570. The Uneducated!

"From the time this government took office, it  has been changing many things topsy turvy" said Ponniah.

"Changes are good. Change signifies progress" said Chinnaiah

"Is it so? Let us say I have a job, which is well-paying and comfortable. If I leave this job and take up another job which is more taxing, but less paying, will you consider my change of job progress?"

"The example you have given is not appropriate to describe the actions of this government. This government has brought about changes, only on the basis of the advice given by experts and the recommendations based on committees formed by the government to study an issue."

"Having advisors to suggest action plans doesn't make the actions of the government right. Hitler might have had his own advisors too! People who run a tyrannical government in a democratic setup will create such systems, to give an appearance that they are acting on the advice of experts and after making a thorough study of issues. Most of the members of the committees formed by this government are ruling party men. The rest are people who have been blindly supporting the atrocious actions of this government."

"What if that was the case? Have not the changes brought in by the government resulted in progress?"

"Progress? Facts and figures show that these changes have only resulted in taking us backwards, on the path of progress. But, the government and the media controlled by it have been describing these setbacks as progress!"

"It is true that there are some problems. But the experts have said that these problems would be resolved over a period of time and advised people to patiently bear the inconveniences, for some time."

"For how long? For hundred years? Don't you realize that this is an attempt to hoodwink the people?"

"The government constitutes committees comprising educated people and people experienced in the field and takes measures on the basis of the recommendations made by the committees. What could be wrong with this approach?"

"Now, we are back to square one in our discussion. First of all, most of the members of the committees you are referring to are politicians. Some of them might have university degrees. That doesn't make them educated or knowledgeable! If we listen to their talks and look at their actions, we can't consider them educated. Even those members, who are experts or knowledgeable, blindly support the untenable actions of this government. They refuse to look at the problems faced by ordinary people. So, this category of people should also be considered uneducated!"

"So, you are suggesting that this is a tyrannical government and when it it is doing things on the aid and advice of uneducated people, the functioning of the government becomes even more tyrannical" said Chinniah, in a mocking tone. 

"Perfect. I couldn't have expressed my point more succinctly!" countered Ponniah, smiling..

Thirukkural

Section 2

Materialism

Chapter 57

Refraining From Doing Terrifying Things

Verse 570 (in Tamil):

kallArp piNikkum kadungOl adhuvalladhu
illai nilaikkup poRai.

Meaning:

A tyrannical ruler will have uneducated people to aid him. Nothing is more burdensome to the earth than this.

(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'padikkAdhavargaL' by the same author.)

Verse 571 (Soon)
Verse 569