| Description | Track 1: silence 0.11 mins
Interview with a male student from Calcutta. He talks about his education at missionary school there and differences this made to his use of English. He discusses being taught in English for all subjects rather than Bengali although there was some emphasis on Bengali when he was younger, and considers the extent to which he has gained an understanding of English literature, traditions and culture. He goes on to talk about his experiences in being taught English literature at college largely by conservative Indian professors and the extent to which they have moulded his views about the role of literature in society and the need to analyse it through the prism of class consciousness. He discusses his historical and political education and his understanding of history in terms of the class struggle. He gives his opinions about Marxism and describes the 'feudal' relations that still exist in Indian society, particularly between men and women. He talks about sexism and the position of women in society, the tradition of the dowry and the influence of religion. He thinks that there is an increasing degree of literacy and education, particularly amongst urban 'white collar' workers, but comments on the number of engineering graduates with first class degrees who are unable to get jobs, and thinks that this is due to the failure of the '5 Year Plans' and emphasis on agriculture by the land-owning classs, through the policy of the 'Green Revolution', as the only way for them to make money. He goes on to discuss the political awareness of students at his university, support for the Communist parties and Naxalite movement, and the continuation of student political struggles. He considers the differences in political and social attitudes between his generation and his parents generation, and gives his views and the views of Bengali people about Gandhi and Nehru, and India's relationship with China. (tracks 2-15).
Total: 32.38 mins
Dubber's reference number: PLA KF565D0876380 |