Shiksha Aur Sanchar Sadhano Ki Bhumika - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Shiksha aur Sanchar Sadhano ki Bhumika" (The Role of Education and Communication Tools) by Durgaprasad Agarwal:

The article critically examines the role of modern communication tools in education and the dissemination of knowledge and moral values in India. The author, Prof. Durgaprasad Agarwal, argues that while mediums like radio, television, cinema, and print media have the potential to reach a vast audience, their current content and presentation in India are largely failing to impart meaningful education or positive moral values.

Critique of Communication Mediums:

Radio (Akashvani): Despite its potential to educate the large illiterate population, Akashvani (All India Radio) is criticized for its misplaced priorities. Instead of focusing on educational content, it is absorbed in debates about musical instruments and competing with Radio Ceylon for popularity. While "educational" programs like "School Broadcasts," "Women's World," and "Youth Voice" exist, they are described as low-quality and unengaging. The author points out that the most popular programs are "Vividh Bharati" and the Urdu service, both heavily reliant on film music, indicating a lack of interest in genuinely educational content. Even news broadcasts are seen as dry and lacking credibility, leading many to prefer BBC for Indian news.
Television (Doordarshan): Similar to radio, Doordarshan's most popular programs are "Chitrahaar" and "Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan," both film-centric. Other programs are often viewed as obligatory or boring. The author notes that Doordarshan is heavily focused on promoting the image of those in power, neglecting its role in societal development. Furthermore, the reach of television is still limited, and there's little effort to orient it towards nation-building.
Government Control: Both radio and television are under government control, but their potential for educational and informative use is hampered by a lack of skilled and thoughtful implementation. The author suggests that instead of educating the public, these mediums have failed to even properly promote government policies. While the transistor revolution made radio popular, and television has reached the youth, the content transmitted – particularly the prevalent film songs with their shallow themes of love and union – is deemed harmful.
Cinema: Cinema is identified as a third crucial medium in an uneducated country like India. Documentaries, though under government control and mandatory screening, are considered dull and fail to attract audiences. Their distribution is also problematic, leading to content that is out of sync with national needs (e.g., "Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai" during a border conflict, or "two or three children" for family planning). Feature films, produced by commercial entities, prioritize profit over social reform or education. The industry is also heavily influenced by black money and a lack of ethical grounding among its participants. Films often glorify criminals, portray negative characters as aspirational, and promote violence, nudity, immorality, and materialism. The censor board's effectiveness is questioned, as it often fails to curb exploitation while focusing on superficial restrictions. Any genuinely meaningful films struggle to find distribution and support against the onslaught of commercial entertainment.
Print Media (Newspapers, Magazines, Books): Print media has a limited reach due to illiteracy and poverty. People prioritize basic needs over purchasing books. Even those who can afford them often choose other forms of entertainment. Publishers focus on bulk sales to libraries, offering significant discounts, rather than catering to individual readers. This results in a lack of availability of desired or essential reading material for the general public. Pocket books, instead of containing serious literature, have become synonymous with romantic and crime fiction. Newspapers are filled with government pronouncements and sensational crime news, while the common person remains absent. Local newspapers often resort to blackmail. The proliferation of magazines, rather than indicating a rise in reading interest, is attributed to the publishers' pursuit of profit, leading to an increase in content related to crime, mystery, corruption, vulgarity, and nudity. Meanwhile, serious literary magazines have shut down. Film and political magazines are criticized for their intrusive and sensationalist reporting on celebrities and the private lives of politicians.

Conclusion and Proposed Solutions:

The author concludes that all communication mediums are in the grip of wrong hands and vested interests, and the government has delegated its responsibility to an uninspired bureaucracy. These mediums, instead of serving a healthy purpose, are spreading a "poison of immorality." The author draws a parallel between controlling adulterated food and liquor for public welfare and restricting literature and films that corrupt public sentiment. He argues that freedom of expression should not grant a few the license to distort the mentality of the entire nation.

Proposed Solutions:

Government Intervention: The government should actively regulate content that corrupts public morality, similar to how it controls food adulteration or alcohol.
Improved Content and Presentation: The quality of radio and television programs needs significant improvement, both artistically and technically. Priorities must be re-evaluated, moving away from an over-reliance on cricket commentary and film music.
Support for Quality Literature: The publication and distribution of good books and magazines should be encouraged at all levels. Measures like reduced postal rates and direct publisher-reader engagement are needed.
Promoting Good Cinema: Institutions like the Film Finance Corporation should expand their scope to encourage quality filmmaking. Mobile cinemas and film societies in educational institutions can also help.
Active Public Participation: Readers and viewers should actively protest against indecent, vulgar, and harmful content.
Judicious Decision-Making: The selection of individuals to make decisions about content regulation must be done with great wisdom.

The author warns that if this trend of disseminating harmful content continues, India might drift too far from its dreams and the ideals of simple living and high thinking. The current scenario, where even a fourth-grader views romantic relationships through a film-influenced lens and aspires to be a criminal as depicted in movies, is a cause for serious concern. The article ends with a plea to urgently halt this detrimental "education" from communication mediums to prevent a future where turning back becomes impossible.