Being liberal

Ratna Raman

In the last two years of schooling, the senior classes are divided into four sections — A for Arts, B for Biology  and  PCM,  C for commerce and D for Mechanical Drawing and PCM.  And a popular ditty that is circulated from high school onwards is: “A mein jaogey to adogey, B mein jaogey to badhogey, C mein jaogey to sadogey and D mein jaogey to darogey.” (You will get stuck in the A stream, grow in B, rot in C and  remain frightened in the D stream). This ditty addresses an optimal truth with around 75 per cent accuracy.

Going a step ahead —specialising in biology and mechanical drawing, those in Sections B and D went on to do medicine, IIT and engineering and won laurels, were intimidated by the rigours of living in India and usually moved to greener pastures.  Those who did commerce, however, shone as the country moved in the direction of greater material consumption. (This being the only oversight in the ditty, coined perhaps in innocent times when money was yet to become an overriding concern). Those studying Humanities struggled as a result of popular perception that only dullards chose the stream. Institutionally as well, step motherly treatment is consistently meted out to the liberal arts. 

 This can be seen in the short shrift given to languages, literature and the social sciences all through school. This   phenomena has now begun to percolate to the premium universities as well, where until recently, a thriving culture in the liberal arts existed. This is being slowly dismantled, making way for a one-size-fits-all system of education.

 However, we need to understand the increasing relevance of the social sciences and literature for everyday life.  The social sciences and languages play a primary role in the enhancement of human thinking and the development of humane values  and understanding. Yes, the empirical sciences explain the world we live in on rational principles and construct it for us and run it as well. Medical science allows us to understand our bodies and how they function. Technology can map the structure of our brain and decode our DNA, but empirical sciences provide little material for our hearts and minds to grow and discover what being human is all about.

Recently, one of our powerful ministers agonised in Parliament over what he thought were hurtful references to the nation by a section of boisterous students. “How can they refer to India as ‘a country without a post office”, he questioned, filled with righteous anger at all those who had overlooked the large offices of India Posts through the length and breadth of the country. If only, our tech-savvy minister was more culturally attuned, he would have known that the reference was being made to the title of a book of poems written by Agha Shahid Ali, a brilliant young Kashmiri poet whose promising career as modern India's muse was cut short by his grievous capitulation to cancer.

This anecdote provides ample illustration of the increasing disconnect between  the liberal arts, and a widespread lack of interest in the holistic potential of language and literatures, which are being slowly reduced to mere functional tools. Ironically, Venkaiah Naidu belongs to the same state whose technology pushing Chief Minister opined on an earlier occasion on the irrelevance of history. India’s focus on technological skills has resulted in a tilt in favour of the empirical sciences at the expense of the liberal arts. It is in the nation’s interest that the balance be recalibrated. History introduces us to lives that have been lived while philosophy discusses the development of ideas and ethics. Political science charts the rules and responsibilities that allow us to remain in civil society and sociology traces for us different patterns of living practised in communities. The many national languages that we have enable us to draw from their varied literatures and follow closely and learn from the dreams and aspirations of several generations.

 The Liberal Arts develop human ability to think and analyse, to question, discuss and arrive at a better understanding of innumerable facets of social life. Enshrined in the languages that are taught in liberal arts courses are literatures that unveil a world of passions, emotions and thought processes, allowing us to look closely at human societies framed within diverse cultures. This is a facility that we need to develop and explore urgently. India needs its social scientists and its literati and its skilled teachers and writers of literature in several languages to enable both self-expression and articulation, thereby generating collective growth and development.

Social scientists alone can contribute optimally to India’s strengths by facilitating avenues for the discussion and dissemination of ideas, enabling our development into a resilient nation that showcases its plural cultures. 

What is the journey that one must make to become a social scientist? Join a liberal arts or literature programme at any Indian university.  The reading list in good undergraduate programmes will direct you towards greater learning and conceptualising, thereby enabling thinking. Every young undergraduate who joins the university occupies a space of privilege. It is each undergraduate’s prerogative to assimilate and process information, learn and grow and subsequently contribute, as a well-informed and sensitive adult, to the processes of nation building.

The writer is Associate Professor, Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi University

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Political Science

Political Science is the study of the constitution of a country and its different political aspects. It is a social science that involves the study of governmental systems and general principles that govern the world of politics. It covers fields of study such as political theory, public policy, international relations, political philosophy, political economy, history, public administration and a host of related fields.  It is best suited for students interested in governance, how policies are made, and how  government policies can be improved. Besides fields of work directly related to the subject such as politics, public administration, international relations and so on, a study of political science can lead to careers such as the civil services, law, international relations, journalism, public relations, social work, development studies etc. 

Political science graduates are also suited for careers with international organisations, such as the UN, international businesses, and various international relief and aid groups looking for people who understand the problems of our increasing economic and political interdependence with the rest of the world.

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Wide choice of careers

• There are hundreds of careers you can pursue after taking up Humanities. That includes everything which does not require science and ranges from civil services, advertising, mass communication, law, archaeology, market research, hotel management, to social media marketing, business management, travel and tourism etc. 
• Some of the emerging careers such as fashion designing, animation, event or retail management, environment protection, food critic, development studies, fitness, computer game design, film direction are best handled by those who have a broad vision, sensitivity,  critical awareness and other perspectives that the study of Humanities subjects provide.
• It is also accepted that generic competencies such as interpersonal and organisational sensitivity, planning, teamwork and communication skills are also typically given more emphasis in the study of Humanities than in science and technology subjects. n In fact, the IITs are also recognising the immense value of these subjects and have introduced them in the engineering curriculum too. 

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Top Humanities colleges

MCM DAV College for Women, Chandigarh

www.mcmdavcw-chd.edu

Seats: BA (800 )

Cut off: Over 65 per cent

USP: State-of-the-art infrastructure amply supported by high academic standards, job placements, remedial courses, bridge courses, counseling services etc. 

PG Government College for Girls, Sector 11, Chandigarh

gcg11.ac.in

Cut-off: BA (gen) 62 per cent

USP: With the 3.52 CGPA in National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grading report the college is leading in the government colleges by having highest CGPA in recent ranking. 

St Bede’s College, Shimla

www.stbedescollege.in

Seats: 60 in each subject of the 

arts stream

USP: Still carries the British aura, known for English honours course and famous alumni

Government College for Girls, Ludhiana

gcgldh.org

Seats:550

Cut off: 60 per cent

USP: Maximum university positions in different undergraduate courses and national championships in Sports.

Khalsa College Amritsar 

www.khalsacollegeamritsar.org

Seats: 450 (approx)

Cut off: The college attracts merit holders above 70 per cent.

USP: NAAC re-accredited ‘A’ Grade (CGPA), College with Potential for Excellence Status Conferred by UGC.

Jat College, Rohtak

www.jatcollegerohtak.org

Cut-off: Between 45 to 60 per cent, depending upon the course and availability of seats.

Claim to fame: Described as “Mecca of Sports” in North India by the NAAC Peer Team in its report for accreditation.

— Based on selected lists from national surveys

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History

History is a study of human self-knowledge and provides clues to what man is, what man has done and what man can do. A study of history and the past can form the basis of knowledge for careers in the civil services, in international organisations, journalism, travel and tourism etc. Understanding and analysing issues and events are of key importance to historians and can be applied in many other fields of work. For those interested in the social and cultural aspects of history, there are options such as archaeology, museology and art restoration. A study of fossils, monuments, manuscripts, coins and excavated remains can provide you with the knowledge of societies that existed in the ancient times.  

Job opportunities

• Journalism
• Law
• Civil services — public policy
• International organisations
• Teaching / research
• Archaeology / Museology/ Archivist
• Information specialist
• Travel/ tour specialist

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Psychology

Psychology is the study of human mind and behaviour and has a systematic approach towards understanding people. As a profession, it enables students to apply the principles and theories of human behaviour in solving real-life problems. The study includes experiments, theories, personality tests, methods and techniques for the identification of human problems, as well as guidance and counseling methodologies used in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of physical and mental disorders. There are several areas of work in psychology, and students can specialise in any one of them at the postgraduate level or through professional training after post graduation. You can become a child psychologist, a school psychologist or a clinical psychologist. Social and occupational psychology are other fields of specialisation, as is the area of human resource management for which an MBA is ideal.

Job opportunities

• Clinical psychology
• School counsellor
• Counselling — general, marriage, behavioural, delinquency etc
• Marketing & advertising
• Human resource management
• Organisational behaviour 
• Teaching

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Geography 

Geography is an interesting blend of social and pure sciences.  It is, thus, a subject that covers history, sociology and economics, as well as geology, meteorology and the sciences. The knowledge and use of geography has helped scientists predict and deal with natural calamities, enhance soil fertility, demarcate geographical boundaries and provide logistics and remote sensing data for a range of uses from tourism and travel management to town planning. Using field techniques, statistical methods, cartography and computerised data, geographers study and interpret the occurrence, distribution and interrelationship of physical and cultural elements in the world. Students can take up the study of geography through both the science and humanities routes. A BSc in geography would mainly cover the physical aspects of the earth, it climate and topography, while the BA in geography deals with its influence on human society, and the management of its resources.

Job opportunities

• Regional & Urban Planning
• Cartography 
• GIS / Remore sensing technologist
• Logistics & supply chain management
• Environmental consultant, and assessment 
• Medical geography
• Research and academics
• Population studies

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Sociology

Sociology is the study of human behaviour and our relationship with others within an organisational or social structure and community. It also covers more tangible measures of human behaviour such as class or social status, social movements, criminal deviance, and even revolution. It is,  therefore, a broad science, covering many different disciplines of the social sciences such as anthropology, archaeology, and linguistics. The specialties within sociology include criminology, demography, cultural traditions, gerontology, social welfare, race relations, social status, and social change.  After a degree in sociology a student can choose from a wide array of careers ranging from administration and business to human resource management, market research, counseling and communication. You can also explore options in business, education, law, social research, communications, as well as social work and public administration. Sociology students also work with research institutes, the criminal justice system, public health and welfare organisations, social service agencies, non-profit organisations, government agencies, educational institutions, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and correctional institutions.

Skills learnt

• Keen eye for detail 
• Ability to recognise trends and patterns and correlating information from varied sources
• Problem-solving 
• Oral, written and presentation skills  
• Management skills

Job opportunities

• Law- human rights & international law
• Market research — qualitative research
• Development studies
• Public policy/ administration
• Public health and welfare organisations
• International welfare organisations 
• Corporate communications
• Civil Services

— Inputs by Usha Albuquerque