ARE WE ENTITLED TO A PADHA LIKHA NETA?

One fine day our political science teacher was teaching us the Qualifications/Disqualifications for becoming a MP or contesting Lok Sabha elections as enshrined in the Article 84, 102 of the Constitution of India and in the Representatives of People Act, 1951. She randomly posed before all of us a question as to the need of inclusion of a clause specifying some minimum educational standard for the same. I have just laid down what I think of this issue.

Why do we need educated politicians?

1. It might be due to the reason that they are better equipped to understand the nature of their work properly by the virtue of the intellect differential they share with their uneducated counterparts.

Yes, I do agree with this. But I think that the work of a MP/MLA is to provide directions to the authorities under his area which can be done by any development seeking honest and truthful person even if he/she is deprived of education. Most of the work is to be done by the bureaucrats who are highly educated and capable of giving concrete shape to their vision.

2. It is also a viewpoint that their presence would reduce corruption.

I totally disagree with this because the probity, integrity and morality has a little to do with education. Nowadays, what Kapil Sibal is doing in defending UPA in the 2G Scam is in my opinion the best example in this context.

3. Raise people’s faith in government/ reduce the governance deficit.

Yes, that is certainly true because politicians are also the citizens of society first and their being educated is good for the overall betterment of the society.

Why dont we need educated politicians?

1. Anti-Democratic: It will undermine the true spirit of democracy as there would be no equal opportunity for contesting of elections.

2. Managerial Job: The job of a MP/MLA is more of managerial kind. As we know that many corporate houses are a gift of the entrepreneurs who are uneducated people, we should not undermine the capability of determined but uneducated politicians to change the tide flowing in India Inc.

An apt manner of resolving this issue would be to wait for the society to be educated through the various measure taken by the government which would eventually produce educated politicians also. But the current constitutional provisions in this regard (qualifications for contesting elections) shouldn’t be tampered with.