Many of my friends are genuinely puzzled by the recent developments in India’s education system. They can’t understand why the person in charge of education remains in office despite what they see as a series of unforced errors.
When I try to explain the broader context, I’m often accused of defending the government or, paradoxically, of being “anti-national.” Neither label is particularly useful. So instead of arguing about personalities, I’d rather ask a more fundamental question.
Has the Western educational model inherited by India ultimately advanced India’s long-term national interests?
Reasonable people can disagree on the answer. But one observation is difficult to ignore: even many of the strongest critics of the West, and some of the most committed Hindu nationalists, still aspire to study, work, or settle in Western countries. They stand outside Western embassies seeking visas to societies built on many of the educational, cultural, and political traditions they criticize.
That contradiction is worth thinking about.
Now imagine you were responsible for building a nation and genuinely believed that Western education was a vehicle for Western cultural influence. If your goal were to strengthen an indigenous civilizational identity, what would you do?
You would likely begin by reshaping the education system. You would teach history from your own perspective, emphasize your own civilizational achievements, and encourage instruction in native languages. Language is not merely a tool for communication; it carries history, values, identity, and culture. If you want to shape how future generations see themselves, education is one of the most powerful levers available.
Whether such a project ultimately strengthens or weakens a nation is a legitimate subject of debate. My point is not to defend or condemn it. My point is that once you understand the objective, many decisions that appear irrational begin to look surprisingly consistent.
So let me end with a simple observation.
I wrote this in English.
You read it in English.
You’re probably thinking about it in English.
If that realization makes you uncomfortable, then you’ve already experienced the very influence we’re talking about. Whether you see that influence as a strength, a weakness, or simply the product of history is the real question.