To know & to differ

The continuation of vitriolic attacks on the Knowledge Commission by prominent political leaders speaks poorly of the reverence for free and informed discussion in the country. It betrays, in addition, a refusal to read the inclusive nature of India’s edge in the global knowledge economy. At the heart of the current problem is, much more than the specific fate of the commission, possibly the most crucial policy initiative of the UPA government. The proposal to reserve seats for OBCs in educational institutions derives from the need to make access to opportunity socially inclusive. Without social inclusiveness, no society can be truly democratic, or be confident of meeting its real potential in political or economic terms. The trouble with politicians currently agitating against the commission’s 6-2 divide on adopting quotas is this: they place allegiance to reservations above that larger objective of social inclusiveness.

The debate begun by the Knowledge Commission is too important to be allowed to be stifled by political correctness or fear of allowing non-governmental inputs in education policy. Some months ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lamented the absence in India of think-tanks whose expertise could be harnessed by government. The ludicrous charge that the commission’s members are transgressing some constitutional norm by expressing disagreement with Parliament’s reservation legislation is not just undemocratic—it is an assault on the prime minister’s prerogative to harness informed opinion. The commission derives its existence from that express will of the PM to draw expertise to sharpen India’s knowledge edge.

In fact, indications from the prime minister’s office are that he, along with a group of ministers constituted for the purpose, is intent on finding innovative ways of escaping from the current zero-sum mindset. This is important. This mindset has already set off a very dangerous confrontation based on a false choice between merit and social justice. Induction of intellectuals, representatives of industry and politicians in undertaking reform in the education sector in order to achieve both merit and social justice is key to removing anxiety and a sense of grievance. And it cannot be done as long as MPs and ministers remain intolerant of disagreement.