विदुर महाभारत में कहते हैं, ‘उनसे सावधान रहो, जो कहते कुछ हैं, करते कुछ हैं।’ वे राजा धृतराष्ट्र को ढोंगियों से बचने की सलाह दे रहे थे लेकिन वे भारतीय शिक्षा संस्थानों के बारे में भी यह कह सकते थे, जिनका ढोंग झूठे मिथकों में निहित है। इस ढोंग को कोरोना के बाद की दुनिया में चुनौती मिलेगी, जहां केवल सक्षम और कुछ नया करने वाले ही बचेंगे। दुर्भाग्य से जल्द आने वाली नई राष्ट्रीय शिक्षा नीति ने इस हकीकत का सामना नहीं किया है।

The old idea that civilisation is destroyed from within, not from without, has been turned upside down. In just a few weeks a virus ten-thousandth of a millimetre in diameter has spread around the world like wildfire from a market in Wuhan, to threaten our civilised order. How we respond to the moral dilemmas raised by Covid-19 will reflect on our values and the number of lives we save.

Another Republic Day has come and gone, with an unhappy reminder of the tragic gap between our aspirations and the harsh reality. For 70 years we have wanted our children to grow up into free thinking, confident and innovative Indians. But our education system has done everything possible to disempower them. It is a heart breaking sight to see long lines of parents waiting year after year to get their child into a decent school. Most of them are doomed to failure as there aren’t enough places in good schools.