What’s the use of studying Russian or Spanish, asks Smita Prakash and gets an earful in reply

Why should someone from a poor family study Russian in JNU? That too for a Master’s degree? Especially since the youth’s father earns only rupees six thousand a month?

The questions were posed on Friday morning by Smita Prakash, the editor at news agency ANI (Asian News International).

She went on to ask, “Or a youth from Rajasthan, whose family is battling agrarian distress want to study Spanish. Will 3 years and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish land him a job? Or youths from poverty hit families in UP spending 3 years studying Pashto and German?

By the end of the day she had received the answer. While some people supported her, saying that children of the poor should study something useful so as to stay back in the villages and help their family, others were convinced that it was just a ploy to get admission in JNU, pay Rupees 10 for a room and prepare for the UPSC.

But the overwhelming majority rebuked her for her narrow worldview and her ignorance. People pointed out the value of learning languages and the opportunities language courses provided. Some of the responses to her tweet were as follows:

• I am learning Spanish for the last two years on my own. One should know that if you converse well, a degree/ certificate doesn't matter. Also, one can directly give DELE exams which costs nothing but have more weight & acceptance than a JNU awarded language course.

• As far as Rajasthan goes - a Spanish speaker can make a killing as a tour guide! So there are opportunities
• People who don't know, it’s extremely difficult to crack the JNU admission. People just can't take admission, it is based on their score in entrance exams after which they are invited. So, a JNU student is the cream. And now half-literate people question them. And give advice? Awesome.
• The very concept of " education for a job opportunity "shows how poorly educated a person is. Read what Dr S Radhakrishnan, scholar and former president of India said about education

• Almost one in four employers surveyed acknowledge losing or being unable to pursue a business opportunity over the singular lack of language skills. Future of work depends on language skills.

• I have a friend who today facilitates Russian businesses in India because he knows Russian, earns a lot of money. When you enter JNU you make relationships/networks with people who are likely to reach top places. (not very different from MBA schools). And there is more to education than just a plush job or a marketable position - some people could genuinely want to learn in a conducive environment provided by a university like JNU. And last grading education is a sign of ignorance.
• Mam...it’s not just the course you learn when you study in a place like JNU. As a village boy, I learnt to speak English by participating in the training and debates the students union organised for aspiring students preparing for the admission test. The exposure you get there is amazing.
• Madam! Google search for opportunities in German Language Skills. Parents pushing youth towards too few and predictable branches. Please encourage diversity and Education is not for just a job. Employment should only be a by-product of education.
• I've seen several language resources working where I work and they earn well because they have a skill set which very few possess. Most of them are from underprivileged backgrounds. They pay less fee compared to engineering/medical students. Which helps their families to sustain and support them.
• I have also a friend who did part-time Portuguese from JNU and now he is in Bangalore drawing 1.5k salary. The Portuguese course I think has been removed now.

• I know someone from Chapra who used to be a tour guide, then he studied Chinese and is now a translator with Dongfang Electric in Kolkata

• Personally, I know a Dalit boy from Prayagraj UP, studied Korean at JNU and is now working at Microsoft.

• A really accomplished girl I know studied French, German and Sanskrit from JNU and is now an interpreter for some of the big MNCs that do business with India. Just because it doesn't fit the general definition of a good job/success, it doesn't mean it's useless.

• Fascinated how you believe that a poor farmer's child should study only those subjects that will land him a good 9 to 5 job. Just because his family is poor, you want him to be devoid of his choice of subjects as well!

• Foreign language skills help in getting translation jobs and occasionally as language companion in tour groups. Hope this helps your curiosit

• The JNU Security Guard, who cleared the entrance test and is studying for BA in the Russian language, hopefully, will answer your question.