A journalist was earnestly concerned about an educated person like me, being partisan. He was right, because one of the foremost principles of education is to learn to be objective, balanced, and sensible,in observing men and matters, and in generating views that should not exceed the borders of objectivity, to become partisan and prejudiced.The purpose of proper education is to evolve a 'critical bent of mind' as envisaged in the New Education Policy of the central government,though it seems to have boomeranged,in the form of an educated and a very cognizant,Cockroach youth movement.
Education not only tries to make us objective but also goads us to take sides,depending upon which side is right. It is here the conflict arises, because each individual has their own perception of what is right and what is wrong, in a burning issue. Acceptance of universally valid ethical aspects of life,is an indispensable part of education. For instance, corruption is a highly unethical phenomenon which needs to be condemned. But when one group alone is targeted and condemned for corruption, leaving others the comfort of benefit of doubt, it indirectly results in being partisan,despite the blamers of one side, being educated.
Teachers are the pillars in forming a balanced way of thinking among the youth. However, in an internet age, students have their easy access to several areas of life to browse, absorb, approve and reject. During my career of teaching at least for two decades until the advent of computers, my words in the classroom could easily reach the minds of the learners without much room for dissent. In a way, my responsibility was always running the risk of implanting partisan views for acceptance by students. Hence, I had to be exceedingly cautious, in avoiding a partisan mode of thinking and tabling views.
The biggest problem in maintaining equanimity and objectivity today,is the threat of social websites by brandishing their whip against scientific thinking and partisan-free expression of views. Besides, the most important question prevailing among the users of social website is, who is not partisan here, in airing their views.
Does not a section of the Judiciary which is not only educated but is also expected to be impartial, cherish and pass partisan views in their verdicts concerning religion, especially regarding the age old practice of rituals, as well as about free thinking and public speech by being pro government rather than being pro people? Are not quite a few duly educated journalists partisan, in holding views closer to their hearts,closer to some political outfits they love?How many educated persons are there in the media, and how many media houses are partisan today!.
Educated people have their preferred actors, leaders, policies and ideologies. If careful consideration occupies one's thinking, it would be really impossible to be partisan. But the existing environment can only alert one's brain to be careful only in the use of one's language and not the ideas and ideologies that have chronically established their rightful position, in one's mode of thinking and behaviour.If one has actively participated in the anti-Hindi agitation in 1965 as a pre-university, an undergraduate or post graduate student, it would not be that easy for them to shift their stance from that year,unless their living conditions warrant it.If opportunism shifts one's ideology,that also becomes a kind of partisan shift.
Who is partisan and not, is known only to their conscience and conscience is an invisible entity as God is! In reality, even in most modest terms,it would really be a tough job for the second person to say which first person is 100% non-partisan, whether that first person is educated or not.
P.Chandrasekaran.

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