Window Seat |Mrinal Chatterjee | 4.10.2020
New Education Policy and Indian Languages
Recently I took part in a webinar
on New Education Policy (NEP) 2000 and Indian Languages organized by Indian
Institute of Mass Communication. The National Education Policy has been formulated based on
the recommendations of a Committee led by former ISRO chairman K Dr.
Kasturirangan. In June 2017, the NDA government had constituted a nine-member
committee headed by Kasturirangan and tasked it with the responsibility of
preparing a draft NEP focused on revamping India’s education policy.
The key highlight of the National Education Policy 2020 on
languages in school and higher education has been the emphasis on Indian
languages. Keeping the super structure of 1968 three language formula intact-
the new policy has provided more space to Indian languages. There has been no
attempt to impose Hindi- which has long been a bane of contention, especially
in Southern states. It has been left to the states to select the languages in
which they want children to be taught. There has been emphasis in creating high
quality text books in Indian languages and bi-lingual teaching.
NEP 2000 shows good intention to harvest indigenous
knowledge by emphasizing on Indian languages.
However, as the Japanese saying goes- the devil lies in the
details. Despite promises, the budget allocation to education has not even
touched 4 per cent of the GDP. The primary education infrastructure is in a
shambles. Can we improve on this situation? Can we garner appropriate human
resources and financial resources to develop high-quality text books in all
Indian languages?
Let’s hope we can.
Gandhi as a journalist
Not many people know that journalism had played a significant
role in Gandhi’s graduation from Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to the Mahatma. His
philosophical journey and the shaping up of his thoughts and ideas while
dealing with the British Raj and leading India’s movement for independence were
reflected in his writings as a journalist. Since his days in South Africa,
reporting from the battlefield of Boer War to editing his first journal Indian Opinion to shifting his base to
India and taking up the editorship of Satyagraha,
Navajivan, Young India and Harijan,
Gandhi has shown how he used his journals and journalistic skills to give
expression to his thoughts and philosophical viewpoints, drawing the attention
of the authorities and common people building a strong public opinion. His
writings for these journals and other publications also underline his
ever-changing political and philosophical positions and how they ultimately
shaped up ‘Gandhian thoughts’. (To know more about Gandhi as a journalist
you may read the anthology of essays that along with Snehasis Sur I have
compiled and edited titled Gandhi: Journalist and Editor, Kolkata Press Club,
2018. Its Odia version is being published later this month.)
When Gandhi reached India in 1915 from South Africa, he did not
edit any journal for a couple of years. However, his visit to Bihar’s Champaran
and organising Satyagraha with the indigo farmers can be seen through the prism
of journalistic pursuits and robust communication strategy that Gandhi had
practised all his life. Champaran Satyagraha is considered to be Gandhi’s
launchpad in Indian politics and the first successful grassroots movement.
Though Gandhi did not visit the remote villages in Bihar with any pure
journalistic purpose, his inquiry into the plight of the indigo farmers as a
political activist highlights the application of his brilliant communication
skills and can be a model for a ground reporter.
‘Chandamama’ Shankar
I grew up with Chandamama (Uncle Moon), a children’s magazine.
So did my son. It was a colourful magazine with many stories and lively
illustrations. Vikram and Betal was a long running story- or a series of
stories. It used to carry several illustrations, the main being a mustachioed
prince carrying a man on his shoulders. We did not know the name of the
illustrator, nor did we care to find out, to be honest.
 |
| Vikram and Betal: Illustration by Shankar |
 |
| Tribute to Shankar by Jairaj, a cartoonist from Kerala |
 |
| Shankar |
Much later, just out of curiosity I found out that his name was
Shankar, well, his full name was Karatholuvu Chandrasekaran Shivashankaran-
quite a mouthyfull. He passed away at his residence in Chennai on September 29,
2020, at the age of 96.
Popularly known as ‘Chandamama’ Shankar for his invaluable
contributions to the Indian magazine Chandamama,
he was the artist behind the signature painting of Vikram and Betal series that
featured in the magazine, among many others that he created. At the time of his
demise, he was the last of the original Chandamama team.
Born in a village near Erode, Tamil Nadu, Shankar’s passion for
art developed right from his childhood. For his history exams, he would draw
sketches of famous historical characters. After completing his grade 12
qualifying exam, he joined the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. His
first job was with a then-prominent magazine Kalaimagal, before Chandamama made him a household name. He worked
with the magazine for nearly 60 years, until it shut down in 2012.
Tail piece: Corona Calendar
January, February,
Lock-down, Thali Bajao, Diya Jalao, Sushant Singh, Rhea, Kangana, Sara,
Deepika, …
Tail piece: Chance Hai
Dear friends!
Please pay attention to your fitness.
Get your tummies in.
Take care of your hair/skin.
Not becoz of corona!
The way all the Bollywood bigwigs are being called for the drug related
issues- there will be requirement for fresh faces
Apan logo ka chance
hai.
(Courtesy: Social Media)
***
The author, a journalist turned media
academician lives in Dhenkanal, Odisha. He writes fiction and translates
poetry.
mrinalchatterjeeiimc@gmail.com
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