Knowledge
How much does each generation know India?
As we enter our 75th year, it’s time for all age groups to know India. Happy Independence day
Rapid Survey conducted by Early Childhood Association- Association for Primary Education and Research and Podar Institute of Education on- How much do I know about my nation?
It’s the month to be proud to be an Indian. It is also the month to ask ourselves, what have I done for India? And it is the month to teach our children,- India is our country and let’s be proud to carry the tri colour. As we become 75 years old, everyone should know about their country…or do we?
“Independence is no doubt a matter of joy. But let us not forget this independence has thrown on us great responsibilities. By independence, we have lost the excuse of blaming the British for anything that goes wrong. If hereafter things go wrong, we will have nobody to blame but ourselves”. – B. R. Ambedkar
These lines inspired us to find out how much does each generation knows about India? Because if we do not know about India and its Independence then how will we be able to cherish it or work for its progress? Well, this was the basis of our Independence day survey. We interviewed 1200 grandparents, 1200 children (age group 3 years to 8 years), and 1200 teenagers (age group 13 to 18 years). We conducted these virtually, from June to August 2021 and we took people from almost all major states and union territories (we would not like to give those results as we do not want to create a state and political bias!).
The results were a mixed bag, the grandparents excelled in all questions, the younger children were also able to fare quite well but the teenager results were disappointing. They all had access to mobile phones, google and yet the knowledge about their own country was very limited. Is it that nobody has taught them? Or are such things no longer part of films, television, and newspapers?
It's time to ensure that we use days like Independence Day and Republic Day to talk to our ‘future’ about our ‘past’, the ‘past’ because of whom they are enjoying this freedom today. Our Nation, our heroes, our independence should be talked about for generations to come and not lost to the young generation. If that happens then how will we have patriotic citizens? We need to instill a sense of belonging in our citizens of today and it is our responsibility, the responsibility of each one of us and not just left to schools and colleges.
Independence day is when every citizen should feel goosebumps when they read or hear the lines- “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.”
As we enter our 75th year, it's time for all age groups to know India. Happy Independence day.
You can download the high-resolution tables (as used above) from here.
About the author:
Dr. Swati Popat Vats is the President, Podar Education Network, Early Childhood Association India and Association for Primary Education & Research. She is a widely read author and expert on parenting, early childhood, and learning methodologies.