A great French writer philosopher 1964 on October 22, Jean-Paul Sartre was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature, but he declined it. In his novels, essays, and palys, Sartre advanced the philosophy of existentialism, arguing that each individual must create meaning for his or her own life, because life itself had no innate meaning. Sartre…
Exam-driven schools, Schoolheads show Hostility to new knowledge! To outside knowledge!
Over- schooling is killing students and teachers! Bureaucratisation of school education had reached its limit in India.So too the minds of students,teachers and parents in the unshakeable government fixed school texts,exams etc. The other day we visited a well-established school in a district suburb.There was also a National Award won Headmaster in the car.When we…
Denial of freedoms by democratically elected leaders!
Police States in today’s India! A people can be traumatized by the fear of the state. Even now in states like Tamil Nadu under the Dravidian ideology, Shivsena in Maharashtra and also under Lalu in Bihar the “democratically-elected leaders have turned dictators by more subtle and pernicious methods. An awe and a fear of the…
Do Union Education Ministers write letters?
Macualay Ghost still dominates Indian Education? Yes,ever since I bought the hardcover edition of Akio Morita’s”Made in Japan”,way back in 1985 or so, I was drawn to Morita’s story. I remember the day when the Janata party was in power in Delhi. I one day went to see the education minister Dr.P.C. Chundar. Now his…
Father of Free Education
Kamaraj as I knew him Kamaraj had played historic roles in the evolution of modern India. In Pre- Independent India he built up the Congress Party in Tamil Nadu as a strong well-knit organisation. In post-Independent India he became a role model for efficient administration. His Chief Ministership took TN to the forefront of development….
Why Communism fell in 1989?
It was a revolt of the masses and the intellectuals! Has the world become a better and safer place after the fall of Communism? Views could differ. America as the sole Superpower is a good thing? or, what are the alternatives? All big and difficult questions. Politicians are no better judges,as they are transitory persons….
Dr.Manmohan Singh’s Oxford Speech
Prof.Irfan Habib’s insightful criticism of the PM! What is at stake? Dr.Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister, had been duly honoured by Oxford University with a honorary degree. It is Doctor of Civil Law, not D.Phil, as the Hindu newspaper’s typical longer than usual ponderous editorial wrongly carried it! On reflection I thought it is how…
Economics at Oxford
Studied economics, didn’t become an economist ! I became an entrepreneur! I had always wanted to become an entrepreneur, wanted to have my own independence, I wanted money, lots of money and do a great many things! In this I encountered obstacles at every turn. Yes, it is ironical that I studied economics both at…