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“In Mumbai, if there are 150 murders, there are eight times (more) suicides. All of the perpetrators are educated people. I have never seen an uneducated person committing suicide. I have researched this even while I was police commissioner in Pune. There were engineers and IT professionals committing suicide,” Singh is reported to have said at the 54th Foundation Day ceremony at the Bharat Merchants’ Chamber in Kalbadevi on Tuesday.
“Most suicides,” Singh reportedly said, “are committed by those who have studied in the English medium. I have never heard of or seen a Sanskrit-medium educated person committing suicide. And it is a known fact that more and more people are today sending their children to English-medium schools”.
Singh blamed crime in cities like Mumbai and Delhi on flaws in the education system.
“Jo Delhi ka case hua ya phir Mumbai ke andar jo case hote hain, uske peechhe bhi jo... isko main sanskriti nahin kehta, usko main asanskriti bolta hoon... woh asanskriti ka parinaam hai... Hamare schools aur college ke andar jo shiksha di jaati hai... sanskaarheen shiksha di jaati hai. Jeevangun koi sikhaata nahin hai. (What has happened in Delhi or what happens in Mumbai, it is the consequence of the absence of culture. The education that is imparted in our schools and colleges is devoid of cultural content. Life values are not taught.)”
Rajiv Singhal, trustee of the Bharat Merchants’ Chamber, confirmed the police commissioner’s statements.
“Mr Singh said in his speech that most suicides and crimes were committed by the educated section of society. He also said that there needs to be a study of the educational system, where a closer look needs to be taken at the education that is being imparted to students,” Singhal said.
Singh has criticised India’s education system earlier. In August 2009, he posted a blog titled ‘Growing Literacy, Falling Education’, in which he called the system “inadequate”.
There is some very poor logic at work here. He is saying online educated people commit suicide. And only educated people study English. Therefore studying English makes them commit suicide. Or perhaps, only educated people commit suicide. And only educated people make lots of money. Therefore making money makes them commit suicide. Or perhaps, only educated people commit suicide. And only educated people know the capital city of Australia. Therefore knowing the capital city of Australia makes them commit suicide. You see what I mean?!
Pray, which English medium school did those Delhi rapists come from?
I agree with Cop Satyapal Singh's statement of "Growing Literacy ; Falling education" but not with his statement on english medium is the sole cause for the rise in crime / suicide cases! True as society we have started to focus more on the snobbish culture - grand education ( international schools with over the board admission fee etc), marks etc and there is considerable deterioration on learning / value system. Reason is not only education but lack of guidance from the parents are also a major cause!
