The Human In Humanities

- Meghaa Aggarwal

Swati Salunkhe has been an education counsellor for 20 years and she finds it hard to remember even one student who approached her for counselling on pursuing humanities. “On the contrary, I’ve had parents who have approached me to dissuade their child from pursuing such courses. In fact, even when I think the child is genuinely interested in the humanities and will do well in this field, they disagree,” she grimaces. However, Salunkhe isn’t surprised. “It has been this way for a very long time. It was like this even when we were students!”

The beginnings of a bias

The problem begins in schools and homes where science and maths are given precedence over other subjects.

“There is an obsession around engineering and medical entrance exams after school, which surpasses everything else. Students will be studying for and attending IIT or NEET coaching classes, solving paper after paper in the sciences or maths. The media will be full of stories around these exams. Students are made to believe that studying these subjects is a sure shot formula for success,” says Salunkhe.

Renowned educationist Dr. Minoti Chatterjee, former Principal of Delhi University’s Kamla Nehru College, adds, “I’ve seen so many parents who want their child to become a doctor or engineer and pursue this goal with extreme focus and singlemindedness. No one talks the same way about having their child study subjects like economics, sociology or political science.”

Lack of understanding

The problem is rooted in the fact that there is a lack of understanding around the humanities.