Sinal dos tempos

Um importante sinal do tempo num texto de uma das cientistas políticas indianas mais capazes, Grupreet Mahajan, directora do Centro de Estudos Políticos da JNU. As suas afirmaçoes deixam enquadrar-se na crescente afirmação da sociedade civil indiana e o seu consequente choque com uma classe política bastante retrógada e conservadora em termos de debate público e cultura democrática. Na imprensa, o movimento encontra expressão no semanário Tehelka.

"This is not to say that truth is the prerogative of intellectuals. If there is one thing we are sure of, it is that reason by itself does not give us access to truth. But reason can, and does, enable critical investigation and nurture the will to be autonomous. Public intellectuals can, by relying on this capacity of reason, freely and critically assess social and political issues. It is from such critical assessments and conversation between them that truth would eventually emerge. What we require therefore for public reason and intellectual life to flourish is an environment in which there is space for the articulation of contending viewpoints and critiques so that citizens are empowered to raise questions and hold their leaders and governments accountable."