In an address titled ‘Why we disagree’ delivered in September 1893, Swami Vivekananda told the story of two frogs “ one from a well and the other from the sea. One day the frog from the sea fell into the well and the two argued about which was bigger, the sea or the well?
FORCE and BBSM are like two frogs arguing with each other and challenging each other to public debates which reach nowhere. And like the two frogs, would this struggle end with one ousting the other and no one emerging wiser? If one group has a public meeting the other holds a copy-cat meet. If one organizes a morcha the other follows suit. If one starts meeting MLAs to press its cause the other decides to take children to MLAs to press for its demand. How long is this going to go on?
On Sunday, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar appealed to both the groups not to take extremist positions. “Goa is achieving milestones in the field of education. Both groups which are taking extreme stands have to think on this. This will not benefit Goans,” Parsekar advised.
It is true that both sides have now taken irreconcilable positions. The BBSM’s stated aim is to fight for withdrawal of grants to English primary schools run by the Archdiocese Board of Education while FORCE wants the decision to extend grants to ABE schools to be cast in law. Laxmikant Parsekar’s government is caught in the middle, hoping against hope that the two sides will run out of steam before the elections, which could be held as early as December this year.
Although the BBSM has made several attempts to communalise the issue and label the FORCE agitation as one comprising the minority community and led by the church, in reality this agitation represents a urban-rural divide with rural areas favouring Marathi as a medium of instruction in primary schools with a sprinkling of Konkani and urban settlements embracing English. Parents in favour of Marathi/Konkani fear that if all English schools are given grants, schools with the native language as a medium of instruction will eventually have to shut down. Parents in favour of English are afraid that if a law is not passed to back grants, it could be easily overturned. Each one feeds on the insecurities of the other.
The BJP government has asserted that grants will not be withdrawn to ABE schools and the question is why can’t FORCE accept this as the best compromise within the present political set-up? On the other hand, the BBSM does not have the right, moral or legal, to impose its view on everyone. And it should have accepted this as an honourable solution.
We live in a democracy where each groups has the right to put forth demands for only those it represents. We do not live in a colonial era where the rulers imposed their culture, their rules and used the education system to systematically undermine confidence and self-respect. In a democratic set up every one has the right to make a demand, but no one has the right to demand the suppression of others.
Education is no longer a tool to brainwash children or students. It is looked upon by parents as an investment which will help their children compete on a global platform and live better lives. Allow parents to choose which system is best for their children and refrain for assigning labels or pointing fingers or assuming that BBSM, FORCE or the government is blessed with higher intelligence which allows them to supercede the wishes of parents. This cannot be a fight to the finish where one frog throws the other one out of the well, because there is enough room in the well for both.
