DEBATE
Dr. Ambedkar gave the central slogan of his life: “Educate, Agitate and Organise *. This electrifying message truly captures the spirit of the Marxian concept of praxis, of “action, reflection, action”. In the Indian context, education assumes a crucial role because the vast majority of untouchable masses are illiterate. Further, It Is not just literacy that he calls for, but education; and not education alone, but agitation and organisation too ….
Dr. Ambedkar’s philosophy of education, thus aims at creation of a liberating consciousness, which is not just formal education, but the conscientisation process of education, agitation and organisation, put together.
However, there is much confusion about the order of the slogan “Educate, Agitate and Organise”. Apparently, the confusion has arisen due to the imperfection in translation. When agitation is translated as ‘sangharsh, the question arises as to how Sangharsh is possible without organisation’, and thus organise’ is sought to be put before ‘agitate”. But the word ‘agitate’ not only means sangharsh, but also the agitation of the mind. Education first creates agitation in the mind and then awareness, which should precede organisation. But ‘organise’ is also sometimes mistook for ‘unite’. These words have different connotations. Organisation is based on a consciousness of kind’, but unity is possible with a ‘consciousness’ of a different ‘kind for a limited objective. Further, when Babasaheb give a call to ‘agitate’, it should be seen in the light of his formulation of the ‘pathetic contentment’ of the Indian mind and the need to have a ‘divine discontentment. So, there should not be any confusion. The central slogan, then, is very clear – “Educate, Agitate and Organise”.
But one word of caution seems required. While literacy and formal education are important, the reactionary, status-quoist nature of education in the modern world should not be disregarded. The dangers of the ‘reschooling society’ should be recognised. While universal literacy and education are basic democratic aspirations of India’s Dalit masses, democratisation of education is an Imperative, world over. Education as an end in itself breeds litigation and creation of a sort of Brahminism. Little wonder, Babasaheb was so disgusted with the educated Dalits that he once said that he would never trust them. Yes, education should create ‘consciousness’, that is what Dr. Ambedkar stood for.
(Excerpted from his book, Dr. Ambedkar: Reform or Revolution”, 1991 Segment Book, New Delhi, Chapter-8 p.66-69).
