Have we Indians failed Education?

Vikas Gulabrani

Has education made us a better social being? One would be tempted to answer yes, but is that really true. You may have a different answer but I feel embraced for being a part of the Indian society. I cannot run, I cannot hide so why not become a part of it. Armed with higher education from US and years of internal work experience I returned to India in 2010 (you may call it India calling but primary motive was to be with the family and be part of this fast growing economy). So here I share few of my experiences over the past 12 months which may seem normal to most to truly reflect how just education has failed make us a better social animal. I started up my own venture in Gurgaon (the millennium city) and almost on a daily basis I faced a roadblock. To get a commercial electricity connection I had to bribe Rs. 35,000 to the local electricity (isnt electricity a basic utility and not a luxury). My father advised me to better pay up else wait for at least 3-4 months to get a fan working in my building. Next target was to open a bank a/c. With the new stringent laws, no private bank would open a new back a/c without some sort of registration id of the company (quite a reasonable demand). However to get a registration id from any governmental dept, I need a bank account (This reminds me of the chicken or the egg came first question). So I went for a PSU bank who would open a bank a/c even for Mr. Osama Bin Laden without any verification however cant provide the services. On asking for a credit card machine, the PSU flatly refused saying they are not equipped to handle merchant services (and we call IT sector the growth engine of our economy). Spending over couple of months to establish all the utilities & getting permits in order, I had my business read to operate. Next step were to get some clients. My targets were mainly Indian corporate and MNCs admin & HR dept. After seeing my product, the first question most if not all clients put in front of me was what will be his share if my company gets the contract. I nearly fell of the chair when I heard a senior executive of an MNC ask me this question. I didnt know what to say. I somehow believed that under the table dealings were limited to governmental dept only. Here I was dealing with highly paid and educated section of the society. That when I realized that it nothing but our culture to ask for a bribe. We believe its our birth right and we shall have it. With all regards to Mr. Anna Hazares campaign, I ask him (because I dont have a solution) . Can we have a lokpal bill for cure of our society? How does one cleanse the inner conscious and help our society define what is right and wrong.

I have come across many instances where they very commoner who complains of the corruption are practicing the same. My wife works in a big multi-national in Gurgaon. Due to lack of planning (no surprise here), her company cannot offer car parking to all the employees hence a lottery system every quarter (fair enough deal).But we smart Indian always find a way to scam the system and make a way for personal gains. It came to my wifes knowledge that one can insure his/her name comes out in the lottery by have a side agreement with the HR dept. Now I am sure a world class company does not hire un-educated babus in their HR dept. These so called MBAs are the ones practicing corruption and yet they sit in front of their television sets in the evening complaining to their wife that our bureaucrats & politicians are spoiling our countrys image. My daily commute is the treacherous Delhi- Gurgaon route. The NH-8 toll was recently increased from Rs. 20 to Rs. 21. Hardly an inconsequential increase to hurt the commoner. I dont expect anybody to complain on this Rs 1 hike. But the implementation has been so pathetic that a 1-2 minute halt at the toll plaza has increased to anywhere from 10-40 minutes halt. My wife & I have altered our travel timing to avoid the peak hour rush but not everybody has that luxury. My question to the great minds behind NHAI & the toll plaza company is Is Rs. 1.00 hike justified to their revenue when they compare how much money is wasted by the cars / taxis / buses burning fuel by waiting in the toll plaza lane. Our government subsidized petrol & diesel. By increasing the wait time at the toll plaza & refusing to fix the problem, arent they causing added losses to the oil ministry which is very well part of the government that approved the toll hike. Arent our bureaucrats supposed to be the elitist of the elite? Such a gap in thinking in not acceptable. Where was the education gone? Like many fellow commuters, I too complain about bad traffic, how dirty my city is, why do we fellow Indian spit they were place we walk & relieve ourselves at the nearest corner. One would assume that a well educated professional would at least refrain from such activities. One would only assume. My dads best friend is an IIT grad and an MBA from top school. Yet never does he think twice before spitting out his pan masala and tobacco (tambaku) in a public place. As long as it is not his property, he has no hesitation in decorating the road build by his tax money. Another aunt of mine who lives in the posh GKII locality of New Delhi, has travelled the world over doesnt give a damn about civic sense & public convenience. Her driver is instructed to stop right in the front of the shop she needs to go & even wait at that very spot. It wouldnt dawn upon this elite class that by their act of refusing to walk ten additional steps, they might have caused a traffic jam behind them. However the same elite class will

instruct their driver to sit on the horn or drive the wrong way because another lady like her is committing the very same offence 10 meters ahead of her.

This brings me back to my question . What has education given India? A lot second fastest growing economy, rich becoming richer, ample opportunities for the new generation. BUT has it made us in a better human being? Has it helped the society? We have used education only for personal monetary gains not to make this country a better livable place. Its for each one of us to answer . Have we Indian failed education?