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INTRODUCTION
NEED FOR AN OBJECTIVE
ANALYTICAL STUDY
Finding the truth is
the ultimate objective of any intellectual exercise. Be it a
fact-finding mission, analysis of social, political or economic
processes or a spiritual journey the edifice of truth is built on the
facts. In sciences experiments are conducted to generate new
information, which forms the basis for the enunciation of new theories
and principles. Facts become sacred, inferences and opinions must arise
from the information of the past and the new data gathered. Neutrality
in the selection of past data, in the process of gathering new
information and also in the process of analysis and derivation of
inferences is fundamental to any objective intellectual endeavor.
UNIPOLAR THOUGHT
PROCESS
Any exercise to
search for truth has to make a beginning without any predispositions.
Objectivity is lost if the past attitudes and aptitudes of the seeker of
truth colour the vision and the analyst becomes blind to a set of
information bits and another set of data is visualized as being greater
than its real worth. In research hypothesis are stated and the
researcher has a mind-set wherein based on dispassionate analysis of
gathered data the stated hypothesis is either proved to be right or
wrong. Incorrect derivations and inferences would arise if the
researcher were emotionally or ideologically inclined to prove or
disprove a given hypothesis. Truth is the first casualty of such an
exercise. Intellectual honesty demands observations, analysis and
derivations that are free from the personal or group prejudice and likes
and dislikes of the analysts.
Unfortunately in
todays India the vocal, articulate and dominant sections of thinkers
and analysts have become predictable. Even before an exercise of
analysis of events and processes begins it is possible to almost
correctly forecast the inferences and conclusions that are likely to be
drawn by the individuals, groups or organizations. A newspaper would
publish editorials and articles supporting and proving only one point of
view. The outcome of the discussion is predictable depending upon the
television channel that is hosting it. Even in the case of simple
journalistic reporting the personal predispositions of the reporter
glare prominently in the news stories. The questions asked clearly
indicate the ideological inclinations of the interviewer. So much so
that even the organization created under the statutes of the
constitution become partisan and their contentions are blind to a set of
data and hyper-responsive to another set of facts. Unipolar thought
process of Indian analysts and commentators has become a practice rather
than an exception.
QUEST FOR TRUTH
When the problems of
the nation receive skewed notice by its intellectuals the analysis
cannot be realistic. Not only the problems get politicized the analysis
also become coloured with the vision of the analyst. If the diagnosis
problem is faulty the solutions are bound to be unrealistic and
misdirected. When a physician commits error in the diagnosis of an
ailment, he fails to cure the disease and may give birth to new
problems. The country today needs better treatment by its
intelligentsia. It is the dharma of the intelligentsia to be
objective and search and state the truth and only the truth.
If we look back and
introspect the achievements and failures of the nation after
independence three facts clearly emerge. First, the country was
deficient in food production those posed a challenge to the farmers. The
farming community not only met the targets but also produced a massive
surplus. Second, whenever the enemies posed an external threat our
jawans lived up to our expectations and defended the country. It is
noticeable that both jawans and kisans constitute the
majority of the population of the country. Even the scientists have
taken the country to new heights, be it innovations in farming
practices, atomic and space research or information technology.
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