Some Good News, Some Bad

In an earlier post, “In Praise of the Illiterate,” I had spoken of the many other skills and talents that such people possess. They don’t need “education,” I said, they need Liberty.

Well, there is a story in the ToI today that confirms my assessment. A group of daily wage labourers has won a prestigious tv talent contest with their dance routine. They come from some poverty-stricken part of Orissa. I doubt whether they possess much education. And I also doubt whether the educated can dance like they can. What has made them rich and famous is private tv – which try and entertain people with dance shows. What if the nightlife industry were freed up? How many more such talents would get rich – without education?

Indeed, there is a plethora of talent shows on tv. I have even watched them in Bengali. These shows drive home the point that our people are naturally gifted. They must have Liberty. Just as the blacks in America had New Orleans.

On education, I found another story in the Toi today that is heartening: Some maulvis in Bombay, who have graduated from the Deoband seminary, are mastering the English language, thanks to private effort. Over 300 maulvis have already learnt the language. This is indeed a heartening trend. It is good for Islam. It also shows that a competitive market for education in the English language is best. The State can never impart this knowledge more efficiently.

Finally, here is a report on the Afghan elections – or, more precisely, about irregularities in the conduct of this meaningless ritual of democracy.

I fail to understand the overseas policies of the USSA. Does Afghanistan need their own The State? Or do they need peace, law and trade – The Market? The USSA seems hell-bent on giving the Afghans a The State. That too, a modern, democratic one. I do believe this project is doomed to failure.

Funny old world. Illiterate day labourers show off talent and win. While a powerful The State, advised by the best and brightest, commits folly after folly.

There is a lesson for all of us in this.