Are We Really Literate? Part I

As I ponder upon the topic of this post, a question arises in my mind, which I would like to ask hereby:

What do you define a Literate as?

As always we would like to give an answer from a well known dictionary ‘Oxford’ or from an online portal.

Definition: To be able to read and write.

Only change is the constant thing in this world. I think most of you must have read this quote somewhere or heard it from someone or experienced it in your lifetime for that matter. Do you think now the time has arrived to change this definition given above of being ‘Literate’?

Most of you might not agree, as we all are educated with this definition in mind.

To give an example of Change, I would like to go off the track.

A decade or two back, how we defined basic necessities of a human being? I think as famously depicted by Manoj Kumar in his super hit film ‘Roti, Kapda aur Makaan’. In a sophisticated language let us call it as and also defined in our education system as: Food; Clothing; and Shelter. But, with changing face of times, basic necessity of a person’s life was redefined as: Food; Clothing; Shelter; Education; and Health.

Thanks to the advent of Liberalization (By Dr. Manmohan Singh in India for that matter) and Globalization, if you give it a thought, then you might think of again redefining the indispensable requisite of life as: Food; Clothing; Shelter; Education; Health; Electricity; Entertainment (Thanks to Bollywood, Hollywood, IPL, TV Serials and Gossip Material provided by Newspaper and News Channel also); Transportation (Including Public and Private both); and Communication (It includes: Internet, Mobile, and many more such devices or technologies which have made extremely difficult task seem as a child’s play).

So, we have made changes in the definition of the basic necessity of a person’s life.

Go back to the period of 50’s or for that matter even 80’s and 90’s. What were the relations between two persons in India prevalent at that time?

An answer to this would be: Husband – Wife; Brother – Sister; Father/Mother – Son/Daughter; Brother in law – Sister in law; Uncle/Aunt – Nephew/Niece; Grandfather/Grandmother – Grandson/Granddaughter; Friends and many more such sacred relations were shared between two people.

With times we have come across various new relationships or have defined them with the changing face of an era. To name a few: Girl Friend; Boy Friend; Ex – Girl Friend; Ex – Boy Friend; One Night Stand; Live in Relationships; Gay; and Lesbian.

I do agree with a quote ‘Old is Gold’. So, still the basic necessity of a person’s life would never misplace: Food; Clothing; and Shelter as the priority. Or for that matter, still the sanctity of relationships defined by our ancestors would never be diluted. But, evolution of a mankind is necessary for betterment and living a good life.

Coming back to point, let me describe with few examples, why I feel there should be change in the definition of: Literate.

Before giving these examples, I would like to be sincere with few things:

1) Whatever I am writing here are my personalized views; and opinions;

2) It is not at all meant to point someone’s or the other’s behavior, in the person who is related to me by some or the other mean;

3) The writing here equally applies to me also, as I am applying to generalized population of this country or world for that matter;

4) You are always welcome to criticize upon or comment upon any of my views over here.

We are a country which is manufacturing Engineers; Doctors; MBAs; Graduates; Post – Graduates or for that matter ‘Gadhe’ (As famously said by: Aamir Khan in his all time favorite movie: 3 Idiots).

To start with, let us ponder upon some basic learning’s of life and what we really do with them:

1) Respect Elders.

We do Respect our Parents; Grandparents; and Relatives. But, what about an elderly person whom we meet in a Metro; Bus; and Train? Do we readily agree to offer him/her our seat? On the other hand, we would like to make a good laugh of a person who is kind enough to offer his/her seat to the person who is requiring it more than him/her.

2) Respect; and Tolerate all Religions and Castes.

Do we allow or accept as a society: Love Marriages; Inter Caste Marriages; and Inter Religion Marriages, with an open mind?

I don’t think that there is any other better way of understanding new Culture; Traditions; Philosophies; and Values.

A perfect relationship doesn’t exist between persons having great similarities; it exists between those having a better understanding about their differences.

Do we make it a try to stop violence or division created on the grounds of Religion; and Caste?

3) Don’t throw Garbage on the road.

Imagine a fine evening with your friend. You just feel like having a Dairy Milk for him or her. The best ever food stuff, you can ever have in this world (I feel it).

After enjoying its heavenly taste, do we make a sincere effort for looking out a dust bin somewhere near of the shop, from where we bought it, to throw the wrapper. Can we think of keeping the wrapper in our pocket and throw it in a dust bin after reaching home?

Like this there are many things, for which we can make a sincere effort to throw them in a dust bin itself: Chocolate Wrapper; Use and Throw Paper materials; Plastic Bags; Use and Throw Plastic Bottles; etc.

Can we think of making mess in our home like this, I am sure we would not dare to.

4) Don’t Bribe.

Arey, bhaiya dekh lo na jara woh. File aage badha do, aapka kaam karta hoon na main.

Arey, parchi kyun phad rahe ho de raha hoon na main, kitne main ho jayega bolo.

These are the common tone of language we hear in Government Offices; Court Cases; Traffic Police; and many such other places.

5) Conserve Electricity and Water.

Do we really make an effort to even think about this?

To switch off light and fan at the place where it is not required at all.

I have personally seen many people, leaving the tap of water running wide open, while shaving beard or brushing teeth.

For this an excuse is given:

Arey, jitna use kar rahe hain, uska paise de rahe hain na toh kya problem hain. But, is it not wise to implement this quote over here: A penny saved is a penny gained.

(A post on this: A Question to be asked, 2nd June, 2010).

6) Be Patient.

Every day we are surrounded with worries; time bounded results; and many more such things which take our health to an extreme condition.

But, are we tolerant enough to understand one’s Emotions; and Feelings. To at least give it a try to listen to one’s Happiness or Sorrow’s of life.

Are we enduring enough today, to make others realize or get ourselves an understanding of the: Good and Bad things of the world.

We always feel it proud to quote to ourselves and others about: Thomas Alva Edison, who was successful in the invention of a bulb only after making 999 mistakes. But, are we patient enough to listen to our near and dear ones problems for a few second on that note.

7) Be Punctual.

This is the best learning which we do get at the right time of our molding years in childhood, and we are always late to adhere to this one. Kehte hain bhagwan ke ghar der hain andher nahi.

We always feel it proud to keep waiting someone for our arrival as if we are some celebrity who can never be on time because of his/her other priorities of life. But, if we are on the waiting side, we expect the other party to be on time.

This has become our habit to not to follow this learning of life and now the time has come in which our MBA classes teach about cultural aspects of various communities and countries, in which they write about INDIA as:

Indians are never on time.

Aren’t we ashamed of this, can’t we give it a try on our own personal front to write off this bad conception about us from the minds of the people around the world.