Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Education criterion

Sir, — While disclosure is not tantamount to disqualification, disclosure about educational qualifications, in practical terms, is bound to operate to the great disadvantage of a candidate who is not educated (though capable, having robust common sense and vision) in the eyes of the electorate when the yardstick of refinement, capacity and honesty is mistakenly attributed to formal education.

When degrees and diplomas can be purchased or even forged, the norm of disclosure of education will open another window of corruption. When universal adult suffrage was decided upon in the Constituent Assembly, the education criterion merely by holding degrees and diplomas was not insisted on, as this would seriously prevent effectuation of universal franchise.

It must never be forgotten that only when Gandhiji took the freedom struggle from the elite to the masses, mostly ignorant, did it get the daring edge and blaze and became really participatory. Let the destiny of the country be in the hands of those who may be formally ignorant but are wise, understanding and full of compassion.

Mahesh N. Vepari,

Mumbai

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