My Views on Literacy and the Literate

           The quality and state of being literate is all beyond the knowledge of letters. It elevates the conceptualized knowledge into judicious and timely actions. A literate person is an empowered individual who can revisit, revise and apply the acquired skill and knowledge when he has to enter the mode of activity. Formal and informal modes of education contribute to the literacy of a person. Our ancient educational tradition was notable for its pragmatic edge incorporated with its theoretical learning. It was the Gurukula system, where the literacy acquired was simultaneously practiced for the well being of oneself and the world around. 

From the basic levels of a social life where a salty soup prepared by one, is made better by the advice of another to add a potato or two, showcases literacy at work. The knowledge of a ‘laadan’ (local doctor) which improves the health and saves the lives in a village is another example for literacy in action. In the first case we understand that it is common knowledge at work which may be possessed by many folks around. But what makes the difference is the mindset of that individual who earnestly identified the situation to convert his/her knowledge into action and helped the other. This makes the individual literate. In the second case where the specialised knowledge of medicine is at work, we find the literacy of the ‘laadan’ works at the level of dedication, selflessness and compassion. 

Today India has grown to a highly populous state with difficulties in making all of its individuals literate. We have done away with the indigenous educational practices and in the British introduced system of education our children strive to make giant leaps in acquiring knowledge. When knowledge is counted in quantity and individual merits as grades they mistake themselves to be literate individuals as they finish their schooling. But do such literates be any useful to the society they live in?  In this part of the world, acquired literacy if unused, can be considered a crime to the fellow being, as knowledge had get round the unfortunate many to reach the lucky.  It is obvious that the country needs literacy in action and the literates to guide others. These days we see Anna Hasare’s literacy in action when he uses his intelligence to understand the flaws in the existing system of governance and his acquired knowledge of the Gandhian philosophies to protest against it. He becomes literate when he is articulating the truths of corruption in independent India which is around Rs 910603234300000 to the common man who might not even be educated to know what to call such a big numeral.  Thus literacy also works as a bridge to connect knowledge to the less privileged. We can find splendour in his work when this man has empowered people to judiciously connect Gandhian philosophy from another era to a present problem and bridge the gap between time-spaces and knowledge.

Thus the ability of literacy to work at different levels is its beauty and charm. Its power to cut barriers bridge lives and empower the community is what defines the quality and state of being literate, which is all beyond the knowledge of letters.