SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRACY?

Education as a pre-requisite for a successful democracy compels one to

think about the traits that need to be associated with a democracy. Is it the same,
what Abraham Lincoln had said once “government for the people, of the people
and by the people. “ May be a lateral interpretation of it; a system of governance
by a sensitive population for their own need and working towards greatest good
of the greatest number. Thus, the success of a democracy squarely lies on the
people and the desired goals of it can be scored, if it functions within a small
geographical area having a sizable population; like Greek city-states. Experience
has shown that the success of a democracy peters of when both; the area of
operation and the population expand. The quality of democracy lies only with
intense interaction and accountability among various components; the people
and other governing machineries created for their benefit. Than, what about
India, which occupies the distinction of being the largest democracy in the World.

Somewhat surprisingly, the basic literacy level, leave aside the education
index of the population is abysmally low in comparison to a host of developed as
well as developing countries. The widely prevailing perception is that, among the
various formats of social contracts, democracy stands as the least harmful.
Human civilization is replete with instances that reinforce the principle of inherent
craving of the mankind to thwart any type of suppression under the multifarious
guise of monarchy, dictatorship, totalitarianism or the more acceptable
communism and socialism. The indomitable human spirit for freedom has
overthrown slavery, apartheid and demolished the iron curtains and not
necessarily with the aid of education. Democracy provides the platform with
scope for maximum human expression and acceptability of this form of
governance hinges on being the lesser evil among the lot, not an absolute bliss
in itself.

To quote a cliché some people can be fooled for some period but all the
people cannot be fooled for all the time. No suppressive regime, with any degree
of military might, has been able to withstand the simmering anger of the people in
spite of the illiteracy of the mass. The collective consciousness of the people has
a being of its own, that manifests in rebellion and precipitates a capsize of the
applecart. Some glaring examples that stand witness to the almost instinct-like
spirit for self-rule, in the living memory are the French revolution, abolition of
slavery in North America, Indian Independence from British colonialism, the
collapse of Berlin Wall, the melting-down of apartheid in South Africa etc. The
moral of the story is that unlike other creatures’ human beings have the
propensities to strive for a system of governance that permits a laissez faire of
thought, expression and feelings, which are only possible in a democratic set-up.
Thus, it can be fairly assumed that in the absence of education or for that matter
even elementary literacy the mankind has moved towards a safer goal that can
be called a democracy.
 A vibrant, successful democracy is participatory in its fundamental
structure. The art and craft of distributive decision making constitute the kernel of
democracy. It is a way of consensual political existence that provides civilized
outlet for both the will to power and desire for self-determination. The former, to
the ruling class and the later, to the general mass. Success demands the ruler as
well as the ruled to be capable of forming their own opinion and making an
evaluation of it, in proper perspective. A heightened degree of tolerance is a
necessary corollary of the democratic mechanism. These attitudinal ingredients
are inculcated by a suitable exposure to different stream of humanities. This
ability to weigh the pros and cons of the issues that have a bearing on the
economic, political, religious affairs of short term and long-term existence can be
relegated to persons of dependable integrity. This act of choosing the right
person is the arduous part of a functioning democracy. To elect a representative
who possesses the capability to reconcile the conflicting interests of separate
groups is a complicated exercise and demand the acumen of a perspicuous
person. The tribe of small time manipulative operators, masquerading as
politicians are a dime a dozen. This act of choosing the right man reposes a
great responsibility on the people in general. Here comes the role of education.
The crucial decisions taken by so-called uneducated mass of India belies the
misconception that the so-called ignorant gullible people are incapable of electing
the suitable party or person. It must be borne in mind that the choice has been
always the best among the available alternatives on the part of the electorate.

Education per se provides a window to the world. Nevertheless, how much

one chooses to see depends more on the factors like the vision and the desire to
behold than on the size of the window. Now education has been devalued to the
level of a tradable commodity and has lost its sight as an instrument of liberation,
a means to nourish greater values in life and attempt to realize it. Education has
purely become another means of production i.e. a way to open new frontiers in
materialism. The hues of hedonism have multiplied. Education has undergone a
metamorphosis and the product is a mechanized cerebral entity that knows the
price of everything and value of none. A handful of events will speak volumes
about the decay that has seeped in to our educational edifice. Unlike the olden
days, the majority of the present parliamentarians are educated and what have
we seen in the vote of no confidence. The shady deals behind the desk speak
volume about the immaturity of our democratic set-up. The parody of democracy
enacted through horse-trading of worst forms, projects a humiliating spectacle in
the international arena. When issues like poverty, unemployment, illiteracy,
health care and the omnipresent terrorism are awaiting immediate attention, the
whole nation is criminally diverted to contemplate with exaggerated seriousness
the construction of a temple, the expansion of a shrine, the trial of various types
of missile to be used on a imaginary enemy and a litany of equally hollow issues
that are endlessly discussed ad nauseaum.
 Gandhi has become archaic and Machiavelli has become the friend,
philosopher and guide of the modern era. End matters, forget the means,
however unethical it may be. The core values of democracy like liberty, equality,
fraternity and most importantly respect for the law have corroded to the extent of
becoming almost non-existent. The scholastic education has failed to make any
dent on the indoctrination of the value system. Education as such cannot
transform the format in which the democratic principles are practiced. Moreover,
we have seen the democratic mode of governance however rudimentary it may
be, among the illiterate people.

Democracy, in order to be successful needs the impetus of education as a

basic quality among the electorate. A vibrant democracy demands the
participation of the populace in all the major decisions, taken by the state. A large
number of people cannot be able to exercise their opinion effectively in all cases
for which this has to be done through the trusted representatives of assembly
and parliament. An informed opinion, being the essential condition for a healthy
democracy can only be formed by an exposure to the various media and a
minimal analytical thinking by the people that does not necessarily demand a
high degree of sophistication in the hierarchy of education. This requires only a
modicum of education and can very well be provided by the state for the larger
interest of the society as a whole.

A cursory glance at the consequences of the democratic mode of

governance in India provides ample examples of the utter failure of this intended
system. The Neheruvian model with the trickle down effect of economic activities
accompanied with a democratic political framework has failed to deliver. There is
an economic resurgence post 90s with high GDP, surplus cash reserve, rich
consumerism, but again no palpable change to any of the major ills that the
country is grappling with- large-scale rural poverty, massive rural unemployment,
illiteracy, female infanticide etc. The proof of the cooking lies in the pudding.
Government is of no value if, the living standard of the populace does not
improve by the political design of the state. Perhaps the uncanny maturity
exhibited by the people in the post-emergency polling and the electoral debacle
of the ruling party after the Bofor scandal and toppling of government on more
than one occasion due to skyrocketing of prices have created the impression of
India being a vibrant democracy. Democracy in India is a manufactured illusion,
created by the press, media and the politicians. The majority of population has a
very apathetic participation in democratic activities of any nature. Rather other
fringe activities like; the cyclic ritual of electioneering, observation of Republic
day, Independence Day, election rally with a cacophony of noise, rigging, booth
capturing etc. are mistaken as all-about a throbbing democracy. This couch-
potato interaction by casting the ballot in far flung intervals and than to be
passive recipient of government information regarding the projected ventures by
the Govt. and the leader cannot be treated as a democratic activity by any stretch
of imagination. This deliberate negligence of making democracy functional in the
grassroots level by involving the members of the locality in the various affairs of
the political entity has resulted in the loss of relevance of the objectives
envisaged in democracy.
 Mushrooming of terrorist incidents over the Indian landscape is
symptomatic of the accumulated frustration of the people in being the passive
onlooker without any opportunity to participate in the decision-making fabric of
the political set-up. Unless the culture of exchange of views, discussion of issues
affecting the basic needs of human life and a collective decision in the ultimate
action plan is entrenched at the grass root level the snowballing effect for the
entire society will not start. By this, the present alienation of the mass from the
regular process of democratic practices will get a healing touch. The existing
scenario makes the entire thing look like an experiment in the political laboratory
where the citizen is a guinea pig. A thoroughbred approach to the implementation
of the “panchayat raj” will have to be strengthened to provide a solution against
present political apathy. For the participant members the awareness of the
different aspects of modern existence with its ramification is indispensable in
order to partake sensibly in the act of governance for common good. Here the
crucial role played by education comes in to focus. This may not be so
demanding as to claim the possession of any sort of specialized knowledge but
the basic ability to read the situation with an ability to feel the pulse of the time.
Elementary education will suffice.

The free flow of information holds the key. More than ever, it is felt that
“knowledge is power” and the unrestricted access to the relevant information by
the hoi polloi, has the potentiality to make democracy a success in the truest
sense. Technology provides the means to disseminate information at the flip of
the finger. Wide spread penetration of telephones and internet, can bring
cataclysmic transformation in the way the business of public affair is handled to-
day. Ever expanding application of IT must be made the serving tool of the public
for finding solutions to the numerous problems encountered in everyday living.
The right to information act has dawned a new era in this front. A full-fledged
implementation of this may take some time but this is a positive step in right
direction. This will break the opacity of the unscrupulous elements and let people
know the truth behind every policy and decisions. This is going to prove as a
pillar to democracy of the same import as a free press and universal adult
franchise.

Education, considered in isolation can hardly be presumed as a

necessary input for a strong and sturdy democracy. The poor, hungry and
unhealthy can hardly be expected to exercise any mode of unbiased decision-
making, however educated or enlightened they may be. The holistic approach
provides the clue to creating a conducive environment for a democracy to
blossom to its full potentiality.