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Abstract

Recently, we have witnessed a flurry of activities in the ‘education sector’ in India. These activities are located within the larger context of globalisation dominated by the neoliberal capital. The paper argues that given the social and economic segregation in Indian society education has always been discriminatory. However, recent neoliberal influences in policymaking have accentuated the segregation furthermore. Everything, including education, is out in the market for sale as a commodity. When the purchasing capacity of the majority remains low, it becomes difficult to buy education and therefore most Indians-the poor, Dalits and the girl child-are getting alienated from education. Gandhi's Talisman that, at least, appeared as the guiding force in a welfare state no longer remains so in the neoliberal era. The consequence is institutionalisation of discrimination in education.

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