Just the other day, Dilip the master-mason passed under my window and, seeing me, waved a friendly hello. I recall an incident a few years ago when he was engaged in carrying out some modifications to my flat, that some precise measurements had to be noted down. Dilip confessed to being unable to write. He could read the numbers, but couldn’t write them. Yet, he is a master-mason.
I can recount countless others: unlettered jungle-dwellers who distil great mahua; unlettered singers and musicians; unlettered tailor-masters; unlettered cooks who can whip up a great bhang ki thandai… the list is endless.
Chandra’s blog today has a quote from Professor S Ambiranjan, referring to observations made in a largely illiterate Tamil village, that is truly astounding:
“A person who may not be able to sign his name in paper will nevertheless have a thorough grip over interest rates, profitability ratios, geometrical proportions and other such mathematical knowledge needed for both his economic relationships and constructional activities.”
These words should be written down in gold.
Once we understand this, that the illiterate are not a “problem,” that they possess human minds with the same logical structure as the rest of us, the same “a priori categories” that Ludwig von Mises talks of, then Liberty assumes a much higher significance than “education.”
Indeed, I have a sad story to tell that drives this home: The other day I met a young lad who was reputed to be a good cook. He spoke of some new restaurant coming up wherein he was getting a job. When I met him a few weeks later, I asked about the new job. He said it hadn’t worked out. Someone else said he was now working as a beldaar – which is a day labourer, who works under a mason, who works under a master-mason – like the illiterate Dilip.
Think about it: The State has strangulated the hospitality trade with red tape. Education? Or Liberty?
Before printing was invented, there were millions of “scribes” to do the writing. They were always poor. Outside every Indian court you will see people who type out petitions and so on – and they are poor. Just literacy is of no value at all. Give me the thumb impression of a great chef any day.
About Ambirajan: He and I were neighbours on the editorial page of The Economic Times for many years. His column, titled “View from the periphery,” would appear along with my “Antidote” every alternate Tuesday. This continued for many years. However, his column ended rather tragically. It seems he wrote some really strong stuff which the editors refused to publish. He then withdrew his column. He died shortly afterwards.
Professor Ambirajan is the author of an exhaustive, deep and scholarly study on the impact of classical liberal political economy on British colonial policy in India. He proves that not only were British civil servants well trained in classical liberal political economy, their every decision was guided by these liberal principles. The book is published by Cambridge University as part of a South Asia series. I bought it years ago at a British Council library sale. And I have just lent this book to Chandra. Which is probably why there is so much on Ambirajan suddenly on his blog.
Undoubtedly, Professor S Ambirajan was one the most distinguished economists India has ever produced.
But the quote above is the result of Chandra’s own research.
Thanks, Chandra.
You rightly point out that even illiterate people can engage in economic activity and do well. But to somehow imply that illiteracy is not a bad thing is, i believe, going too far. I recall standing at a bus stop where a woman kept asking me to read out the number of each bus that passed. She couldn't read. Being illiterate is like being blind (a great and sad disability): there is so much you cannot "see". Of course, as a result of branding and logos, even illiterate people (like very small children) can recognise and distinguish a packet of Parle Glucose biscuits, say, from another brand. What they cannot filter out is a cheap me-too brand, one whose packaging and design is cunningly made to look like Parle's. These are the people who get cheated all the time by those who take advantage of their disability. Finally, I think there would be few illiterate persons who would say they like being illiterate or who would not wish they had learnt to read and write. Ask your mason.
ReplyDeleteMy limited point is that Liberty matters much more than State Education.
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