We claim to be autonomous with all dimensions of freedom in varied spaces: be it community, educational systems, political institutions, cultural groups, and others. The question that comes up is, ‘Are we independent’?
India has a multiparty liberal government that lead to the rise of rules that discriminate people. It has new policies of development which exploits minorities whose voices are unheard of. Marginalization remains a constant phenomenon. In the independent India I am confronted with new policies leading to the removal of posts about negative feedback for governmental institutions that failed to deliver during the pandemic; elsewhere laws stopped inter-caste marriages, calling it a step towards conversion. An 84-year advocate for Adivasi rights lost his life inside the prison walls with charges of terrorism. Farmers protests were forcefully done with; and many still lack education due to lack of insufficient income. I perceive my country as my comrade who is residing within the tattered walls of a university struggling to receive a stipend due to his Dalit origin and working extra time to just survive.
The pattern of lowered mental health is a way of life in families. The new National Education Policy 2020 highlights the value of nurturing the early childhood period. Foundational literacy has been highlighted as a predictor of learning. It emphasized the need to curb the dropout of students and guide every learner towards accessibility. Teaching and learning should be holistic, cooperative, blended, and most importantly, enjoyable for all learners. Social inclusion needs to be imbibed among all irrespective of any ethnicity by regularization of local resources.
As a stakeholder of the higher education system, the practice of human and social well-being in developing social consciousness, humanity, equality, and justice for all learners has been the objective of this policy. India is striving towards becoming a knowledgeable system where more students should aspire for higher education. The question is why then more of our youth population are still unemployed? Why educational facilities are given to few and for some it’s luxury? Why learning is more textual even now than skill-based? In this 21st century era, India claims to create cognitively oriented youth who are holistic beings with values of deep knowledge, service, and creativity. There is an urgency to develop personal capacities so that the young can engage themselves and emerge as important contributors to society. India is standing at the pedestal looking tall and majestic but has its institutions able to reflect on both its strengths and weaknesses. Thus, the essence of integration needs to be blended with multiculturalism and innovation. Our faculties should unlearn the conventional methods and adopt the ways that our children and youth have adapted during the pandemic. Urban institutions, both staff and students, need to adopt rural institutions and instill the principles of mentoring that would teach social accountability to all.
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