Page 165 - ALCHEMY 2018-19

BREAKING THE HUMANITIES: CATALYST

GLASS CEILING FOR HUMAN GROWTH

Not many years ago, women not only in India but Parents and siblings are sometimes a bit baffled when their
the world over, were more than just confined to children declare a passionate interest in humanities. Why
the four walls of their homes. Even if I think hard, can’t he/she pursue a practical degree like accounting or
I can’t remember any of my known acquaintances computer science? What is the use of a dozen courses in
(my aunts’ or anyone of that generation) having a the humanities stream?
burning desire to walk out into the world. For that Humanities is the field in which we study the meaningful
matter in all my growing up years, there are only a ways that human beings express themselves in- literature,
handful of names (of women)who have made it to philosophy, arts, music, poetry and modes of commentary
the wall of fame. Indira Gandhi, Amrita Pritam, Lata and interpretation. Traditions of literary and creative work
Mangeshkar or Bechendari Pal arethose few names exist everywhere in the world and throughout history and
that seem to have influenced the Indian Society. most would agree that they add great value to human
That indeed seems to be a conservative world, but life and culture. In fact, we might say that the field of
today is a new world, a new country, a new way of humanities constitutes the greater part of what we mean
thinking and living. The year 1991 not only globalised by ‘culture’-systems of values, meanings and metaphors in
our economy but also seemed to open our social terms of which we live our lives.
structure. The discipline of humanities is necessary to navigate our
It all started with education for the fairer sex of world, to be successful as a leader and contributes to
the country. An open economy created a demand a range of cooperative activities of professional life. To
for the educated and English speaking work function as an intelligent and compassionate citizen, there
force. What started as the need for the society’s are a number of intellectual and emotional skills we need to
upliftment soon became a way of living. Women have. These skills don’t emerge spontaneously. The study
who had already proved their mettle in their homes of the range of humanities makes a major contribution to
could easily manage work and home pressures and the young person’s personality in these areas.
within no time they crashed into the board rooms. First, we need to be able to recognise the complexities of
Chanda Kochar, Indra Nooyi, Kiran Shaw Mazundar, the social relationships that surround us in the society
Shenaz Hussain are only a few names who redefined and at workplace. We need an open mind that recognizes
success in a pre-dominant male society. Girls from nuances and ambiguity, and we need to be able to be able
modest backgrounds were being encouraged to to sort out these complexities and make sense of them in
take up careers that till a few decades ago were order to act appropriately. We need social intelligence. The
not even heard of in India. The “boy to girl” ratio in literature and arts helps us to do that.
higher education especially professional colleges We also need to be able to empathize with other people
was on the rise. andrecognise that their experiences are different from

Unfortunately, life for most would come to a ours. We need to develop the intellectual and emotional
halt once they were married or had children. But skills that permit us to recognize the nuances of
this too wasn’t a deterrent for long. For the more experiences different from ours. It is only by learning to join
enterprising, “second careers”, soon became a fad. imaginatively in the lives and values of other people that
Working opportunities from home or working at half we can gain a meaningful capacity for the complex lives
salaries for a half day corporate job, is now common of others. The analytical skills of humanist scholars who
for women in India as well.The contemporary study cultural products are also an important component
husbands are happy to take care of the homes of critical thinking.
and children while their wives become the bread- So the study of the humanities is actually of great practical
earners of the house. This role is no more taken for importance. It helps students to gain the intellectual and
granted as the title for the man of the house. emotional skills. They need to understand the human
realities they are engaged with, and it helps them to gain
This is more than obvious from the fact that the the empathy. They will need to be good parents,good
women are confidently carrying their maiden friends, and good citizens.
names along with their husband’s family name. For
our society this is breaking the glass ceiling in the Humanities is a stream for those who think;
real sense. And a quest for those who feel…!
Aman Arora Nangia, Teacher-Computer Science Sonal Malhotra, Teacher-English

SACHDEVA GLOBAL SCHOOL | 2018-19 | 163