Socialism, progress and education
FOR the first time in my life, I’ve been feeling rich: the exchange rate here in Vietnam is around 20,000 dong to the US dollar. So for a hundred dollars, I get two million dongs. All these zeros can get a bit confusing, as even a short taxi ride can cost 50,000 dong, and I have to do quick mental arithmetic before I realise it’s only $2.50.
We are now back in Hanoi after a wonderful week in the small, provincial town of Hoi An. After some memorable meals and relaxing visits to the nearby beach, being in the midst of Vietnam’s busy capital needs some getting used to.
I have finally worked out the technique needed to cross the road. Given that the zebra crossings appear only to highlight pedestrians as targets for the thousands of cars, scooters and bicycles, you have to hold your nerve if you are to ever cross over without becoming road kill. Basically, the trick is in walking across slowly and deliberately. If you try and rush across, drivers will try and anticipate your speed and chances are that you won’t make it in one piece.
Even in my brief time here, I have been able to discern the determination of people to better their lives. Our hotel manager told me he would one day have his own establishment as he didn’t want to work for others all his life. A very capable man, I’m sure he’ll do well.
He organised a wonderful Christmas dinner for us: delicious spring rolls followed by a whole grilled fish; and the main course was roast duck that was meltingly tender. The chef excelled himself, and was delighted by his hefty tip. Normally, bills at restaurants are very reasonable, and tips are not the norm. Roadside joints are everywhere, selling snacks for a few dong. Others try to make some money selling trinkets to tourists.
As I observe the entrepreneurial spirit among people here, I can see that poverty will soon be a thing of the past. Already, hundreds of thousands have moved up from bicycles to scooters and motorcycles. Those riding motorbikes a few years ago are now driving cars.
This is clearly an aspirational society, and one going places in a hurry. The English-language daily Viet Nam News informs readers of various projects and policies aimed at improving agriculture. The investment in infrastructure is visible in the sleek steel and glass airports, and the soaring bridges. Motorways are wide and smooth, and there has not been a single power cut while I’ve been here.
More importantly, all Vietnamese children go to school, and people seem healthy. I have hardly seen an obese Vietnamese yet, a phenomenon that can probably be explained by the absence of fast food chains. Long may they stay away, for their products are responsible for more excess weight than any other single factor in the developed world.
Although Vietnam is a single party state ruled by the Communist Party, citizens here enjoy a lot of personal freedoms. The other day, the lifestyle section of the Viet Nam News carried a report about a photography exhibition that highlighted the lives of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender types. Amorous couples can be seen on park benches. And there is no pressure to conform to any particular faith.
But it’s still odd to open a newspaper without reading about the opposition, or seeing any criticism of the government. There is the occasional comment about a particular policy that has not worked, but there’s no mention of the party official responsible.
Two other countries ruled by communists come to mind: North Korea and Cuba. (I am omitting China because its sheer size and its dazzling economic progress place it in another category). In the crazy North Korean dictatorship, people have been paupered to support a huge army and the extravagant lifestyle of the rulers. State control over virtually every aspect of economic and political life has caused misery on an enormous and unforgivable scale. Three generations of the Kim dynasty have not only pushed the country into bankruptcy, but also made it the laughing stock of the world.
Cuba, on the other hand, is now emerging from the dogmatic socialist rule imposed by Fidel Castro. His brother Raul has replaced him as president and is lifting some of the controls the economy laboured under for decades. Tormented by years of irrational US sanctions, Cubans are finally being allowed choices their parents were denied.
Despite all their geographical and cultural differences, one thing all three states share is the focus on education. This includes China: one reason it has done so well in the last three decades is that it had an educated and healthy workforce that was able to take advantage of globalisation. Compare this with India which, despite its rapid progress in recent years, has been unable to pull up the lowest half of the population. An uneducated population is a drag, not an asset, as we in Pakistan know all too well.
Among developing countries, those with socialist governments have, generally speaking, tended to invest more in education and health than the rest. I am not speaking here about countries that simply tack on the word socialist on their constitutions, but about those who have genuinely socialist parties. One reason is that capitalist societies in the developing world expect people to pay for their children’s education; and if they can’t, too bad. State education is a poor option that condemns kids to a mediocre life.
But these are generalisations: countries like Iran and Sri Lanka have done well in educating their children at state expense. In the latter, standards vary from school to school, and from cities to small towns. But there is a system in place. In Iran, despite the Islamic nature of the government, there are more girls than boys in universities.
So when I see young Vietnamese kids in their uniforms, I think about millions of poor Pakistani children, condemned to a life of ignorance and poverty. Will any government pay them any attention? I doubt it.
Socialism can do wonders if used in ‘pure’ form.
No fast food chains? That’s alarming. As an investor in MCD I find that disgusting. Nobody should stay that healthy – not if we can help it.
I grewup going to public high school in Karachi. It wasn’t the best but affordable. If we can bring that system back then people like me can have some hope.
Whatever failure characterises Pakistani society is largely due to the priority of spending money and intellectual resources in hurting the Indians. In India a large number of the illiterate masses comprises the millions who are attached to madrassas. Muslims can galvanise themselves into breaking the territorial and cultural unity of the Indian sub-continent, but in India and in Pakistan are unable to educate themselves to the same measure as the Chinese, Cubans, Sri Lankans have done. Is not that something deserving of praise?
comparing a democracy like india to vietnam, or even china with a one party rule is totally unfair, it can be compared to say pakistn or brazil ect as we have democracy and a huge population
in china the condition in rural are is pitiable, no freedom to even have children or freely migrate to the cities, so pls do not compare any free country to china, in 2011 there were more then 20000 distubances in tural china
regarding education in india it is increasing at a very fast pace, we have reached a critical mass, where atleast one parent or once neighbour ect is educated read literate, so it will automatically put pressure on others to study to better their life
mr irfan travel to our rural areas and u will notice the difference, they may wear torn uniform but children go to school, but higher education is still a challenge
all girls in india have free sducation till 12th once the females of india are educated then the country will progress
i wonder what is the literacy rate of vietnam?
Vietnam 94%; India 74%; and Pakistan 57%
Before anything else, Pakistani state will have to seriously curb the law and order situation. Three Prime Ministers and a Dictator-President have been assassinated and no one has been caught so far. What kind of country is this anyway?
Irfan hussain whose columns I have been reading for nearly two decades, is one of the most trusted man in Pakistan. His writings rise above narrow nationalism.
Education is regarded as a weapon that can be used against feudal lords. You know the rest.
Irfan Sahib, I agree with your comments on Vietnam. I was there in 2011. It is very cheap (one price tickets for all museums, etc.) yet with all the modern amenities such as wifi in hotels and hostels. I found that taxi drivers and guides do not hand around like a pain to collect tip. In Vietnam they provide the service and collect hhe money and leave politely. I find India, my home country, to be expensive with less amenities. Even in three star hotels you will not find free Wifi.
I also agree with you where the real socialist governments have been in place, like Kerala – 100% literacy and hardly a beggar in site.
The problem in South Asia is not aspirations but expectations to get more for doing less.
goa is not socialist or communist, see its literacy level or power consumtion, per capita income ect ect
there are few beggars in goa but all from other states, no goan begs in goa or out of goa, how do u explain that in political term
We agree that India needs to do more to educate, specially the quality of education, but one thisng we all need to agree that today it is rare to come across a person below 40 who cannot read or write whcih was common in the 80′s. In recent years I have just come across 2 persons who cannot read but their daughters (not sons) have completed schooling and one even aspires to become a graduate. This was not the case in 1980′s, then an adult education class would be full of people struggling to decipher the written word. SImilarly I believe Bangladesh has done well, Bhutan and Srilanka were always well off. However it seems that Pakistan and Afghanistan is hell bent on forgetting the written word, forgetting tht Islam 700 years back was where all the knowledge was. Would Saladin have tolerated the Taliban ? Would the Shahs of Persia shunned education ? Would the Mughals closed schools ?
You cannot compare single party rule with a multi party democracy. There are countries that value their liberties and freedom — the right to congregate, agitate, strike and protest on the streets. When their is no opposition policies made whether good or bad sail through. Multi party thriving democracies need to carry majority of the people with them so progress will be slower but democracy will endure.
Increasingly over the last 65 or so years Pakistan has become a predominantly ‘Muslim’ State. What happened to the diversity in religious faith it inherited at partition? Irfan Bhai, could this be because of intolerance and bigotry which puts the brakes on education and development?
good to read. Irfan sahib you are already one of my favourite writers
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It is very good to see people writing about education also. My attention is caught by ‘education’ in ‘the title ‘socialism, progress and education’. Though the article weighs heavily on the former two but still there is education. I wish people wrote more about education. I share Mr. Irfan’s wish that all our children go to school clad in school uniform.
In 1982, 36% of Indians were literate, in 2012, 26% are left illiterate. If this is not progress, what is?
What a beautiful message!!! It applies to all the countries, especially to poor Asian countries( except Japan and S. Korea). Govt. investment in educating people of the importance of a smaller family (1 – 2 children) and educating them to the best of their abilities is a ticket out of poverty and prosperity. But the religious leaders in promoting the “largest family” (a gift from god) philosophy without having resources to support them are doing a great disservice to the people in these developing impoverished countries.
What Mr. Husain says about Pakistan in his last two sentences applies equally and in full measure to India and Bangladesh too.