I have been interacting so much with students of different levels here in France in Arras, in Paris that
I am very impressed with their system of education. In all these years in India rarely did I interact with
school or Intermediate system of education( unless I am invited as a chief guest ) but here I was invited
to speak to different groups of students from different levels of schooling. The management had informed
the students before hand, two days in advance about the topic I was going to speak on. The students had
all come prepared with questions about India and asked me many questions, especially about women's
issues and women's movements or some aspect of Indian history. I feel bad that we hardly have any
analytical system of education in India and it is just by rote that our students study. I had young students
as old as thirteen fourteen ask me, can you tell me some thing about your caste system, how do you think
this effects India or why is there so much reporting of rape now. Do you think this is a media hype and
what do you see as a change in India.
When I give a talk all the student sit before their lap tops typing away. I am not sure why the management
wants these students to be there.Are they sent to practice their English language and to get some
general knowledge about India or Indian history, that is not at all a part of their syllabus.In some classes
I have a mix of students who are in post graduate and some in elementary school all sitting together.
I have hardly done this kind of lecturing in India and keep wondering while I speak what will this young
children get from what I am speaking. But I am truly impressed at the efforts made by the
management to expose students to different views.
