12 Apr 2009, 0211 hrs IST, TNN
LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi Party has vowed to work against the use of English in education and computers in new projects. While these are pitched as populist measures — abolition of "expensive education in English" would allegedly create a level playing field for all and less use of computers would generate jobs — the steps are being viewed with alarm as they have the potential to drag back the country by years.
Releasing the party manifesto here on Saturday, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav dwelt on his pet anti-English theme. The manifesto says that if a new government were to be formed with SP's support, it would work to abolish schools providing expensive education in English — in other words, virtually every public school regarded among the country's top schools. Interestingly, Mulayam Singh's two sons have gone to such schools.
While speaking to reporters, Mulayam Singh said he was against "the compulsory use of English language in education, administration and judiciary". He said SP favoured the national language, Hindi, and regional languages. To give his anti-top grade education a populist spin, he said his party was in favour of free education for girls until graduation.
On computers, Mulayam said their use was leading to unemployment. He added that wherever work can be done by hand, computers would be abolished. As everything was done by hand until the advent of computers, the step, if taken to its logical conclusion, could lead to the scrapping of almost all computers. Later, it was clarified that less use of computers would be enforced only in new projects — again, something that could put new projects at a disadvantage vis-a-vis older ones.
Not just these, the SP has also come out against mechanized farming, arguing against agricultural machines. Harvesters, Mulayam said, would snatch jobs from poor labourers during the harvesting season which, he claimed, gave employment for six months. The manifesto adds that after tractors were introduced, the bovine population has been coming down. Instead of ploughing land, bullocks and calves were going to slaughter houses.
Although SP has had close ties with the corporate world, its manifesto advocates bringing corporate salaries on par with government pay. Taking a leaf from the Left, Mulayam said at present, the economy was benefiting just a handful who had control over capital. He also opposed forward trading and said if a government was formed with SP's support, it would work to cut back if not abolish stock trading and mall culture.
The SP manifesto released on Saturday has pledged free agriculture facilities to farmers apart from loan at the rate of 4%, no forced acquisition of land and steep hike in minimum support price of crops.
And though Mulayam supported the nuclear deal, his manifesto has opposed American dominance in UN. Advocating friendly ties with neighbours, Mulayam said, "If a government comes to power with our support, we will ensure that action is taken against communal powers and attack terrorism at its roots".
I do not usually give much credence to election manifestos as they are usually (the affirmative portions, at least) a bunch of lies and promises. Like promises to bring back the black money lying in the tax havens, or providing computers to all girls. I know these same promises will be made during the next elections.
However, any negative promises which harm the people are serious matter and without having to do any work, they can undo the good work of others.
About 40 years ago, Jyoti Basu and his Left front had made such a mistake.
They did not allow computers to enter banks saying that computers would result in job-loss.
They removed English from the school curriculum.
RESULT:
Computers were the last to enter Bengal. While states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil nadu and Maharashtra became rich because of IT, Bengal lacked behind.
By the time Buddhadev Bhattacharya realized the importance of IT, the tide had changed and we have a meltdown. Well, Bengal is lucky in this respect as the melt down has not affected it much. There were very few IT firms to be affected.
The old saying has been slightly changed.
What Bengal thinks today, UP, thinks forty year hence.
Jyoti Basu has found worthy successors in Mamata Banerjee and Mulayam Singh Yadav.
But what is the SPOILT BRAT, Sanjay Dutta, doing in the photograph, releasing the manifesto?
He has spent his whole life steeped in English education.
Incidently, Mulayam Singh's two sons too have had English Education
Radheshyam
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