Bridging the ‘Access Divide’ through ‘One Nation One Subscription’

Introduction

More than a century ago as part of our freedom struggle, 'Grandhalaya' movement was spearheaded across the country. Many places saw 'one anna' libraries, meaning six paisa subscription to access entire library material. This promoted literacy, knowledge, and put seeds to scientific temper. Post-independence the focus apparently has come down and recently the emphasis is more on audio-visual content than ‘reading’ material. Often forgotten is the late Francis Bacon’s quote of 'Some?books?are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be?chewed?and digested’. ‘Chewing and digesting’ requires love with books and a deep immersion process. Learning then is process fulfilled and also content.

Academic ‘Problem’

Access to study material had been a traditional hurdle with very few institutions / universities that had good academic libraries. Geographically too limited cities had strong libraries that stocked good books/content. A good library was a privilege at many places. For HEI audit too it is often reported that books are brought in for display and projection, and these are returned after that week. Publishers and their agents play their helpful role here. Some of the innovative colleges contact the ‘Secondhand’ book sellers of the ‘neighbourhood spots’ to help for a day or two.

Library facilities have become more of ‘ticking the box’ for regulatory purposes. The passion and association with learning material and referring it for insights and building further knowledge for NextGen somehow took backseat sometime in early 2000s. LPG effect? May be, not very sure. For every college that invests a thousand plus crores, there are hundreds who want to make tens of crores with hardly any investment. Cost control is the first focus at such places. ‘Inching up the topline and pulling down the cost line, makes the bottom-line better and better’ is the line they live-by. ?

Investments for subscriptions by many institutes have been almost nil, especially in private institutes that have come in the recent decades. A decision for a Rs. 3 lakhs industry database taking three years is witnessed on firsthand basis at a deemed to be university of one and half decade standing. Before making the facilities available, a hundred questions are asked in multi-layered reviews so that the faculty who pilots the proposal feels better to take the backseat. Signal for others too?

Common and ‘cost effective’ textbooks often fill the racks of many of such college libraries as these add to the ‘count’. A reputed management college library that boasted over 30,000 ‘titles’ had thousands of Marketing/Finance/OB/Stats textbooks of the same authors, different editions, many dozens each. For instance, ‘K’ author’s Marketing textbook appears across racks, multiple editions present, two dozen each of editions. It is not uncommon to spot fancy/popular magazines bought for the special interest of promoters put up in the journals’ section. Academic value?

Often RoI is asked before any consideration and without any intent for investment. Industry has ‘magnets’ who propose ‘infinite returns’. Academic institutions would like to become ‘institutes of eminence’ before they are born. Both have one thing in common, under-investment and superior returns. There is tacit approval or consent from multiple stakeholders who cross boundaries with such. Not snubbing almost amounts to indirect encouragement.

On a brighter closing note

No exposure to high academic quality, no serious reading habits of the faculty members results in mediocrity in both teaching and writing. Nextgen gets an order less than the current faculty level as their starting point. Lower the base, lower the aspiration, and lower shall be the future achievements. So, action has been required for a long period of time.

‘Digital’ breaks the geographical barriers and time constraints is widely known. Most of the constraints faced by the academic community affiliated with ‘otherwise’ institutes suffered from ‘access divide’. Many of them used to request their friends and ex-colleagues to provide an article or two, for which they did not have access. It was more of a personal ‘network help’ they were seeking than any ‘official’. But it has its own limitations that can be appreciated.

There are positive early rising rays now. ‘One nation One subscription’ expectedly can offer literally thousands of reference journals that can be accessed freely by students and teachers at ordinary institutes and from remote places too. This shall be a real game changer, providing rich access and bringing academic quality exposure to sincere faculty and students with a potential but belong to unprivileged institutions. Thus, a major hurdle in terms of academic material 'access divide' shall be bridged by the initiative of 'One nation One subscription'.

We may think that thousands of reference academic journals of various areas when made available to the academic fraternity belonging to less-privileged institutes, democratization of knowledge resources shall happen. With this, the potential of building a new research age shall begin in our Bharat. Authentic insightful research that conforms to the ethical frameworks and offers solutions to the problems faced shall restore the place lost, regaining the Vishwa-Guru position is the confident thought.