Is an egalitarian society possible by educating the masses??

Indian society in itself is a composite society .It is concoction of various kind of diverse groups. Among all the countries of the world, India has unique culture and cultural heritage. The concept of egalitarian society goes back to early vedic period . In early vedic period everyone was equal, there was no class based society. Everyone was in full autonomy. But in later vedic period ‘Chaturasharam’ system and varana system began to operate in Indian society, and since then we have been seeing the consequences of social evils and disparities on the basis of caste, creed, race and sometimes religion as well. Disparity among the religions, then disparity, prejudice, bias within the religion, among different caste. This ‘varana vayvastha’’ in early days played a decisive role in perpetuating caste based professions. Brahmanas were only eligible for accumulation of knowledge, Kshatriya could rule over them but were disqualified to get education. Shudras had very pathetic condition, they had to serve all the three above classes of society. But, today in Indian society we have Brahmanas, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and sudra, but they don’t have to comply by those caste based professions. Now, Indian society has come up above all disparities on the basis of caste, religion, linguistic bonds , earlier they were trapped in these labyrinths. These all became possible because education has played a splendid role as an emancipator for underprivileged ones. Although it is not enough for Indian society, still we have to resuscitate it. To make it egalitarian society education is prerequisite , besides this we need many other ingredients also.

Education is not less than enlightenment for those who have been living in darkness of social complexities. Common education for all and sundry can create a rational and uniform impact on all, and uniformity in the society is psyche of egalitarian society. Egalitarianism only can be realize when people are educated. School is consider as a “temple of education” is in itself a benign instance of classless and egalitarian society where we can find a son of scavenger, son of businessmen and son of officers on the same benches of class and also in the same dress. The right to life and dignity of an individual can not be assured unless it is accompanied by the right to education. At this juncture, proper implementation of RTE( Right to Education) can make drastic change in the society as far as egalitarianism is concern. 25% seats are already reserved for the poors and destitutes in private schools, this can provide extra impetus in creating egalitarian values among students, consequently in the whole society. This pattern of education which is prevailing in India can produce hipsters, who can make a modern India without any specific and privileged social strata. Only stipulation with education system is, it must render education which can help them out in “mental liberty’ and can help them in establishing egalitarian values.

The preamble of Indian constitution explicit all the egalitarian values. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Which are not separate items is a trinity. To divorce one from other is to defeat the very purpose of democracy. Detrimental problems through which India is passing are ‘Citizens are not aware of their rights, any law which is legislated in the parliament has subtle impact on their life. Education is the only way to make them aware and cognizant of their rights, after that they can realize the real taste of trinity – Liberty , Equality , and Fraternity. Liberty of social, political and economical and equality in all sphere of life. to make sense of egalitarian society, it is must to take into account the economic liberty more than any other liberties because for an empty stomach, adult franchise has no meaning. Economic prosperity can be achieve by educating the masses. Along with moral enhancement, education is also a cogent determiner of economic status. More educated people in society means people are more prosperous. Education paves the novel dawn, where economic independent and economically strong means high chances to defeat all evils in the society and annulment of strata based society.

For social stability people must work for one another. In this regard Karl Marks’s dream of classless society can be realize by giving them equal dignity and respect. Having labourers in the society is mandatory for infrastructural development, doctors are necessary for making society healthy, engineers to develop technical tools so that we can excel in technology. Everyone's work is based on the individual hard work. when we bring all these under consideration then we find society is somewhat based on individual aspiration. So, providing all and sundry same facilities is a nightmare. Even in the preamble of constitution, although it states EQUALITY for all but literally it means ''Equality among equals''. But elementary education for all can nullify differences which sometimes becomes the cause of discrimination. Rudimentary knowledge for laborers can help them in safeguard their rights, they can claim their entitlements if they will be aware of it. Proprietors must have magnanimity towards laborers, owner should be benevolent and to inculcate all these, they must have rational mindset along with ethical based education. Thoughts of Rousseau, Lenin and in Indian context thoughts of Bhimrao Ambedkar, M.N. Roy, Jawaharlal Nehru and mahatma gandhi are based on the equality for all and to provide the dignity to all people, whosoever is adding something to society by their work. Everyone's work in the society should be praiseworthy and applaudable. So, people should get dignity if they are accomplishing their obligation with probity. 

Complex countries like India, education can bind them all in single thread. Pragmatically,its complexities can be realized in each and every arena. For instance, we can see number of languages in 100 rupee note and we find 15 different languages, means 15 different linguistic groups or distinct classes. Although India has myriads of languages with zillion of people. In economic perspective, there are groups of rich and poor, rural and urban, and land owner and day laborers. Socio-cultural factors like gender divide. Divisions based on religion and caste, linguistic based divisions. These  numerous divisions can't be mingle at the drop of a hate. Education can prove as potent instrument for socialization process, but it can't take place drastically. This is long and continous proces. But gradually educated mass can change their attitude and mindset by cultivating egalitarian ethics. Essance of education is to lay down foundation of humanity in the society. And all ethical, moral and humane values are foundation stone of classless society. Education can provide all people their respective dignitary identity.

Tanveer Ashraf