To keep the grey cells in good order
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Ameer Hamza
A more 'controlled and directed society' would gradually appear, linked to science and technology, predicted a former US Secretary of State as early as 1970. Obviously, this society would be dominated by an elite group with superior scientific know-how, and 'this elite would not hesitate to achieve its political ends by using the latest modern techniques for influencing public behaviour and keeping society under close surveillance and control. Technical and scientific momentum would then feed on the situation it exploits.'
Those who have kept their grey cells in good order would clearly make the connections in today's world, a world where people's consent can be manufactured and 'democracy' managed by the powers-that-be --- as the indefatigable MIT linguist-philosopher and critic of powerful governments, Noam Chomsky, keeps saying. Not understanding this phenomenon means remaining at the receiving end of all kinds of manipulations, tests and experiments that the 'elite' is likely to conduct in a 'market' of teeming millions like Bangladesh. This country presents enormous potential for tests of everything under the sun ---- drug development, chemical, biological or electromagnetic radiation tests, mind-altering, behaviour-controlling and what not ! Not all of such interventions would be benign, to say the least.
Unfortunately, the attitude among the 'educated' in this beloved country is, 'What I don't know isn't knowledge!'
Power lies in real knowledge, not in merely going through the motions in so-called seats of higher learning and acquiring degrees that have little to do with enlightenment or education. Indeed, if 'Digital Bangladesh' is merely linked to hardware and mechanical button pushing minus the minimum scientific knowledge, we would simply be as good as dumb herd, controlled by marketing managers bent only on selling their ware, and guaranteed trouble-shooting jobs for their own technicians. Cynics see little difference between rodents in the closed lab and the low-tech, poorly educated citizens in Bangladesh's huge experimental field ! Harsh words, but unless our education in general catches up with what is graded as 'world class', this situation is unlikely to change.
In this context, nationwide initiatives, such as world literature, math and science based competitions, taken by some right-thinking academicians, are indeed greatly reassuring. These hopefully would be replicated so that the use of the brain's grey cells, so to say, would be re-activated in Bangladesh. If one is to judge by the quality of politics and governance and all that thrives under that canopy, the thinking class seems to be a diminishing breed. Consider the once glorious 'Oxford of the East.' It has been reduced to just a 'certificate shop' instead of a university offering knowledge-based education. Many would not mince words and call it a theatre for tribalism and thuggery in the name of politics.
While real education and research have been put on hold, degrees are doled out nonetheless. But these are no longer recognized elsewhere. Note that none of Bangladesh's universities featured in the 2009 Asian University Rankings, not even among the first 500. This index, prepared by a higher education consultancy, Thomson Reuters Foundation in the UK, shows that ten of the top universities were in China and Hong Kong while Bombay's pride, the Indian Institute of Technology, was ranked at number 30.
Decision-makers should look into the details and learn where we have gone wrong. The South East Asian countries were at the same level as us in the 1960's when the then East Pakistan had pledged to invest on educating the population sustainably. Half a century on, things have gotten worse, not better. According to the TRF analysis Chinese science showed 'awe-inspiring' expansion since 1981 because of well thought out government investment at all levels, beginning from schools to postgraduate research. In addition efficient flow of knowledge from basic science to commercial applications was assured and the government adopted a pragmatic approach to tapping the talents of non-resident Chinese resource persons. Expatriates were offered flexible packages which enabled them to make the most of both worlds ---- at home and in foreign lands. These win-win deals attracted brains back to their roots which have been identified as the main reasons behind China's scientific leap.
Bangladesh Science Academy could similarly bank on the pool of scientists that the country has at home and abroad to start a sustained movement to build the brainpower of Bangladesh. It is essential that the mindset for research and development be inculcated in the young with the kind of knowledge-based activity ---- from the bottom up ---- that could, in a few generations, begin to transform Bangladesh. There is no alternative to a knowledge-based education if we are to build a core of learned men and women who can serve both the country and other centres of excellence abroad.
We most overcome the widespread poverty of the intellect, sooner rather than later, and learn to build,and protect ourselves as well.
A more 'controlled and directed society' would gradually appear, linked to science and technology, predicted a former US Secretary of State as early as 1970. Obviously, this society would be dominated by an elite group with superior scientific know-how, and 'this elite would not hesitate to achieve its political ends by using the latest modern techniques for influencing public behaviour and keeping society under close surveillance and control. Technical and scientific momentum would then feed on the situation it exploits.'
Those who have kept their grey cells in good order would clearly make the connections in today's world, a world where people's consent can be manufactured and 'democracy' managed by the powers-that-be --- as the indefatigable MIT linguist-philosopher and critic of powerful governments, Noam Chomsky, keeps saying. Not understanding this phenomenon means remaining at the receiving end of all kinds of manipulations, tests and experiments that the 'elite' is likely to conduct in a 'market' of teeming millions like Bangladesh. This country presents enormous potential for tests of everything under the sun ---- drug development, chemical, biological or electromagnetic radiation tests, mind-altering, behaviour-controlling and what not ! Not all of such interventions would be benign, to say the least.
Unfortunately, the attitude among the 'educated' in this beloved country is, 'What I don't know isn't knowledge!'
Power lies in real knowledge, not in merely going through the motions in so-called seats of higher learning and acquiring degrees that have little to do with enlightenment or education. Indeed, if 'Digital Bangladesh' is merely linked to hardware and mechanical button pushing minus the minimum scientific knowledge, we would simply be as good as dumb herd, controlled by marketing managers bent only on selling their ware, and guaranteed trouble-shooting jobs for their own technicians. Cynics see little difference between rodents in the closed lab and the low-tech, poorly educated citizens in Bangladesh's huge experimental field ! Harsh words, but unless our education in general catches up with what is graded as 'world class', this situation is unlikely to change.
In this context, nationwide initiatives, such as world literature, math and science based competitions, taken by some right-thinking academicians, are indeed greatly reassuring. These hopefully would be replicated so that the use of the brain's grey cells, so to say, would be re-activated in Bangladesh. If one is to judge by the quality of politics and governance and all that thrives under that canopy, the thinking class seems to be a diminishing breed. Consider the once glorious 'Oxford of the East.' It has been reduced to just a 'certificate shop' instead of a university offering knowledge-based education. Many would not mince words and call it a theatre for tribalism and thuggery in the name of politics.
While real education and research have been put on hold, degrees are doled out nonetheless. But these are no longer recognized elsewhere. Note that none of Bangladesh's universities featured in the 2009 Asian University Rankings, not even among the first 500. This index, prepared by a higher education consultancy, Thomson Reuters Foundation in the UK, shows that ten of the top universities were in China and Hong Kong while Bombay's pride, the Indian Institute of Technology, was ranked at number 30.
Decision-makers should look into the details and learn where we have gone wrong. The South East Asian countries were at the same level as us in the 1960's when the then East Pakistan had pledged to invest on educating the population sustainably. Half a century on, things have gotten worse, not better. According to the TRF analysis Chinese science showed 'awe-inspiring' expansion since 1981 because of well thought out government investment at all levels, beginning from schools to postgraduate research. In addition efficient flow of knowledge from basic science to commercial applications was assured and the government adopted a pragmatic approach to tapping the talents of non-resident Chinese resource persons. Expatriates were offered flexible packages which enabled them to make the most of both worlds ---- at home and in foreign lands. These win-win deals attracted brains back to their roots which have been identified as the main reasons behind China's scientific leap.
Bangladesh Science Academy could similarly bank on the pool of scientists that the country has at home and abroad to start a sustained movement to build the brainpower of Bangladesh. It is essential that the mindset for research and development be inculcated in the young with the kind of knowledge-based activity ---- from the bottom up ---- that could, in a few generations, begin to transform Bangladesh. There is no alternative to a knowledge-based education if we are to build a core of learned men and women who can serve both the country and other centres of excellence abroad.
We most overcome the widespread poverty of the intellect, sooner rather than later, and learn to build,and protect ourselves as well.