Slavery, Education, Demand, and Supply: How They Are All Connected
Slavery, Education, Demand, and
Supply: How They Are All Connected
Slavery, education, demand, and supply. Funny how all these
things are connected and how they have shaped societies for centuries.
Slavery creates circumstances where a person has to work for
someone regardless of what that person is paid for their services. Failure to
perform the job can result in emotional, financial, or physical punishment, or
all three. Slavery is not always about chains. It also creates circumstances
where people have little choice but to obey those who control their survival.
Education began to change this relationship. As demand for
products and services grew, so did the need for workers with specific knowledge
and skills. Educated and skilled workers became more desirable, and their
ability to negotiate wages and working conditions improved. The label of
slavery began to disappear from some forms of labor, not necessarily because
the privileged suddenly developed respect for human rights, but because they
needed the skills of those they had once controlled. Education did not end
slavery by itself, but it gave people opportunities to escape economic
dependence.
When the caste system developed in India, education became
tied to religion and the interests of the privileged classes. The poor and
weaker sections of society were denied education or told they were not worthy
of receiving it. This kept them dependent on those who controlled wealth and
power. Rules were created that protected the privileged while people from the
lower castes suffered financial, physical, and emotional punishment. Denying
education was one of the most effective ways to keep people in slavery.
After hundreds of years of slavery in America and
exploitation in Europe, education and economic opportunities helped transform
the lives of many descendants of those who were once enslaved or oppressed.
Some have developed skills so highly valued that they have become wealthier
than those who once belonged to the privileged classes. Their knowledge created
demand for their services, and that demand gave them economic freedom.
But the desire for cheap labor has never disappeared. The
privileged continue to find ways to squeeze people at the lower end of the
economic pyramid. Sure, slavery is illegal in America, but economic
exploitation still creates conditions that resemble slavery. Mrs. Indira
Gandhi's government abolished bonded labor in India, but bonded labor and other
forms of exploitation continue. Just look at places where the rich and powerful
ignore the laws and inflict suffering on those who have little power to defend
themselves.
When the BJP talks about temples and religion, I see it as a
dog whistle to the privileged classes. It is as if they are saying, let us put
our arms around these idols and temples and push people back toward religious
teachings and unquestioning faith, because scientific and logical thinking
scares those who want to control society. People who question authority are
much harder to control than those who are taught to accept everything in the
name of religion.
In America, Republicans also promote this kind of thinking.
Much of the economic system is controlled by the wealthy, who want cheap labor
to keep the cost of goods and services down. Yet, to remain in power, political
leaders encourage people to hate those from different races, religions, and
communities. The contradiction is obvious. They want the labor of these people
but do not want to give them equal respect and opportunities. They create
divisions among the very people whose labor keeps the economy running.
In India, the movement we are seeing on the streets is
increasingly driven by educated people who believe in scientific and logical
thinking. Both sides have certain privileges. One group has the privilege of
education and the ability to question authority, while the other enjoys
privileges inherited through caste, wealth, and political power. The struggle
is between those who want opportunities based on knowledge and ability and
those who want to preserve a system that protects inherited privileges.
Creating opportunities for everyone may be difficult, but not
everyone needs everything. We can create a society where every kind of work is
respected, whether someone is a scientist, teacher, farmer, factory worker, or
cleaner. A government of the people should create opportunities for all,
knowing that the circulation of wealth strengthens the economy. When people
earn more, they spend more. Demand increases, businesses grow, and more jobs
are created. This is how demand and supply can work for everyone rather than
just the privileged.
But this can happen only when people are willing to shed
their biases and choose collaboration over division. Religion, caste, race, and
wealth should not determine the value of a human being. Education should teach
people to think, not blindly obey, and governments should create opportunities
rather than protect the privileges of a few.
Slavery survives when people have no choices. Education
creates choices, demand creates opportunities, and the fair distribution of
those opportunities creates prosperity.
The question is simple: Do we want a society where a few
privileged people control millions, or one where millions of educated,
independent people work together to build a stronger nation?
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