The Irony of Our Times

There has been so much debate about the reservation issue, I hardly have anything to add to whatever I have said.

There is something else about this issue that I find interesting. Below are a few snapshots from the resume of Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India. The online copy can be accessed at the official website.

EDUCATION:

Stood first in BA (Hons), Economics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 1952; stood first in MA (Economics), Panjab University, Chandigarh, 1954; Wright's Prize for distinguished performance at St John's College, Cambridge, 1955 and 1957; Wrenbury scholar, University of Cambridge, 1957; DPhil (Oxford), DLitt (Honoris Causa); PhD thesis on India's export competitiveness

OCCUPATION:

Professor (Senior lecturer, Economics, 1957-59; Reader, Economics, 1959-63; Professor, Economics, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 1963-65; Professor, International Trade, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, 1969-71; Honorary professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 1976 and Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, 1996) and Civil Servant

Why do I talk about the resume of India's prime minister? There are two things you might note. First, this guy has a scintillating educational background. In other words, there is merit written all over this resume. Secondly, Mr Singh has been connected to education almost as closely as someone can be; he has a PhD and has served as a professor for thirteen years! I would imagine he has a very good idea about issues such as: what is the importance of merit in higher education, what does it take to succeed as a student, what reforms are needed, what is the truth about existing quotas in education et. al. So?

Almost all politicians of note are defined by one or two moments in their career; most never have any watershed moment. Twenty years after her death, the name Indira Gandhi rings bells such as emergency, 1971 war and Pokran. Vajpayee will be synonymous with events such as Kargil and Pokran. Advani will always be synonymous with Rath Yatra and V P Singh's most important contribution to this country is Mandal. Is it an irony that the most qualified prime minister of India, an academician, might be identified with two antithetical moments in history of modern India, the opening up of India's economy and the destruction of India's higher education?