Women's higher education: The other side of the coin

In earlier times, there was little opportunity for higher education for women all over the world, as pointed out by Virginia Woolf in her impassioned trail-blazing essay "A Room of One's Own." This has been remedied to a great extent now, but bringing along with it an appalling rise in philistinism.

Earlier, at least in the middle & upper classes, it was "de rigeuer" for young ladies to be "accomplished", meaning they had to acquire at least the rudiments of classical music, literature & preferably art, with a view of increasing their value in the matrimonial market, if not for other reasons. This has been enchantingly shown in Jane Austen's "Sense & Sensibility" carried over into the eponymous film, enhanced, if possible, by director Ang Lee. Both the sisters could play the piano, sing & Marianne could even complete lines of poetry, quoted by her suitor, Col. Brandon.

But all these, like all good things, have come to an end, especially in India. When a girl goes in for higher education, she practically renounces the chance of becoming a "cultured lady", meanwhile dedicating her life to becoming economically productive with the sky being the limit in this pursuit! Of course, there are honourable exceptions to this like Dr. Kaveri Nambisan (Surgeon/Writer), Dr. Jyotsna Srikanth (Clinical Pathologist/Violinist) & Dr. Rohini Mohan (Runs own clinic/Sugam Sangeeth Singer).

May their tribe increase!