Making Maharashtrians/Marathi-speakers more competivive, raising our profile-how can this be done?
I've always wondered what can be done to make Maharashtrians more competitive, raise their standards and raise their profile i.e. make them more visible in all walks of life. I think the thing we must do is to make more Maharashtrians visible in all respects, the more visible we are, the better it is. We need to be a more visible community. How can we do all this?
Here are my four suggestions to all our shikshan Samrats, education barons, politicians, the general public, NGOS, education ministry, educationwallahs, teachers, students and all Marathi-speakers in general:
1.) China has set itself a target of training millions of people in speaking, reading and writing English. The Government itself has set this goal and is now actively funding and supporting this programme. This is obviously because the government takes English very seriously. I have always wondered why in India no such thing has been done. Now in Maharashtra, for decades, we have been told that Maharashtrians in general are not fluent in speaking English nor do they have proficiency in reading and writing it. This is in contrast to the South Indians/Bengalis.
As someone who has lived in South India, I think this is a bit harsh. In the south, I would say, in general, they don't speak good English-they speak bad English confidently. They are confident, and are prepared to speak even extremely ungrammatical English, but they speak it fluently. The average person in the South doesn't speak much better-he is more fluent.
Notwithstanding this, I believe that our state is an ideal one for the government to come out with a program or company, a la China, dedicated to the propogation of English. The Government of Maharastra itself needs to come up with a company or a body, which will set up centres through out the state, specifically to train students/young people and the general public in speaking English. The paradox of Maharashtra is as follows:
TN: 73 %
AP:60 %
KA: 66 %
KL: 90
MH: 77 %
This is as per the 2001 census. We can see clearly that basic literacy in MH is higher than TN, KA and much higher than AP. Only Kerala is ahead. Therefore, this perception that the government must invest in education is flawed. It has invested heavily; that is why literacy is higher in MH than 3/4 south Indian states. So in terms of education, MH does not fall behind or lag behind, contrary to what is commonly thought.
So where are we falling behind? In terms of fluency in English: reading, writing and speaking. If the Government of MH were to set itself a target: 2 million Maharashtrians fluent in English by say 2015 like China, it would go a long to solving this problem.
2.) Setting up of National Level Competitive Examination Preparation Centres (NLCEPC) in all the five zones of Maharashtra: Konkan, Marathwada, Western Maharashtra, Vidharbha, North Maharashtra as well as at Mumbai. These centres should be dedicated specifically to Maharashtrian youth-or to speakers of Marathi. Every kind of competitive examination: be it IIIT, IIMs, IITs, NID, NIFT, BITS-PILANI, NITS, AIIMS, RECs, St Stephens, Army, Navy, Defence and others-these should be one-stop centres for preparation for every kind of national level examinations.
My calcuation is simple: Let even 500 Maharashtrians enter IIT (or IIM or ISB or IIIT). These will then get good jobs, even very good jobs. Say that even 10-15 % will rise to a reasonable level. These will then become the senior managers, CEOs, EDs, MDs of tomorrow. They will in turn make the Maharashtrian community far more visible and in turn-they will hire more Maharashtrians and give preference to Maharashtrian youth. This is something I feel the shikshan samraths really need to look at. I get the feeling that even in the coaching classes for competitive exams which are there, you find very few Maharashtrian youth.
3.) Setting up of Entrepreneurial Devolopment Insititutes (EDIS) and setting up of a bank that gives loans to businessmen/entrepreneurs who are Maharashtrians. This will in turn provide capital to those people who want to enter business or become entreprenuers. Seed capital, VC all this and more should be provided to those Marathis who want to go into business.
4.) For number 4, please see my post: "Constructive steps to promote the Marathi language."
5.) Whenever and wherever possible: go to a Maharashtrian shop, Maharashtrian lawyer, Marathi doctor, Marathi engineer, Marathi grocer, when hiring prefer Maharashtrians (the way South Indians/Bengalis do.) Be as blatantly parochial/chauvanist as you can because other communities already are. You have to beat them at their own game. If it means travelling 6 kilometres to go to a Maharashtrian shop, or 5 kiolmeters to go to a Maharashtrian doctor/lawyer/grocer or making similair sacrificies, we must do this. I am afraid we have to do this: WE HAVE TO PUT OUR COMMUNITY ABOVE OUR CONVENIENCE. This is what other communities always do.
Do let me know what your suggestions, tips, and ideas on how Maharashtrians can raise their profile, make themselves more visible in all walks of life and be more competitive, be more successful on the national level and increase their representation everywhere and in every way.
3 Comments
Tell a friend
Bury
I've always wondered what can be done to make Maharashtrians more competitive, raise their standards and raise their profile i.e. make them more visible in all walks of life. I think the thing we must do is to make more Maharashtrians visible in all respects, the more visible we are, the better it is. We need to be a more visible community. How can we do all this?
Here are my four suggestions to all our shikshan Samrats, education barons, politicians, the general public, NGOS, education ministry, educationwallahs, teachers, students and all Marathi-speakers in general:
1.) China has set itself a target of training millions of people in speaking, reading and writing English. The Government itself has set this goal and is now actively funding and supporting this programme. This is obviously because the government takes English very seriously. I have always wondered why in India no such thing has been done. Now in Maharashtra, for decades, we have been told that Maharashtrians in general are not fluent in speaking English nor do they have proficiency in reading and writing it. This is in contrast to the South Indians/Bengalis.
As someone who has lived in South India, I think this is a bit harsh. In the south, I would say, in general, they don't speak good English-they speak bad English confidently. They are confident, and are prepared to speak even extremely ungrammatical English, but they speak it fluently. The average person in the South doesn't speak much better-he is more fluent.
Notwithstanding this, I believe that our state is an ideal one for the government to come out with a program or company, a la China, dedicated to the propogation of English. The Government of Maharastra itself needs to come up with a company or a body, which will set up centres through out the state, specifically to train students/young people and the general public in speaking English. The paradox of Maharashtra is as follows:
TN: 73 %
AP:60 %
KA: 66 %
KL: 90
MH: 77 %
This is as per the 2001 census. We can see clearly that basic literacy in MH is higher than TN, KA and much higher than AP. Only Kerala is ahead. Therefore, this perception that the government must invest in education is flawed. It has invested heavily; that is why literacy is higher in MH than 3/4 south Indian states. So in terms of education, MH does not fall behind or lag behind, contrary to what is commonly thought.
So where are we falling behind? In terms of fluency in English: reading, writing and speaking. If the Government of MH were to set itself a target: 2 million Maharashtrians fluent in English by say 2015 like China, it would go a long to solving this problem.
2.) Setting up of National Level Competitive Examination Preparation Centres (NLCEPC) in all the five zones of Maharashtra: Konkan, Marathwada, Western Maharashtra, Vidharbha, North Maharashtra as well as at Mumbai. These centres should be dedicated specifically to Maharashtrian youth-or to speakers of Marathi. Every kind of competitive examination: be it IIIT, IIMs, IITs, NID, NIFT, BITS-PILANI, NITS, AIIMS, RECs, St Stephens, Army, Navy, Defence and others-these should be one-stop centres for preparation for every kind of national level examinations.
My calcuation is simple: Let even 500 Maharashtrians enter IIT (or IIM or ISB or IIIT). These will then get good jobs, even very good jobs. Say that even 10-15 % will rise to a reasonable level. These will then become the senior managers, CEOs, EDs, MDs of tomorrow. They will in turn make the Maharashtrian community far more visible and in turn-they will hire more Maharashtrians and give preference to Maharashtrian youth. This is something I feel the shikshan samraths really need to look at. I get the feeling that even in the coaching classes for competitive exams which are there, you find very few Maharashtrian youth.
3.) Setting up of Entrepreneurial Devolopment Insititutes (EDIS) and setting up of a bank that gives loans to businessmen/entrepreneurs who are Maharashtrians. This will in turn provide capital to those people who want to enter business or become entreprenuers. Seed capital, VC all this and more should be provided to those Marathis who want to go into business.
4.) For number 4, please see my post: "Constructive steps to promote the Marathi language."
5.) Whenever and wherever possible: go to a Maharashtrian shop, Maharashtrian lawyer, Marathi doctor, Marathi engineer, Marathi grocer, when hiring prefer Maharashtrians (the way South Indians/Bengalis do.) Be as blatantly parochial/chauvanist as you can because other communities already are. You have to beat them at their own game. If it means travelling 6 kilometres to go to a Maharashtrian shop, or 5 kiolmeters to go to a Maharashtrian doctor/lawyer/grocer or making similair sacrificies, we must do this. I am afraid we have to do this: WE HAVE TO PUT OUR COMMUNITY ABOVE OUR CONVENIENCE. This is what other communities always do.
Do let me know what your suggestions, tips, and ideas on how Maharashtrians can raise their profile, make themselves more visible in all walks of life and be more competitive, be more successful on the national level and increase their representation everywhere and in every way.
3 Comments
Tell a friend
Bury
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Comments
your's four suggestions are good,but do you think it can be give the best result
Vikas,
I agree with all your points. Except the last. Because all the first four points are positive, and the last, negative. I will explain why.
First, the initial points:
All positive. All great ideas. Now take a look at our leaders. Look at SS, MNS, BJP, Congress and NCP. You see any leader there who is powerful and popular enough, and visionary, to implement all those ideas? No. Not one.
Can you imagine the impact if Thackeray had said, we will beat other states at their own game, all Mahrashtrians should become top class in English and Marthi both?
Did he do it?
No.
No one is going to do anything positive.
Now the last point.
This is the easiest to do. It is as easy as renaming buildings, roads, or airports. Making a new airport is a tough job. Our politicians are happy to do easy things. Pull down English names, rename airports and stations. Building something, that is too difficult na. Let us just do the easy thing.
This is not only in Maharashtra. This is a problem across the country. The degree of the problem may be higher in some states and lower in some states, but the basic idea that WE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING POSITIVE OR LONG TERM remains.
Also, now look at the last point.
You really think going only to Maharashtrian shops etc will help? This is not a new strategy, you know I suppose. germans tried it, Japanese tried it, Americans tried it, Maharashtra has already tried it, Tamil Nadu has tried it, every African country has tried similar stuff.
All of them screwed up bigtime.
It works for a few months. And then people just go to whoever is nearby and good.
We have to accept one thing. Today, what we have is a globalised world. Here, what is good and powerful wins. What is attractive wins. What is going to help you improve your life wins.
What Maharashtra needs is a positive, forward-looking visionary party. Without it, the state will remain exactly where it is now. Sadly, I dont think any new, young leader who has any positive ideas is coming up.
Boli bhashewar jasti emphasis dyaayla pahije.. Pustaki bhasha waparlyamulech marathichi avnati hot ahe.. lokanna aplya manatli gosht dilkhulaspane maandta yaayla pahije ani te pan maratheetach..