Sunday, October 03, 2004

India's (English-speaking) Child Genius?

The "search" for India's child genius is conducted in English, a language that about 60% of Indians can't understand or speak fluently. Does this mean that true genius in India is confined to the (admittedly large) middle/upper class minority? Or is it that we consider children who can't afford to go to expensive private schools (which, quite ironically, are called "public" schools in India) so inferior that they can't even be considered for such a contest.

I'm sorry if I sound cynical here, and I definitely don't have anything against popular television or the English language. But calling the show India's child genius can't possibly be right. Sample the first rule of eligibility:
Any child may apply, who is between 10 years and 13 years of age, as of 1st September 2004, is a resident and citizen of India, is fluently conversant with written and spoken English, enrolled in a school in India that is duly recognised by a state or central government, and has scored an overall average of at least 80% or equivalent in school tests in the past two (2) academic years.
The really strange part is that I have seen no popular protests against this. In fact, a man as widely respected as our current president has lent support (and perhaps a certain degree of legitimacy) to the show by meeting the contestants. Political parties that take to the streets for the smallest, most insignificant disgressions have chosen to completely ignore the issue. This is probably because opposition to the show is likely to earn them the ire of the Indian middle class, one of their most vocal critics. But really, how can this possibly be justified?

Don't get me wrong though, I don't want the show to be shutdown or anything. If anything, I think the show is entertaining and presented quite well, even though the questions sometimes are a bit off. What I would like to see happen is either a change in the name of the show or a widening in the scope of talent search so that it become more faithful to its name. This, of course, might be too much to expect from the hubris laden, inconsiderate producers who came up with the name in the first place.