A Study of Jayant Gilatar's Chalk N Duster
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INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 Commercialization of Education System in India: A Study of Jayant Gilatar’s Chalk N Duster Ms. Yashaswini, P.1, Dr. Naresh Annem 2 1 & 2 Asst. Professors of English, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore Abstract: Education enlightens and empowers the human beings. Hence, every individual in the society should be able to access the education easily and if possible, freely. The other side, movies are part of literature which holds the mirror to the society. Many movies are quite natural in bringing the social issues on the screen with great motto. The contents of these movies make the audience/viewers to understand the ground reality of the society and also question themselves being part of the society. Thence, movies turn out to be documents. The present paper explores issues about commercialization of education system in India and other related issues which are portrayed in the movie, Chalk n Duster. Keywords: Commercialization, Education, Teaching, Chalk, Duster, Movie Introduction: “Education which does not mould the character is worthless” - Mahatma Gandhi Education is a process where knowledge is imparted and that knowledge should help to shape an individual and society. Through education an individual can be empowered and enlightened; in turn will help the society. Hence, the priority of an individual and government should be on getting access to the education. Further, cinema is a powerful medium which enlightens, empowers the individuals and the society. Some movies bring out awareness about the events that happen in the society especially social evils like caste, theft, women harassment, child labour, corruption etc. Since cinema or movies became part and parcel in the lives of the people, Volume 8 Issue 11 2019 1301 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 our society and individuals are deeply influenced by it. Technical advancement has made the movies more accessible through YouTube, Amazon Prime, Netflix etc. Chalk n Duster is an Indian movie in Hindi language directed by Jayant Gilatar in 2016. It was produced by Amin Surani and the story line was written by Ranjeev Verma and Neetu Verma. Popular actors like Shabana Azmi, Juhi Chawla, Zarina Wahab, Girish Karnad and Divya Dutta acted in the lead roles. This movie portrays the framework of Indian education system, commercialization of the Indian private education system and paradigm shift in turning education into business. Commercialization of Education portrayed in Chalk n Duster: “Can you imagine what the world would have been without a teacher?” asks Jyoti (Juhi Chawla) a science teacher, in a discussion where the other colleagues asked her why she has opted for this ordinary teacher profession though she being a very talented actor, dancer, state level badminton player. Jyoti replies, “One has to be proud of being a teacher”. She, further, states that “Can you imagine what the world would have been without a teacher?” This very statement makes every audience to think and re-think about the construction of world without a teacher and also tells about the importance of being a teacher. This movie revolves around the passionate teachers Vidya (Shabana Azmi) and Jyoti (Juhi Chawla) mathematics and science teachers, respectively, working in a Mumbai based high school namely Kantaben High School. They believe that moral and ethical values should be imparted in students besides good grades. They are selfless and believe in qualitative education. The school will be running in a decent and dignified manner by giving the best education to students; teachers were also enjoying their freedom under the administration of the principal Indu Shastry (Zarina Wahab). To the surprise of the teachers, the supervisor of the school, Kamini Gupta (Divya Dutta) gets appointed as the Principal. She starts changing the entire system in the school as she believes that education is the main source of making money and it is the best business. So, she along with the management introduces very illogical and painful rules into the school. She increases the school fee for students, increases the work load to the teachers and she becomes very rigid with the attendance of teachers. Further, she also looks at teachers as employees whose job is not content oriented but a mechanical stuff. Volume 8 Issue 11 2019 1302 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 Nishit Jariwala in his article “Why foreign education system is better than Indian education system” writes “In Dubai, primary and secondary education is free and it is made compulsory in law whereas in India education is becoming business. Taking from privatization of education to tuitions and coaching institute; education is generating good money. So business minds are now moving towards education” (Nishit in Buddy Bits). This movie Chalk n Duster has brought light on many issues faced by the teachers working in the private schools. It is portrayed in the movie that the old and senior teachers are deliberately targeted and thrown out of the school which may be a strategy of the management. Management of the school simply targets the old and senior teachers because their salary will be high. Instead of paying high salary to a senior teacher, they can hire two fresh candidates and make them work. But, one thing to be observed is an experienced teacher will be expert in his/her subject. Hence, the experience of a teacher has to be considered as an additional degree and given special preference. Further, the methods of teaching by senior teachers are condemned and they are also asked to teach according to the instructions of the management. For example in Chalk n Duster movie, Vidya, an experienced Mathematics teacher, teaches Trigonometry using her own method which helps the students to memorize formula and understand it. To teach the following formula: 푠푖푛 휃 = 푐표푠 휃 = 푡푎푛 휃 = Volume 8 Issue 11 2019 1303 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 She recites a sloka from Hindi: “Pandit Badri Prasad…Hari Hari Bol…Sona Chandi Tol” in which P= Perpendicular, B= Base, H = Hypotenuse. In Sona Chandi Tol…S= Sine 휃, C= Cos 휃, T= Tan 휃 and finally 휃= P/B. Another example which we are familiar with is in English grammar classes, the teachers used to tell the students that “third person singular ko ‘s’ lagaana” which means ‘s’ should be added to third person singular number in simple present tense, that is ‘he’, ‘she’ and ‘it’ like ‘she dances’, ‘he sings’ etc. These regional mixed phrases were quite catchy to the students which helped them to memorize it always easy. Ultimately, it reflects that the private institutions want the education digitalized. As a result the traditional methods / ways of teaching are not accepted in some schools. It is clear from the movie Chalk n Duster in which the teacher who taught trigonometry using traditional method was treated as incompetent and incapable; the method she used to teach was said to be outdated. Listening to those harsh comments by the new principal, the Mathematics teacher, Vidya who was a selfless and sensitive teacher could not bear and gets heart attack. Removal of chairs in the classrooms is one another example which looks inhumane. This is very fact about contemporary private institutions where there won’t be any chairs in the classroom for teacher. This is because a teacher is asked to stand in the classroom and then teach. Well in one way it is acceptable, but any teacher for that matter doesn’t sit for the entire class hour. On set when we look into the issue, there will be few teachers who are old and can’t stand entire class hour and also continuously engage another two three hours. This continuous standing posture makes them tired and loses energy and that affects their quality of teaching. If they look tired, the class won’t be interesting. At least to take attendance one has to be provided with chair and table. It looks very ridiculous when private schools try to reach world class standard and doesn’t provide chairs for teachers. The movie brings out another incident where the arts and crafts teacher is asked to teach Hindi and Hindi teacher is asked to teach physical education. This is one example that if the work load is less for a teacher, the management asks them to teach other subjects in which they are not specialized. Of course, this saves money to the management. Volume 8 Issue 11 2019 1304 http://infokara.com/ INFOKARA RESEARCH ISSN NO: 1021-9056 Yet another scene from the movie is providing tea for the teachers during break time which was complimentary by the previous principal of the school. But when the new principal takes charge without any notice it was discontinued. One day in morning session break, a guy from school canteen serves tea and to the teachers’ surprise, after serving he asks for money, which was complimentary previously. This simple act shows that saving money by cutting off the facilities to the staff. It is not that teachers can’t afford half tea in the morning session. Usually, after taking the classes, a teacher needs to refresh by having a tea or so. As they are tired, it is just a refreshing thing which will recharge teachers’ energy for next five to six hours in a day. As teachers, their job is to stand for long time and give lectures, their throat will be dried up and also they will be literally tired and have no energy to reach the canteen and run back to the next hours. Considering these things, to be generous towards teachers and also to manage time the tea was provided on complimentary which was no cost.