39. LCDism !
LCD in school
In school, we learned a concept called "the lowest common denominator". (LCD) It was defined as
"the least common multiple of the denominators in a set of fractions" .
In the Wikipedia, we get the following description:
The least common denominator of a set of fractions is the least number that is a multiple of all the denominators: their least common multiple. The product of the denominators is always a common denominator, as in:
From the Cambridge Dictionary:
smallest number that can be exactly divided by all the bottom numbers in a group of fractions
From the Merriam Webster Learners Dictionary.com, we get:
mathematics : the smallest number that can be divided exactly by all the numbers below the lines in a group of two or more fractions
LCD-out of school
We all left school years ago, and forgot the mathematics with it! But this concept of LCD has taken a new social avatar, and is now applied in common parlance. We get several interesting definitions!
From thefreedictionary.com:
From the Merriam Webster LearnersDictionary.com:
disapproving — used to say that the quality of something is poor because it is designed or intended to appeal to the largest possible number of people
From Collins Cobuild:
From dictionary.cambridge.org:
used to refer in a disapproving way to the sort of people in society who are least intelligent and who will accept low-quality products and entertainment:
The problem with so much television is that it is aimed at the lowest commondenominator.
From urbandictionary.com:
The biggest possible number of people, including people who are very easily influenced or are willing to accept low standards.
And from oxforddictionaries.com :
derogatory The level of the least discriminating audience or consumer group.
LCD in public life
Taken out of the technical context of mathematics, the LCD concept applies to the trend in public life where the authorities try to build (or buy) the largest possible consensus on particular issues by appealing to the largest number of people by relaxing or diluting conventional norms and standards.
In so called democracies, this amounts to influencing voters by trying to create a common level of approval. As the attempt is to bring in as many people as possible, the lowest standards are applied. In any large grouping, the average standard is also likely to be the lowest. Any higher standard is considered elitist, and hence as serving the interest of the higher classes.
We can clearly see how this process has worked in India in some fields.
LCD and the democratic drama
Take our democracy. Universal adult franchise was extended to everyone from the beginning. People had not struggled for it, nor understood the meaning and responsibilities of adult franchise.
Most people vote on the basis of party affiliations or personalities. In Indian elections, policies have not mattered. Perhaps, the only time the country voted on an issue was when the electorate rejected the Emergency overwhelmingly in 1977, when even many educated elite supported the Emergency! This was an exception; in our country there is no public discussion on important economic or constitutional policy issues among the electorate at large. Even newspapers , and now media, only advocate partisan lines, and do not allow open debate. Elections have been fought on slogans like 'socialist pattern', five year plans, 'Garibi Hatao' etc. No one bothered to ask or explain what were the policies behind these slogans.
In the process, all standards have been gradually diluted and abandoned. And there are no standards fixed for contestants in the elections.Criminal cases or complaints are said to be pending in respect of many candidates from political parties across the spectrum. 186 out of 541 ( 34%) Lok Sabha MPs in the 2014 elections were said to be having criminal cases against them! [Association of Democratic Reforms.]
LCD has indeed emerged as the basic ism in our public life.
LCD and education
Education has been a fertile and profitable field for the politicians to indulge in LCDism.
Our University education was considered elitist. First the subjects were diluted. Then the syllabus was lightened. The lessons were made simpler. English language was 'Indigenised' : more of Indian writing was included, and original English writings were reduced. Language and literature were reduced in importance.
There were many moves to downgrade English language, as it was considered elitist. The regional languages were promoted with a vengeance. Hindi got a boost with all the power of the Central govt behind it.
There was a parallel movement to liberalise valuation standards. Examination standards were diluted; by a liberal marking system, as many people as possible were declared passed. Annual class examinations were either abolished or liberalised by various means. So we tried to achieve 'inclusive' education.
But this encountered problems. India, like the rest of the world was embarking on science education in a big way. Indian students were looking out for opportunities abroad both for higher studies and employment and they wanted global standards in education. Since the state controlled education system was aiming to cater to the large LCD segment, they did not want to appear elitist. So they let a parallel system develop: the so called elitist CBSE standards came to prevail as the norm. Today, a new, super-elitist category called 'International Schools' is emerging.
The stream from the state syllabus could not compete with the CBSE stream. Many state govts discriminate against CBSE officially, but serious students individually do give two hoots. They resort to private tuition and coaching classes to upgrade their knowledge and skills. The prevailing norm is the common entrance test for admission to all professional courses and higher education. Thus elitism has come to prevail , though LCD is the policy of most state govts. They do not have the sense or courage to state openly that they want high standards to prevail. IITs are regarded as the citadel of elitism. Attempts are repeatedly made to dilute their standards.
Now there is a backlash. In every state, every strata of society clamours for not just English language, but education through English medium. Here the native hypocrisy of our democratic politicians shines: every one of them shouts for education through the mother tongue, but every one of them sends his children and relatives to the best English medium school available! It was reported that in Karnataka, there were no takers at all for Kannada medium in the govt run schools!
Kannada medium government schools are being adversely affected by the implementation of the Right to Education Act, according to former Minister and MLC Basavaraj Horatti.He said because of the implementation of RTE, parents are opting for English medium schools over Kannada government schools for their children.
From: The Hindu, October18, 2016
The Supreme Court had to intervene and say that the State cannot impose the language of instruction in primary schools. It is for the parents to choose. And parents are dumping the regional language, and opting for English medium, the symbol of elitism.
Caution: Brain in the drain!
We have to be sensible. To demand English language or medium is one thing; to attain standards is quite another. English medium does not automatically result in quality, nor is the medium of local language necessarily bad.Both depend on good teachers. Indian languages have stagnated for centuries without development, and they simply cannot cope with the demands of modern education in any field. They are all relics of the past; they have undeniable literary value , but not relevant in modern education. However, we should not blindly equate English medium education with quality education. After all, it is reported that over 50% of our graduates, including Engineering graduates, products of English medium, are simply unemployable! Whatever the medium, quality has to be consciously striven for. To equate quality with elitism in education will only result in dull mediocrity., or possibly even less. It will lead young brains to the drain.
(Academic) Learning ability or aptitude for higher learning is not uniformly distributed among the people. Universal general education may be considered desirable, but it is not possible beyond a level. Everyone cannot become a graduate.The govt. having linked jobs to degrees, there is a craze to obtain a degree, any degree, anyhow! It does not benefit society as a whole if college standards are lowered to boost numbers. Real help should take the form of improving learning skills, and not diluting standards.
Silent revolution
A silent revolution is thus taking place in two ways to defeat NCD dispensation:
- The politicians are shouting for local languages, but people are dumping them for English and English medium.
- The state govts are officially persisting with low standards, but people are adjusting to and opting for higher standards on their own.
In a way it is good that people do not waste their energy in fighting foolish and hypocritic politicians, but silently go about their business in their own way! This imposes heavy costs, but that is the price of our kind of democracy!
LCD and entertainment
Another lucrative field for LCDism is entertainment industry.The two are made for each other! Its motive is money making, and the route is through films and TV content which appeal to the largest possible audience. The contents include elements designed to appeal to various segments simultaneously, so that there is a heady mixture of the elements that appeal to the LCD: sex, violence, dialogues and lyrics that employ double entendre. This is called the 'masala formula'. V. Shantarams, Bimal Roys and Hrishikesh Mukherjees have become irrelevant. Indeed, the species is extinct.
The entertainment features are supposed to go through a govt appointed censor set-up. But govt is elected by the same elements that support the industry, so that the censor is a sham.Whenever the board gets a member nominated who is perceived by the industry to be a 'puritan', there is a hue and cry through the media which knows which side its bread is buttered. The govt has to please both the media and the entertainment moguls, who can sway public opinion before the next polls. So all play safe, and LCD gains its day! I had at times read the govt Gazette which contained details about the scenes/dialogues etc disallowed in the 60s and felt the censors were really doing a service to the public. But those were elitist days! Any call for show of decency or restraint in public will be frowned upon as imposition of elitist views, such people will be termed 'moral police' and our English medium elitist newspapers will be up in arms against the invasion of public liberty or restrictions on artistic creativity! LCD makes strange bed fellows!
And why not? The same newspapers court the LCD segment by extensive coverage of juicy information from the film world, with revealing figures of stars and starlets, filling 2-3 large pages in their regular daily issues, as if this is all "news". They may be against the holy cow, but not against the holier Bollywood or Kollywood or Sandalwood kamadhenus! That is where the money comes from! Pop goes the weasel !
Our advertising industry also caters to the LCD segment, irrespective of products. Women are so vocal these days about their rights and privileges, but do not seem to mind if their image is used in not so relevant or complimentary situations, as in the following ad for men's shaving cream:
LCD is a bottomless pit. Once one decides to descend, every limit gets extended, and lowered.
Literature and standards
This play of LCDism is affecting standards in all spheres. As the public taste is lowered in one area, it cascades into other areas.
It affects literature. India has produced great literary figures , writing in English and regional languages. In view of prevailing linguistic chauvinism and regional jingoism , the great literary figures of one region/language are not generally known in other areas. Those writing in English are not recognised or honoured by the states. We do not have great literary magazines. The popular magazines are like what were called 'pulp' magazines in the US. They churn out stories and features intent on circulation and so focus on LCD!
We have the recognised 7 principles of Literary Standards to characterise good literature:
- Universality: transcends all distinctions and borders
-Artistry: appealing to sense of beauty
-Intellectual Value: stimulates critical thinking and reasoning
- Suggestiveness [ unravels emotional power through symbolism, nuances, implied meanings,images and messages, evoking visions beyond the ordinary life and experience.]
- Spiritual Value :power to motivate and inspire
-Permanence : great literature produced in time is timeless
-Style
( from: nuworldlit.wordpress.com)
How can we expect these standards from writers who are required to adopt or cater to the LCD? Unfortunately this seems to be a world wide phenomenon. All the rise in literacy seems to feed the LCD!
LCD and the arts
If entertainment and literature are in, can the arts be out, for long?
The performing arts especially have been subject to the pressure of LCD. This has taken the devious or dubious route of calling for popularisation of classical music and dance.
Music in many forms
Indian Classical art forms have always existed with, and both inspired and been inspired by, the folk and semi classical forms. The semi-classical form has always served as a bridge both ways. So, the lovers of non-classical forms had their choice already, as in film music. However, their agenda was different, really. They aimed at diluting the Classical form itself, which they considered elitist.
Carnatic Music
In Tamil Nadu, it first took the form of a demand for Tamil songs in Carnatic music programs, since it was felt that the artistes who were mostly Brahmins were mainly singing the songs of the Trinity which were in Telugu or Sanskrit or those of other composers like Purandaradasa or Swati Tirunal. They claimed that the audience could not follow the meaning of the songs in other languages. Those who made the claims were mainly politicians.
This claim was not true, as the real connoisseurs always took the trouble to learn them. Secondly, the Classical form emphasises emotion (rasa) which is mainly conveyed through the Raga bhava. This can be experienced even now in Hindustani music which does not depend much on Sahitya! Third, most Tamilians cannot follow even the classical Tamil compositions of the Nayanmars or Alwars, as these are in chaste Tamil.
So the real aim of the demand for classical music in local language was only to dilute the pure Classical form, and thus break the perceived Brahmin hold on this art form! Besides, Carnatic music and its Sahitya are based on Bhakti. They draw upon the ancient and rich religious lore of the Hindus, bearing on the Veda, the Upanishads, Itihasa, Purana, etc. The Dravidian elements wanted to break this sacred link.. They wanted to secularise the music in the name of popularising it. The govt even went to the extent of declaring that the Kritis of Tyagaraja, the mainstay of Carnatic music, need not be learned for the govt approved course! Today many songs which would not strictly qualify as 'Kirtana' or 'Kriti' in the Classical sense get sung to please some sections, whose sensibilities have been suitably lowered in time! However, the Brahmin hold has not loosened as both the audience and the performing artistes hail overwhelmingly from this section! The Classical form has been thriving without govt. patronage for over three centuries! And it is thriving now globally, wherever the community lives! The really good artistes do labour under a Guru for many years! Tyagaraja still is the Satguru of Carnatic music par excellence . The state controlled music schools have consistently failed to produce performing artistes. Paper degrees do not an artiste make!
Bharata Natyam
Classical dance in Tamil Nadu ( Bharata Natyam) is now attracting many students as it is considered the fashion of the nouveau elite! The Sahitya employed is mainly Tamil pieces, though the grammar is unalterably Sanskritic.
LCD: do away with standards
What LCD aims at is really to displace the notion of a standard everywhere! Any standard anywhere is considered an imposition of an elite. Exams are considered rigid, dispense with it. Syllabus is considered heavy, dilute it. Valuation is considered tough, moderate it. Vigilance in examination hall is strict, loosen it, or look the other way.
Religious standards
pious pilgrims to Sabarimala. photo:AP Herald
-the devotee is expected to shun all social activities and immerse himself in prayers, poojas, bajans, visits to the temples, cleaning temples, feeding the poor, attending to the poor/sick and listening to spiritual lectures. Strictly celibate, he consumes only satvic food and is forbidden from having meat, intoxicants like alcoholic beverages, drugs and betel leaves, and smoking.
-does not oil his hair or body and always carries with him a tulsi leaf to ward off evil and temptations. He sleeps not on the bed and uses no footwear to protect his feet.
But in these days of LCD, the period is reduced in some circles and some items diluted ! So now millions join. And women's groups are making their own demands against tradition !
The upshot is, no one wants strict standards to be observed!
LCD influence everywhere
The professions
LCD bug does not just affect the common man. Even professional bodies groan under the weight of LCD. As their numbers swell, doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, teachers and members of other professions find it difficult to both define and enforce professional standards, ensure accountability, and also encounter the problem of dealing with the erring members. The American Bar Association for instance recognises the need to discipline erring members of the legal profession:
The purpose of lawyer discipline proceedings is to protect the public and the administration of justice from lawyers who have not discharged, will not discharge, or are unlikely to properly discharge their professional duties to clients, the public, the legal system, and the legal profession.In any sphere of public life, systems cannot work unless standards are established and maintained. In former times, such standards were maintained by senior example and peer pressure. Good professionals in any field served as models. But things are formalised now, everything needs to be defined, and alas, definition has to be interpreted and can be disputed. Thus even when the need for corrective action is conceded, it is often not easy or quick to effect it! The tendency for any professional body is to first defend its member, as so many cases involving medical professionals or the police will show! But every profession contains gems who uphold ethical standards and will not bow to LCD pressure.
However, the conduct of Indian lawyers in recent years has caused concern! The conduct of lawyers in Madras and Karnataka High Courts recently shows how far LCD has infested them!
Lawyers protesting near Madras High Court, July 2016.
This is despite the advice of the Indian Bar Council!
Photo: The Hindu, Chennai.
This will not cause surprise if we remember that Tamil Nadu is one of the states that has consistently promoted LCD in all spheres for half a century! And then remember how our elected representatives conduct themselves in and out of the legislatures and parliament! And these are now telecast for our youngsters to see and emulate!
Just now, the medical profession in Karnataka boycotted all hospital work, in protest against a proposed legislation to force some accountability! Doctor can do no wrong!
Society without standards?
No society can function without some standards. All those power seekers who forge the LCD game become its victims in due course. Once the rulers agree to dilute a standard, there is no saying where the limit will stay. And ultimately people come to believe that all standards are arbitrary, and any standard can be diluted or done away with! This is what popular legislations attempt to do. Or it is done through executive action. This partly accounts for the difficulties our country faces in governance in every sphere. Nay, the country is getting ungovernable!
