I just finished listening to the first episode of a new podcast series, "Reimagining Civil Society," and I’m buzzing with so many thoughts. The episode is called "Reading the world: Promoting literacy," and it features Dr. Rajesh Tandon, who shares a powerful history of literacy in India that I’d never heard before.

It’s not a dry history lesson; it's a collection of inspiring stories.

Dr. Tandon kicks off the episode with a personal story from 1977, visiting literacy classes for rural women in Rajasthan. He paints this vivid picture of classes being held under trees, with women, children, and even a few goats all gathered around to learn.

It's a powerful image, especially when he reminds us that when India gained independence, the national literacy rate was a shocking 18%.

He explains that while the government was focused on building schools for children, it was local voluntary organisations and civil society organisations that stepped up to the massive challenge of adult literacy.

What I found so "effectful" was his point that these groups didn't just copy the school system. Instead, they innovated. They taught in local mother tongues, and not just Hindi. They used peer learning. And most importantly, they linked literacy directly to life.

I loved this line said by Dr Tandon:

"...so learning of literacy was not like in classroom for primary education not like A for apple and B for bus, but it was land spelling of land and then discussion on meaning of land for them."

They were discussing land records, health, and water. This wasn't just reading; it was learning for empowerment. And these small, local experiments actually went on to influence National Education Policy.

Listening to this, I couldn't help but reflect on a few things:

Dr. Tandon points out that the work isn't over. We still have massive gaps, especially for women and marginalised communities. Plus, we now face new challenges like the digital divide and, surprisingly, new trends with more boys dropping out of secondary school.

This episode left me feeling like we can all do something.

  1. Learn about the organisations working on foundational and digital literacy in our own communities.
  2. Whether it’s by volunteering our time, donating, or just amplifying their stories.
  3. Continue to push for public investment in adult literacy.

This is a must-listen for anyone who believes in the power of education and community.

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